½ûÂþÌìÌÃ

Hi

I'm new here. I am an interior designer and work along side a lodge manufacturer. I am creative and enjoy my work very much.

I look forward to what comes next..

@Julien

Hi Julien, I’m from the Boston area in Massachusetts US..

I live in Montarnaud, just west of Montpellier with my fiancée..

I’m interested in outside events, live music, yoga, mantra singing, etc and would like to meet other expats!

Karl

Hello, I am a retiree looking for a special place in France to continue my retirement in 2025. My wife and I were planning to relocate to France sometime this year. However, she transitioned in June of last year. We were considering western France along the Atlantic Ocean.  I am still committed to this area and would like to meet groups and individuals living in the area. My hobby is Landscape photography, and I would also like to meet groups and individuals with the same interests. My French does not go beyond the basics. However, having worked internationally for the better part of 15 years, I am accustomed to hearing languages I did not understand initially. Learning a new language becomes a good challenge for self-improvement.

Hi everyone. Is there any filipino here. I'm here in toulon. I'm glad to meet Filipino here

Hello everyone,

Welcome to ½ûÂþÌìÌà 😀

If you would like to discuss a specific topic, feel free to start a new thread on the France forum to ask your questions. This will help you connect more easily with other members.

Cheers,

Cheryl

½ûÂþÌìÌà team

@Julien

My husband and I are moving to the Passais Villages area of Normandy, June of 2026. We’re doing a 2 week fact finding trip in September of this year. We’re selling our house now and renting in the USA for a year in case we decide to go earlier. I’ve been learning the language for a year and my husband is brushing up on his. He’s English and he worked in France for a period when he was younger. We are researching as much as possible in advance, hence singing up for this group. My husband’s brother lives in Saint Fraimbault, and that’s one of the many reasons we want to go. He can help us but he moved from England and we’re moving from USA.

Bonjour. We are Monica and Warren from New Zealand, though we also hold US citizenship. We have lived in the south Charente, south west France, for the past 7 years.

We run 3x Meublé de Tourisme (furnished) holiday homes in small local villages and welcome guests from around the world. This area is not as well known as the 'south of France' but we have the 2nd most sunshine hours in the country and the winters are mild and the summers glorious.

We are just one hour from the Atlantic coast, and our local towns and cities are smaller than most, except Bordeaux of course. We love the undulating, Cognac vine covered hills in this area and the Charente River Valley below.

So much to love and the French people have been so welcoming. Let me know if you want more information about the area. I love to spread the word  ***

@Julien

Hi

I am New here, I am specialized in the field of CAD processing (Method manager) especially the processing of geographic data, I am familiar with many types of CAD and GIS software. I would like to find a job in the same sector in France

I look forward for the upcoming

@juliceandrianarisoa

Hello and welcome !

I would suggest that you look for opportunities on jobs portals such as those listed in the Working in France article and that you create your CV in the Jobs in France section for better visibility.

LinkedIn works also very well.

All the best

Bhavna

Hi!

I'm new to this forum but I've been living in France since 2003. I'm originally from the UK.

I started out living in Caen but it wasn't very welcoming to English expats, so I moved to Nantes after a few years where I have lived ever since.

During my time here I have raised 3 children, mostly on my own. Now that they are grown, I find myself alone, so I have decided to move as soon as I can afford to. I might move back to the UK, I might go somewhere else, who knows? I just got a part-time job as a babysitter/English teacher and I have a few ideas for some viable side-hustles, so l have plenty of time to decide where to move to whilst I gather the funds for it.

Think of the weather! the SW of France seems great.

I'm Polish starting to live in France because of partner who is French. I'd like to get a job as an English teacher as a second language. For the last 5 years I've been teaching online, but I start to miss people and I love meeting new people that's why I'd love tot take up a job as regular teacher.

I'm Charly, wants to move back to China with my wife. I'm many things, engineer in electronics and embedded software, as well as uber driver. Looking for opportunities.

Hello! I am French and also American with both citizenships and passports. I am going to retire in France in 2027 and am compiling a large file with information that will help me settle down in Toulouse. I was raised there and left when I was a teenager. I still have family there. I read a lot about how difficult it is to find accommodation but I refuse to believe it. I like to hear positive and optimistic comments rather than negative and unhelpful ones.

Merci!!

Hello,

I'm looking to expand my knowledge of living in France. In a couple of years I intend to retire and relocate to France's southern region. Although I've never there, I plan to visit the region in the fall once the tourists have returned home. I'll be searching for peaceful, amiable country living where I can grow a little vegetable garden and socialize with kind locals.

@alinspain22

***

@omarqraisy7795

Don't post personal details on the open forum and especially meaningless posts without any description. Do you actually live in France?

I am Amy, and I am just starting my journey of relocation.  France is my current country of choice, but as my exploration continues, that may change.  I want to work in the country where I relocate, as I'm not quite ready for retirement.  I am excited about the prospect of joining a new culture and country and all the benefits and challenges that will come with it. 

