“I’ve heard I can spend up to nine months a year at my French home without moving to France permanently.” It may sound too good to be true, but in many cases the answer is yes. Most people know about the Schengen rule that limits visa-free stays to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period.…
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For most people in France, the Carte Vitale is simply part of everyday life. You hand it over at the doctor’s surgery, pharmacy or hospital, and your healthcare reimbursements are processed automatically. No annual forms. No annual renewal. It just quietly gets on with the job. So, do “inactive” foreigners really have to renew it…
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When English is your first language, deciding whether to use tu or vous can be a bit of a minefield. It’s not just a question of grammar or usage. It’s about culture, politeness and everyday relationships. Because English doesn’t force the choice, it’s easy to fall into one of two traps if you’re relatively new to…
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There you are, standing at the desk, rummaging through your dossier while a small queue forms behind you. You know the document they’re asking for is in the folder you submitted last month. It’s just that it’s refusing to surface the moment you need to produce it – again. It’s tempting to take this personally,…
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If you’ve started the process of settling in France, you’ve probably already heard the word “préfecture” said with a certain tone — somewhere between resignation and dread. The reality is the staff are generally helpful and often the biggest headache is find a place to park. The préfecture is the office that handles your carte…
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Proving where you live in France One of my British clients was quite put out recently when their Carte Vitale was refused as a justificatif de domicile (proof of address). “But it’s an official government health card!” he said. “Obviously that proves where I live!” Well, actually, no. It proves that you’re entitled to healthcare…
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French healthcare doesn’t cover everything One of the biggest surprises for many newcomers is that French healthcare isn’t entirely free. While the state health system (Assurance Maladie) reimburses a significant proportion of medical costs and prescriptions, it doesn’t usually cover everything. That’s why most French people choose to have a mutuelle (complementary health insurance). It…
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Why the French Mairie Isn’t Just a Town Hall Two hats, one office If you’ve recently moved to France, you’ve probably been told to “go to the mairie.” Sensible advice—but the mairie isn’t quite the local government office you might be imagining. What makes the French system unusual is that the maire wears two hats.…
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