What You Need To Know To Move To France.
Having multiple passports is one of the fundamental tenets of the Flag Theory. As you get multiple passports and nationalities, you slowly shed your identity as a national of one nation and become a global citizen with potentially unlimited freedom to move around. This physical freedom is only one aspect of acquiring multiple nationalities, there’s an entirely whole new world of financial opportunities that open up to you.
There are few countries in the world that present a path to a better life than those in Europe. Even in Europe, France is undoubtedly one of the most advantageous to live in. The country has one of the most stable economies in the world— it’s a beautiful country, rich in culture and not a sprawling mass of urban structures. It’s a pleasant place to live in and also presents a lot of opportunities to the Perpetual Traveller.
If you’ve made the decision to move to France, then Kudos to you and if you’re considering a move then you should know what path to take and what you get out of it.
Nationality Laws In France
It’s really difficult to get a French nationality, and you really need to capitalize on any opportunity that comes your way. There are essentially two ways for anyone to get a French nationality, these being:
- Citizenship by blood, descent or birth in France
- Citizenship by marriage
Citizenship By Blood, Descent Or Birth In France
The French are pretty traditional with their nationality laws—they follow the Jus Sanguine or the Jus Soli laws when deciding who can get a passport. Jus Sanguine effectively means that only people who are of proven to be of French descent qualify for nationality. Jus Sanguine literally means “by blood” and those who are born to French nationals automatically qualify for citizenship. It doesn’t matter if your parents have relinquished their nationalities; if you can show any close direct relative (grandparents for example) as a native French national, then you can apply for citizenship.
Similarly, you have the Jus Soli laws of nationalities which means “Of the soil” implying that anyone who’s born on French soil qualifies for citizenship. This is a fairly tricky process, where your parents or relatives need not be French citizens but if you’re born in France, then you automatically get citizenship. Clearly this isn’t a route that many can follow, but it helps to know what the options are.
Citizenship By Marriage
If you get married to a French national, while they still hold their French passports, you can still qualify for French nationality. There is a strict procedure that you’ll need to follow if you’re applying for a French passport through marriage, the conditions you must comply with are:
- You must be married for four years.
- You’ll need proof that you’ve been married for four years.
- Your spouse must retain their citizenship for the entire time of the marriage.
- You must show proof that you’ve been married for five years if the following condition apply:
- If you can’t prove you’ve lived in France for the past 3 years.
- Your spouse can’t prove that they are registered residents of France during the time of the marriage.
- Neither of you knows French.
The French Culture
The French have a long intellectual history which is directly tied to their cultural values as well. As a highly political nation, the French are one of the most socially liberal nations on earth who protect their political values and place a high value on individual freedom.
To that end, they’ve created these societies which elevate your freedom and agency above all else. It’s because of this freedom, that the French people have taken their cultural development farther than possibly any other nation in the world. The emphasis on art and beauty as reflected in the architecture and cuisine is easily noticeable.
Financial Opportunities In France
While many people think that the French people are all about the art, beauty, and art they forget that it’s also one of the most economically prosperous nations in the European Union. The country has some of the finest financial services in the world, with leading economic sectors like logistics, pharmaceuticals, automotive and robotics.
There are plenty of opportunities for people to invest in the economy, and sustain their financial status while also spreading their portfolios across the entire European Union. The best thing about living in France is the fact that you have ample business opportunities in the country and specifically throughout the rest of Europe as well.
You Must Learn The Language
Even though many people in France speak English, you’ll need to learn French if you want to fit in. This is necessary if you’re applying for French nationality through marriage and it’s essential if you want to settle down in the country. Considering the attachment to their culture and value systems, the people in France exclusively speak French and it makes it easier for you to assimilate with the rest of the society.
Here is an amazing interview with my friend Olly Richards: Secrets to Learning A Foreign Language Quickly
Tips on Getting Your Visa
The most important thing to consider when planning on moving to France should be acquiring a long-term visa. Without it, every single plan of moving is futile and trying to live in France (or in any country for that matter) without a long-term visa is not just plain silly, but risky as well.
Now, in order to get a long term visa the best way to go is to have the support from your company or from any other corporation that can sponsor you with an employment letter or in any other similar ways. This will dramatically increase your chances of getting a working visa and, since corporations that bring employees from other countries usually take care of other aspects besides visa sponsoring, you will enjoy the benefit of having a place to stay, and even maybe also a car to drive since your very first day in France.
Regardless of whether you have a sponsor or not, the visa application process remains the same, so you should make sure to comply with all the paperwork and fees required. However, of all the paperwork that you will submit, the most important piece will be any kind of documentation that proves that you will be able to support yourself while you are in France. This is where a healthy financial situation and any kind of recommendation from a French company can truly make a difference.
Note: Even if you don’t normally need a visa to visit France, planning to move there is an entirely different matter, and a resident visa (and all the documentation that it entails) will definitely be required.
Another important aspect to consider when applying for a French visa is that their processing time can be extremely long, with approval times ranging between two to six months, and three additional months before being granted entrance to the country of Monet. All the time after being granted approval should be spent in looking for the best methods to ship all of your belongings to your soon-to-be home, as well as trying to find the best place to stay in case you still haven’t chosen one.
Tips on Moving to France
Once you have been granted a permit and will be moving soon, there are some aspects that you will have to consider before moving.
First of all, you should become as acquainted as possible with the French culture, history, geography, cuisine and history. This will help you avoid unpleasant surprises and be prepared in case you need any of this information. Also, you should perform thorough research of the area you will be moving into. This will grant you tremendous insight into the local culture and will make you aware of any circumstances that you might need to know of (for example, the local festivities, traditions and even the climate at your time of arrival).
Also, even if you get the long term visa, you should carry all the documents you used to get your visa with you when you travel, since French love paperwork and any piece of paper that you can show as evidence of your claims at customs, migration offices or other checkpoints during your trip will be definitely helpful.
In Conclusion
France is a great place to live, and the Perpetual Traveler has much to gain from moving to the country, just be mindful of the length of stay in the country and the taxes that come with that.
If you decide to go the route of French nationality, you can travel throughout the world and have access to some of the finest financial services that Europe has to offer.
With the amount of time you’ve spent developing your financial well-being, it’s only right that you spend some of it on yourself. While making money is great, it’s of no use if you can’t experience a life of freedom—in many ways, it’s only money that can buy you freedom. As a financial libertarian, I am firmly of the opinion that your overall agency is dependent on your financial independence and your wealth. Moving to France is a great way to enjoying your financial success and it also offers you the opportunity to financially grow even more.
If you want to learn French before you move, then you should probably speak to my friends at iwillteachyoualanguage to learn French with the experts, their methods for learning French are proven to work.
Here is probably the most extensive ebook on Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Eliminating Your Taxes, Protecting Your Assets And Regaining Privacy Over Your Life And Investments. It is called The Ultimate Guide To Going Offshore.
I hope you enjoyed reading this article: What You Need To Know To Move To France. If you have any questions, please contact our office HERE.
I’ve included some great articles for you to read, enjoy!