@Crazywaddle

Hi Amy, welcome to the forum 🙂

If you’re considering France, you might find this guide useful: /en/guide/europe/france/

If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

Wishing you the best as you explore your options!

Regards

Bhavna

Bonjour - which is about the extent of my ability to speak French.

My husband and I visited Paris for the first time in the spring of 2025 and were instantly enchanted. I am retired and he is retiring sometime in the next five years so that give us time to explore the notion that came upon us quickly, a permanent move to Paris.

The idea of moving to Paris is more about the positives we found In the prospects that France provides for a lifestyle more akin to what we desire than it is about escaping the growing authoritarianism in the U.S., though that certainly is a factor. It is also an intimidating prospect, all the details and requirements, the mere act of making such a momentous move. It's my hope that we will find some of the information, advice and insights that will be required here on this website.

Bonjour,

I'm French, but I have lived in the United States for ten years and returned in 2023. I spent twenty years in Paris, mostly in Montmartre. Now, I live near Paris, in the Saint-Germain-en-Laye area, and I don't regret coming back. I’ve missed the charm of the French lifestyle—its architecture, history, food, and all the regions of France—over the years, but that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy many aspects and people of the United States; I really consider the United States my second home. My best advice is to start learning the language now, since you have some time before you move. This will greatly influence whether you can integrate and make it your new home, building friendships with locals. Many people wait to live in France, thinking immersion alone will be enough to learn the language, but that's not true. You’ve probably met people in the United States who immigrated and still couldn’t speak the language fluently after many years; the same applies in France. Learning a foreign language takes time, but it's a wonderful and enriching experience that can change your life and help you and your husband feel truly part of French society. I’ve been teaching English to Americans for over a decade. If you'd like some guidance on where to start (no pressure), please don't hesitate to reach out at ***.

My second tip is to start thinking about what you want to keep and what you’re ready to leave behind in the United States. Sorting your belongings will take time—I know it did for me!

The place you’ll live in Paris will likely be much smaller than your house in the U.S., so you won't be able to keep everything. Most, if not all, appliances may not work here. If you want to rent first, you’ll need a guarantor, such as Smartgarant, which is insurance for unpaid rent (the one I used). Without a full-time job in France as an employee and a French tax notice, it's impossible to rent long-term without a guarantor. They’ll want to see your savings and regular monthly income.

The third piece of advice is to open a French bank account as soon as you arrive (you’ll need proof of your French address, like a rent receipt and a French phone bill). Many French banks are hesitant due to the FATCA agreement between the US and France, but some banks will still accept you. In France, most essentials—such as paying rent, utilities, obtaining a phone plan, health insurance reimbursements, and even receiving a salary—require an IBAN from a French (or at least an EU) bank. Therefore, expats need a local account to reside in France and settle their bills. I hope this advice will help you a little!

@Alecross

Hi, it's true. I'm French and have lived in the United States for over 10 years before moving back to the United States in 2023. I had to stay with my family for quite a while to be able to rent a place on my own. You need a French notice to rent anything, savings, a French phone bill, and a French bank account. If you have some family in Toulouse, you will need to live with them first to open a French bank account, as you need an address. Second, secure a permanent, full-time job in France to demonstrate a regular income and have your French social security number. Renting something in France, especially if you are coming from a foreign country, means that you will need a guarantor, which essentially serves as insurance for unpaid rent. I would have liked to know what I share with you today, as it took me so long to figure out how damn I could rent something in France! Knowledge is gold here!

@Alecross

Hi Alecross, our family owns rental properties in several regions in France. Over the years, we have had many tenants who did not provide all the guarantees that most landlords require. Among these tenants are those who have become lifelong friends even after they leave; we have also been screwed many times -- we now scrutinize very very carefully people from certain countries, of certain ethnicities or certain backgrounds.

I would encourage you, when making contact with landlords, to give as much detail as possible. Build trust. Understand that landlords are just trying to avoid two years of rent going down the drain because they made a bad choice. I suspect that you have a rather good profile. Bon courage!

@rsb56

Bonjour! °ä³ó°ù²â²õ³Ùè±ô±ð has given some wonderful advice. My advice would be to travel to other regions of France before you decide. Paris does not rank in the top 10 cities/towns that I would like to live in. At least try "Grand Paris", which includes the regions around Paris. There are many cute towns that can offer much bigger living spaces and quality of life than Paris itself, and you might just be 30 minutes from Paris on public transport. Bon courage!

@bergeron561

Hi Bergeron, the French countryside is perfect for your little garden. It would not hurt to research a little about the different types of climate and soil in different regions of France. In the south, you might end up planting only lavenders and cactuses instead of the plants you had wanted initially. Good luck and happy adventuring!

***

@sebastianbabuscak

Hello and welcome !

Could you please create an advert in the dedicated section (Jobs in France) : /en/jobs/europe/france/

Thank you in advance

Bhavna