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ArrivalOverview

Moving to France – an overview of the first steps

The order in which newcomers usually tackle residence, documents, housing, banking, health insurance, transport, taxes and integration in France, with the offices involved, the 2026 fees and the deadlines that matter most.

Checked 7 Oct 2026
Applies to
Anyone planning a move to France for more than three months, with a focus on Paris. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens can skip the visa and residence permit steps.
Effort
Medium effort
Time needed
Plan for two to six months of preparation before departure and about three months of formalities after arrival
Cost
Visa fees vary by country. Validating a long-stay visa (VLS-TS) costs €300, or €100 at the reduced rate (since 1 May 2026). Registering for health insurance and opening a basic bank account are free.
When
Start residence planning several months before you travel; validate a VLS-TS within three months of arrival
On this page
  1. Overview
  2. Before you start
  3. Documents you need
  4. Choose your residence route first
  5. Before you move
  6. The first weeks
  7. The first three months
  8. Longer term
  9. Where to get help
  10. Watch out
  11. Common mistakes
  12. Tips
  13. Frequently asked questions
  14. Official links
  15. In your plan
  16. Sources
  17. Related guides

Moving to France involves a handful of national systems that each have their own office and website. The rules are largely the same everywhere in the country; the challenge is the order of steps and a few firm deadlines, especially for non-EU nationals. Unlike some countries, France has no general address registration: what unlocks most procedures is a proof of address (justificatif de domicile), a French bank account and, for non-EU nationals, a valid residence document.

This overview shows the sequence most newcomers follow and points to the detailed guides. For a week-by-week plan in Paris, see your first 30 days in Paris.

Before you start

  • A valid passport or, for EU/EEA/Swiss citizens, a national ID card
  • A clear reason for your stay (work, study, family, EU free movement or a stay without working)

Documents you need

  • Valid passport or national ID card

    required

  • Long-stay visa for the purpose of your stay

    Non-EU nationals

    optional

  • Proof of address in France

    required

  • Employment contract

    optional

Choose your residence route first

  • EU, EEA and Swiss citizens need no visa or residence permit; a valid ID card or passport is enough. A residence card is optional and free. Their non-EU family members must apply for a card within three months of arrival. See EU citizens in France.
  • Non-EU nationals usually need a long-stay visa from a French consulate before travelling, chosen according to the purpose of the stay:
    • Highly qualified work, research, company creation or investment: the multi-year talent card, for example for qualified employees earning at least €39,582 gross a year in 2026, or the EU Blue Card. See talent card.
    • Other salaried work: an employee or temporary worker permit, usually after your employer obtains a work authorisation. See residence permits in France.
    • Study: a student visa, with proof of at least €877.50 a month in resources for applications from 1 August 2026. See studying in France.
    • Family: family reunification after 18 months of residence, or the routes for spouses of French and EU citizens. See family reunification in France.
    • A stay without working: the visitor permit.
  • British citizens who settled after 2020 follow the non-EU rules.

Before you move

  • Documents. Check that your passport is valid well beyond your planned stay. Gather full birth and marriage certificates, diplomas and, if you drive, a recent certificate of your driving rights, with legalisation or apostille and sworn translations where needed. See documents to bring when you move to France.
  • Qualifications. If your profession is regulated in France, start the recognition procedure early. See recognition of qualifications in France.
  • Somewhere to stay. Paris is a competitive rental market. Many newcomers book temporary accommodation that can provide a proof of address, and search for a long-term flat once they have a French bank account and payslips. See temporary accommodation in Paris.
  • Budget. Housing dominates costs in Paris. See cost of living in Paris.

The first weeks

  1. Validate your long-stay visa on ANEF within three months if it is a VLS-TS (€300, or €100 at the reduced rate, since 1 May 2026). Other long-stay visas require a residence card application within two months of entry. See after arrival in Paris: OFII and the prefecture.
  2. Open a bank account, so that you can be paid and pay rent by transfer. If banks refuse, the Banque de France right-to-an-account procedure (droit au compte) guarantees a basic account.
  3. Get around: buy a weekly or monthly Navigo pass if you commute in Paris (€90.80 a month in 2026). Your employer refunds at least half of it.
  4. Find a flat with a rental file that respects the legal list of documents, and look into the free Visale guarantee if you have no guarantor in France. Take out home insurance before you receive the keys; it is compulsory for tenants.

