News Digest: Tiger Mosquitos, Paris Olympics QR Codes & US Buyers in France

Tiger mosquitos made the headlines in France last year as more and more French departments began reporting their spread. By March 2024, their presence was confirmed by the Regional Health Agency in Normandy, bringing the total amount of French mainland departments affected up to 78 out of 96 – you can see a full map here.

In response, French health authorities have issued new advice to help curb the spread of the southeast Asian mosquitoes, which are known to carry diseases such as Zika, dengue, and chikungunya.

Some 80% of tiger mosquitos are thought to be born on private properties, so public help to combat their rise is essential. To help curb the spread, avoid any areas of standing water (where mosquito eggs are laid) around your property and grounds – keep rainwater collection areas covered (or introduce mosquito nets), empty flower pots and watering cans after use, and keep gutters clean to avoid water pooling after rainfall.

To avoid being bitten, wearing long and loose, light-coloured clothing is the best preventative method, along with insect repellent. Be warned – tiger mosquitos differ from regular mosquitos in that they are both silent and diurnal (i.e. they are active during the day and dawn/dusk rather than through the night). There is no way to distinguish a tiger mosquito bite from the bite itself, but the mosquitos themselves are known for their distinctive black and white stripes.

If you spot tiger mosquitos around your property, you can report their presence to the public health authorities online here.

If you live or work in Paris, especially in areas close to the game venues or opening ceremony site, you’ll need to request a special “Pass Jeux” (Game Pass). The pass takes the form of a QR code that allows access to the zoned areas throughout the Olympic and Paralympic Games, which run from July 26th to Sept 8th.

During the Games, Paris will be split into various security zones marked grey, blue, and red, as well as SILT zones (Sécurité Intérieure et Lutte contre le Terrorisme – terrorist security areas) – you can view a map here. Those entering the security zones will need to present a QR code, which you can apply for online prior to the games.

The online platform for requesting a QR code went live yesterday (Monday, May 13th), and you can find it here.

It’s still tax season in France, and the first of the 2024 tax declaration deadlines is almost upon us. Next Monday, May 20th, is the national deadline for paper tax declarations. Although most people will be submitting an online declaration, those filing their first tax return will typically send in a paper declaration.

Deadlines for online tax declarations are staggered, depending upon the French department that you are resident in: May 23rd, 2024, for overseas residents or French residents who live in départements 1-19; May 30th, 2024, for départements 20-54; and June 6th, 2024 for départements 50-101 and French overseas territories.

Remember that all French residents must file an annual tax return, even if you didn’t earn any income or have no French taxes to pay, and some second-home owners may also need to file one.

Our next FrenchEntrée webinar will be focussing specifically on our friends across the Atlantic. From the property purchase process to visas, taxes to currency exchange, we’ll be taking a look at all the things Americans need to know before buying and moving to France.

I’ll be joined by a panel of four experts and we’ll try to get through as many of your live questions as possible. You can also send me your questions in advance to [email protected].