Retire in France:
From 9-to-5 to Vin et Fromage
As Americans living overseas, we now get the joy of filing two tax returns every year: French and US. While expat taxes can be quite complex, the US-France tax treaty keeps things fairly simple for us. We’ve now finished our…
Two French Apartment Leases Later: What Renting in France Is Really Like
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in HousingOne year into living in France, we’re now in our second apartment. We’ve experienced two apartment searches, set up all utilities twice, and moved across the country once. Finding an apartment in France was one of our biggest anxieties before…
Opening a Bank Account in France: A Practical Guide for Americans
Many American expats dread the need to open a local bank account when they move to France. They’ve heard the rumors on how difficult it can be and how no local bank will do business with Americans. While it is…
Remote Work on a French Visitor Visa: Rules, Risks, and Reality
Introduction: Why This Question Comes Up So Often One of the most hotly debated questions amongst expats in France is whether the VLS-TS Visitor visa allows remote work in France. Legally, the Visitor visa does not authorize any professional activity.…
One Year Later: What Life in France Is Really Like
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January marks our one-year anniversary of moving to France. It’s been a whirlwind year with plenty of ups and downs, but we’re finally feeling settled now that we’ve moved to Annecy from Nice. The first six months of living here…
How to Retire to France from the US: Visas, Healthcare, Taxes & Cost of Living
Thinking about retiring to France from the US? You’re not alone. It’s possible for Americans to retire to France, but the process is more structured than many expect. This guide explains exactly how US citizens retire in France, including the…
Cost of Living in France (2025): What It Really Cost Us to Move and Live Here
2025 was an expensive year for us. Not only did we move from the US to France, but we also moved within France. We arrived at the Nice airport in mid January with only four suitcases, having sold everything we…
From Sunshine to Lakeside Living: Why We Chose Annecy over the French Riviera
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The Côte d’Azur had everything we were looking for in life. Beautiful beaches, stunning mountains, and year-round sunny weather. Plus all the amenities of a European city we couldn’t find in the US: walkability, public transit, and gorgeous historic architecture.…
Understanding French Healthcare (Part 2): How Mutuelle Insurance Works
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in HealthcareUnderstanding French Healthcare (Part 1): Using our new Carte Vitale The public healthcare in France isn’t free. After living in France for three months, residents qualify to join the healthcare system (Sécurité Sociale) and receive a Carte Vitale. But the…