The first three months

  • Health insurance. Register with the health insurance fund (CPAM) under the universal health protection scheme (PUMa). Workers are covered from their first day of activity; others usually after three months of residence. Then get your carte Vitale, declare a regular doctor (médecin traitant) and arrange complementary cover.
  • Housing aid. Once you have a lease, check with the CAF whether you can receive housing aid and apply promptly.
  • Integration. If you are a non-EU national planning to settle, OFII may invite you to sign the republican integration contract (CIR), with civic training and, if needed, French lessons.

Longer term

  • Renew your residence document between four and two months before it expires. See renewing a residence permit in France.
  • Learn French. Since 1 January 2026 a first multi-year residence card requires level A2 and a passed civic exam, a first resident card requires B1, and naturalisation requires B2.
  • Taxes. Income tax is withheld from your salary at source; as a French tax resident you file an income tax return each spring, declaring French and foreign income and any bank accounts held abroad. See taxes in France.
  • Citizenship. After usually five years of residence you can apply for naturalisation. See naturalisation in France.

Where to get help

  • Service-Public.fr explains rights and procedures; key pages are available in English.
  • Paris city hall answers questions on local services on 3975 (cost of a local call).
  • ADIL 75 gives free legal advice on housing in Paris.
  • In an emergency call 112, or 15 (medical), 17 (police) or 18 (fire); deaf and hard-of-hearing people can use 114 by text.

Watch out

Deadlines for residence procedures are strict. Put the VLS-TS validation date and your permit expiry date in your calendar on day one.

Residence fees rose sharply on 1 May 2026; check current amounts on Service-Public before you pay.

Common mistakes

  • Arriving on a short-stay visa or visa-free entry and expecting to apply for a long-stay residence permit from inside France; most routes require a long-stay visa obtained beforehand.
  • Leaving civil status documents and apostilles until after the move, when they are much harder to obtain.
  • Waiting for a permanent flat before opening a bank account or registering for health insurance.

Tips

  • Keep a folder, paper and digital, with every confirmation, receipt and certificate; French offices often ask for proof of earlier steps.
  • Use only official sites ending in gouv.fr, or the organisations' own sites, for procedures that are free.
  • Start learning French before you arrive; it helps with daily life and is required for long-term residence and citizenship.

Frequently asked questions

Editorial answers written by our team, based on the sources below.

Do I have to register my address after moving?

No. France has no general address registration. You keep your address up to date with each organisation: the residence platform ANEF, your health insurance fund, the CAF, the tax office and your bank.

How long does the whole process take?

Visa processing times vary by consulate, so apply as early as the consulate allows. After arrival, the firm deadlines are three months to validate a VLS-TS (or two months to apply for a card with another long-stay visa); bank account, health insurance and housing steps can run in parallel.

I am an EU citizen. What applies to me?

Everything except the visa, residence permit and OFII steps. See EU citizens in France.

In your plan

  • Validate your VLS-TS online
  • Find the residence route that fits your move to France
  • Open a bank account
  • Gather and translate your work and housing documents
  • Book somewhere to stay for your first weeks
  • Check what free movement means for you in France
  • Plan how to bring your belongings and cash

Sources

Written and checked by HomiStart editorial against the official sources below. Next scheduled check: 4 Feb 2027.

