Moving to France: Should You Sort Your Visa or Property First?

Q: We’ve dreamt of moving to France for years, but we’re unsure where to begin. We’re browsing properties, yet we have concerns about visas and healthcare —which should we tackle first? It really feels like a chicken-and-egg situation!

TRACY LEONETTI of LBS Paperwork Professionals answers...

Feeling excited about French homes yet unsure about visas and healthcare is normal. After 15 years in French immigration and paperwork, I assure you your dream is within reach, it just requires a structured plan. Let’s break down the steps for your move.

Step one – Lay your foundations: Start by exploring different regions: coast, countryside or town, and refine your criteria such as budget, lifestyle, access to amenities and renovation preferences. Get your finances and logistics in order early to avoid surprises. This clarity helps your agent act fast when you’re ready.

Step two – Secure the right visa strategy: This is where your plans begin to take shape. Before you make any formal decisions, it’s crucial to know your legal options for residency. Following Brexit, Brits as non-EU nationals must apply for an appropriate long-stay visa if they intend to live in France for more than 90 days. You can’t just wait and hope; advance planning is necessary. The central question is: How will you finance your life in France? Are you:

– Retired on pensions?

– Remote worker or freelancer?

– Early retirement?

– Entrepreneur?

– Job seeker?

Each of these situations has a specific visa category. Selecting the right one from the beginning is essential. With good preparation, this step becomes very achievable, and once your visa has been approved, you’ll enjoy great peace of mind.

Step three – Work with the timeline, not against it: French authorities place a high value on thorough preparation. Drawing from three decades of living in France and assisting hundreds of applicants, I can confirm that visa processes demand organised documents, proof of financial stability, housing plans and valid health coverage. Instead of viewing these requirements as mere paperwork, consider them as steps toward building your new life with greater security. Each document brings you closer to your goal. With a well-structured plan, the entire process becomes more transparent, manageable and far less overwhelming.

Step four – Plan your healthcare transition: Healthcare is one of the biggest concerns for future movers and thankfully, it is also one of the most straightforward when understood properly. Initially, you may need comprehensive private health insurance for your visa application. Once resident in France, you can apply to join the French state healthcare system (CPAM). How you apply and the documents would depend on what your status is i.e. retired, working, business. The affiliation process can take four to six months so your private insurance definitely has its place during this interim phase.

With proper planning, you remain fully covered throughout the transition.

Step five – Proceed with confidence: Once your visa has been approved and your healthcare plan established, you transition from planning to implementation.

– Your property search becomes targeted

– Your financial resources are strategically managed

– Your timeline is clearly defined

– Your visa documentation and related paperwork are in order

At this stage, your French endeavour transitions from a future aspiration to an active undertaking. So what comes first? I’m a great believer in getting clarity: About where you want to live; about your visa pathway and administration situation; and about your healthcare cover. With those foundations in place, your move to France becomes structured, achievable and entirely within reach.

Enjoy the process!

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