The seven best places for expats to live in France are: Paris, Brittany, Lyon, Montpellier, Luberon, Dordogne, and Provence. These choices are based on what we think will matter most to those of you that are thinking about moving.
Midi-Pyrénées, the former administrative region in France, is home to a huge expat community. The region covers the border between France and Spain and is well-known for its capital: Toulouse.
Paris. Paris is the best place to be if you speak English in France. Paris is very cosmopolitan and because of this, it is the best place to live for English speakers. Situated just north of the center of the country, Paris has nearly 30,000 foreigners living in the capital, and this definitely makes life easier.
Here are the 2022 thresholds: Working-age person living alone: €1,634. Working-age couple without children: €2,273. Single-parent family with two children: €3,003.
For a permanent retirement there you will require a Long Stay Visa (Visa de Long Séjour). You must apply before you move to France, via the French Consulate in London. There are various types of long stay visa. Most retirees opt for a Visa de Long Séjour valant Titre de Séjour – Visiteur (VLS-Visiteur).
France is about 1.5 times bigger than Germany but with a population 20% smaller. In effect, it has a larger rural area with less people to populate it. And as more and more people relocate to cities, more houses are being added to the market—often at bargain prices.
But, if you live in bigger cities like Paris, work in an international company where the business language is English, or study in an English-taught program, you can live in France without speaking French. Especially those who'll live in France for a short time won't struggle.
The warmest place in France is the French Riviera coast in Southern France. With average summer temperatures well above 30oC (80oF) and long dry summers and warm springs and autumns and mild winters, the South of France is the place to experience the best climate in France throughout the year.
Coming in 25th place out of 59 countries worldwide, France performs slightly better than average in the Expat Insider 2021 survey. In fact, 78% of expats in France are generally satisfied with their life abroad (vs. 75% globally).
Many expats choose to relocate there because they find that there is less crime, they can allow their children more freedom, the pace of life is enjoyable, and the cost of living is lower than their home country. In addition to this, France's education system is considered one of the best in the world.
With expats feeling more welcome than ever in France, the country has also moved up 21 places in terms of personal happiness, rising from 47th in 2017 to 26th in 2018. According to the survey 79% of expats in France are happy with their life in general, which is higher than the global average of 76%.
The weather in Frejus, South France, is a typical Mediterranean climate, with long hot summers and mild winters. What makes Frejus distinct however, is the amount of clear sunny days the town enjoys. Typically, Frejus enjoys over 2,690 hours of sunshine a year, making Frejus the sunniest places in France.
As its name suggests, Champagne-Ardenne is the birthplace of bubbly and one of the most beautiful regions in France. The area is covered with idyllic valleys and vineyards, of course, but also ancient castles, chateaus, and abbeys.
Estimates of the number of British citizens living in France vary from 170,000 to 400,000. Besides Paris, many British expatriates tend to be concentrated in the regions of southern France, Brittany, and recently the island of Corsica. Dordogne has a large British immigrant community.
Dublin – world's friendliest city
Praising its “warm welcome and helpful people” who give visitors “a hundred thousand welcomes”, you loved the fact that “everyone is your friend when you visit a pub in Dublin”.
Paris, of Course, Makes the List of Most Beautiful Cities in France. From the Eiffel Tower to the Ile St. Louis, Montmartre to Saint Germain, you can't miss the chance to spend some time in Paris! Paris is located in the north-central part of France in Ile de France.
You'll need to prove that you are financially able to live in France – a pension statement will suffice, bank statements showing savings etc. You must have a suitable healthcare plan – as we said earlier, it is not free in France but they do have an excellent record of healthcare.
You may get Age Pension for the whole time you're outside Australia. Even if you're leaving to live in another country.
What happens to my State Pension if I move abroad? As long as you've paid enough National Insurance, you can claim your State Pension while living abroad. The main difference is that if the State Pension increases, you may not benefit from the extra amount if you're living in certain countries.