Fast Facts

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Time Zone:

The French time zone is Central European Time (CET). This is GMT +1.

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Largest Cities:

Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Toulouse and Nice

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Size:

67 million people, 547,030 sq km

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Currency:

France uses the Euro

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Languages:

88% of the population speaks French. Other languages include German dialects, Basque, Flemish, Italian, Catalan, Breton, Occitan, Tuscan and Arabic.

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Climate:

While Northern France has cold winters and hot summers and boasts a temperate climate, Southern France has hot summers and mild winters. The southwest of the country receives the most rainfall.

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Location:

France is located in Western Europe. It is bordered by Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg and Andorra. The Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean coastlines also touch France.

The French Culture

The best way to make a great first impression is to ensure you’re using the appropriate greeting.

Whenever addressing someone new, make sure to use either Madam or Monsieur. Formal greetings consist of saying bonjour (hello) or bonsoir (good evening).

In business settings, it is most common to shake hands at the beginning of the day or at meetings and when leaving.

For those more informal greetings, the preferred approach is the double kiss on each other’s cheeks.

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French culture
French culture

The French Culture

The best way to make a great first impression is to ensure you’re using the appropriate greeting.

Whenever addressing someone new, make sure to use either Madam or Monsieur. Formal greetings consist of saying bonjour (hello) or bonsoir (good evening).

In business settings, it is most common to shake hands at the beginning of the day or at meetings and when leaving.

For those more informal greetings, the preferred approach is the double kiss on each other’s cheeks.

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High view of housing in France

Housing in France

France continues to be one of the core-performing European housing markets. If you’re moving to France for the first time, it might be best to first rent and then look at buying something more permanent if you plan to stay.

Renting is more common than buying in France, as buying property is very costly. The rental market is competitive, so make sure to give yourself a couple of months to find the perfect home.

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Moving pets to France

Moving pets into France is a fairly easy process. With current proof of required vaccinations and paperwork, there is no quarantine period.

Your pets must be identified by an electronic transponder. Animals identified by a tattoo before 3 July 2011 may continue to travel provided that the tattoo is clearly legible; Pets must be at least 12 weeks of age on the date the rabies vaccine was administered by a licensed veterinarian. Also, the introduction into France of dogs, cats and ferrets less than 12 weeks old that have not been vaccinated against rabies is prohibited.

There is a ban on importing certain attack dogs into France. The dogs concerned are Category 1 dogs without a pedigree recognised by the French Ministry of Agriculture belonging to the following breeds: Staffordshire terrier, American Staffordshire terrier (pitbull), Mastiff (boerbull) and Tosa. For more information, read our guide to Pet Relocation.

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pet car laying on bed
pet car laying on bed

Moving pets to France

Moving pets into France is a fairly easy process. With current proof of required vaccinations and paperwork, there is no quarantine period.

Your pets must be identified by an electronic transponder. Animals identified by a tattoo before 3 July 2011 may continue to travel provided that the tattoo is clearly legible; Pets must be at least 12 weeks of age on the date the rabies vaccine was administered by a licensed veterinarian. Also, the introduction into France of dogs, cats and ferrets less than 12 weeks old that have not been vaccinated against rabies is prohibited.

There is a ban on importing certain attack dogs into France. The dogs concerned are Category 1 dogs without a pedigree recognised by the French Ministry of Agriculture belonging to the following breeds: Staffordshire terrier, American Staffordshire terrier (pitbull), Mastiff (boerbull) and Tosa. For more information, read our guide to Pet Relocation.

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Children in school classroom

Schooling in France

The educational system in France is of a very high standard.

Attendance is mandatory for children between the ages of 6 and 16, although a large number of children start well before the minimum age.

With a variety of schooling options, the primary considerations for selection include cost, curriculum and language barriers. The school period for elementary, secondary, and lower and upper secondary education runs from September until June.

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Moving to France FAQ and helpful links

 

About our Local Paris Office

Date Opened: February 23, 1999

Director, France: Sabrina Cames

Location:

Paris, France
5 Avenue Carnot
91300 Massy, France
+33 1 78 95 60 09

Service offerings:

  • Full-service local, regional and international home moving services
  • Corporate relocation services
  • Assignment management services
  • Visa support and immigration services
  • Move management services
  • Lump sum programme management
  • Advisory and consulting services
France office entrance image-1
France office entrance image-1

About our Local Paris Office

Date Opened: February 23, 1999

Director, France: Sabrina Cames

Location:

Paris, France
5 Avenue Carnot
91300 Massy, France
+33 1 78 95 60 09

Service offerings:

  • Full-service local, regional and international home moving services
  • Corporate relocation services
  • Assignment management services
  • Visa support and immigration services
  • Move management services
  • Lump sum programme management
  • Advisory and consulting services

Disclaimer: Our Moving to France guide is written to provide an overview of the requirements and procedures for moving to France. It does not constitute legal or immigration advice. Your French visa application requirements and eligibility will depend on your unique circumstances. All readers are advised to contact their French consulate or immigration specialist for specific information.

Young female on train in France

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