  1. Service-Public.fr (DILA, Premier ministre)Official source
    Quels titres de séjour un ressortissant étranger doit-il avoir pour rester en France plus de 3 mois ? (Opens {{site}} in a new tab)
    Accessed 5 Oct 2026
  2. Service-Public.fr (DILA, Premier ministre)Official source
    Carte de séjour salarié / travailleur temporaire (Opens {{site}} in a new tab)
    Accessed 7 Oct 2026
  3. Service-Public.fr (DILA, Premier ministre)Official source
    Long-stay visa (Opens {{site}} in a new tab)
    Accessed 7 Oct 2026
  4. Service-Public.fr (DILA, Premier ministre)Official source
    Talent card – multi-year residence card of a foreigner in France (Opens {{site}} in a new tab)
    Accessed 7 Oct 2026
  5. Service-Public.fr (DILA, Premier ministre)Official source
    Long-term stay of a European in France (Opens {{site}} in a new tab)
    Accessed 7 Oct 2026
  6. Service-Public.fr (DILA, Premier ministre)Official source
    What does a British person or family member have to do to live in France? (Opens {{site}} in a new tab)
    Accessed 7 Oct 2026
  7. Ambassade de France (Ministère de l'Europe et des Affaires étrangères)Official source
    Études en France – évolution du seuil des ressources pour les visas étudiants (Opens {{site}} in a new tab)
    Accessed 7 Oct 2026
  8. Service-Public.fr (DILA, Premier ministre)Official source
    Regroupement familial (Opens {{site}} in a new tab)
    Accessed 7 Oct 2026
  9. Service-Public.fr (DILA, Premier ministre)Official source
    Tax stamp – Residence permits – increase in the amount of fees charged to foreigners from 1 May (Opens {{site}} in a new tab)
    Accessed 7 Oct 2026
  10. Préfecture de policeOfficial source
    Les titres de séjour – ressortissants non européens (Opens {{site}} in a new tab)
    Accessed 5 Oct 2026
  11. Service-Public.fr (DILA, Premier ministre)Official source
    Right to a bank account (droit au compte) (Opens {{site}} in a new tab)
    Accessed 7 Oct 2026
  12. Service-Public.fr (DILA, Premier ministre)Official source
    Transport in the Paris region – What will be the new transport fares in Ile-de-France from 1 January? (Opens {{site}} in a new tab)
    Accessed 7 Oct 2026
  13. Service-Public.fr (DILA, Premier ministre)Official source
    Tenant obligation: home insurance covering rental risks (Opens {{site}} in a new tab)
    Accessed 7 Oct 2026
  14. Service-Public.fr (DILA, Premier ministre)Official source
    Health insurance of a foreigner that settles in France (Opens {{site}} in a new tab)
    Accessed 7 Oct 2026
  15. Service-Public.fr (DILA, Premier ministre)Official source
    Qu'est-ce que la protection universelle maladie (Puma) ? (Opens {{site}} in a new tab)
    Accessed 5 Oct 2026
  16. Service-Public.fr (DILA, Premier ministre)Official source
    Qu'est-ce que le contrat d'intégration républicaine (CIR) ? (Opens {{site}} in a new tab)
    Accessed 5 Oct 2026
  17. Service-Public.fr (DILA, Premier ministre)Official source
    Carte de séjour pluriannuelle (Opens {{site}} in a new tab)
    Accessed 7 Oct 2026
  18. Service-Public.fr (DILA, Premier ministre)Official source
    French nationality: how to justify your level in French? (Opens {{site}} in a new tab)
    Accessed 7 Oct 2026
  19. Service-Public.fr (DILA, Premier ministre)Official source
    Naturalisation française par décret (Opens {{site}} in a new tab)
    Accessed 7 Oct 2026
  20. Ville de ParisOfficial source
    Contacter la Ville de Paris (Opens {{site}} in a new tab)
    Accessed 5 Oct 2026
  21. Direction générale des Finances publiques (impots.gouv.fr)Official source
    I am coming or returning to France (Opens {{site}} in a new tab)
    Accessed 7 Oct 2026
  22. Service-Public.fr (DILA, Premier ministre)Official source
    Impôt sur le revenu – Prélèvement à la source (Opens {{site}} in a new tab)
    Accessed 7 Oct 2026
  23. Service-Public.fr (DILA, Premier ministre)Official source
    Quels sont les numéros en cas d'urgence (Samu, pompiers...) et les numéros d'écoute ? (Opens {{site}} in a new tab)
    Accessed 7 Oct 2026

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