Relocation plan: France

Do you need a visa?

Yes. For skilled jobs, the most common route is the "talent" residence permit (formerly passeport talent), valid for up to 4 years, with no separate work permit:

• EU Blue Card ("talent – carte bleue européenne"): a degree of at least 3 years or 5 years of experience, a contract of at least 6 months and the salary in the box above.
• "Talent – qualified employee": for people with at least a master's degree obtained in France or joining a recognised innovative company, with the salary in the box above.

1. Apply for the long-stay visa on France-Visas and at the consulate in the country where you live.
2. After arriving, follow the visa's instructions on the ANEF portal to validate it or get the residence permit.
3. Your family can join you with a "talent – family" permit, which allows work.

Official conditions (service-public.fr)

Documents and where to get them

In your country, before you leave

• Passport, valid for the whole move; the visa is issued in the passport.
• Birth certificate (and marriage certificate, if married). Usually with an apostille (or legalisation) and a certified translation; check with the embassy.
• Criminal record certificate from your country of nationality and, if different, from where you lived recently: visa applications often require it. Request it close to the date it will be used.
• Degree, transcript and references from previous jobs, digitally, with certified translations if the visa asks for them.

In France

• Social security number and carte Vitale: the employer declares your hiring and the health insurance fund (CPAM) assigns the number; you can sign the contract before you have it. ameli.fr.
• Proof of address (justificatif de domicile): lease or electricity bill; banks and almost everything ask for it.
• RIB (bank details): the employer needs it to pay your salary.
• impots.gouv.fr account: tax is withheld monthly and the first return is filed in the spring of the following year.

Step by step

Before you leave

1. Sign the contract and confirm in writing the gross annual salary, the start date and the relocation support.
2. Apply for the "talent" visa on France-Visas with the signed contract and your degree.
3. Gather the documents above. Renting usually requires a file (contract, payslips, guarantee); the free public guarantee Visale can replace a guarantor.
4. In your country, tell the authorities you are moving: update your registered address and your tax residence. In the year you leave, tax may be due for the part of the year you were still resident.

First week

1. Open a French bank account and give the RIB to your employer.
2. Complete the arrival steps shown on your visa, on the ANEF portal.
3. Check that the employer has declared you; the CPAM sends your social security number.

First month

1. Choose a GP (médecin traitant) and declare them to the CPAM, for full reimbursement.
2. Join the employer's complementary health insurance (mutuelle); employers must offer it.
3. Create your impots.gouv.fr account and check your withholding rate.