Moving Considerations - buyabroad.co.uk

Considerations When Moving to France

If you are thinking about moving to France then there are certain things you need to consider before you move there. It doesn't matter whether you are relocating completely or simply moving there for a few months, you should still think about:

Where you will live - you may be planning on renting a property for a while before buying or buying first and then simply moving to France. It's important to have a game plan here to make sure that you end up living in the right kind of property in the right area.
The language - if you don't speak any French then you'd be wise to start learning now. Getting around every day life - especially in rural areas - can be hard if you cannot speak any French. You'll also find that the French will be more receptive and friendly if you at least make an effort to talk to them in French rather than simply expecting them to talk to you in English.
Money - you need to work out what you will live on if you move to France. You may have a pension or savings to tide you over or you may be taking a job over there. Bear in mind that although some items are cheaper in France the actual day to day living costs you'll come across in towns and cities are pretty much the same as they are in the UK. It's wise to open some form of French bank account as soon as you can as well.
Work - if you are planning on working in France then it is also recommended that you try and sort out what you will do before you get there. Getting work can be hard for non-French residents.
The children - if you are moving to France with kids then you will need to think about their education so scope out schools in the region to which you'll move early on. You could, for example, put the kids in an international school or simply put them in the local school.
Your support network - you shouldn't underestimate the differences you may find if you move to France and leave your family and friends behind. This may take a little time to get used to and make sure to keep in touch regularly.