Moving to France as a Brit is no longer as simple as packing a Transit van and crossing the Channel. Post-Brexit, the “dream” is guarded by a gatekeeper called the VLS-TS visa. If you are planning to join the roughly 170,000 British expats in France, you need three things: a stable income, a handle on the French healthcare system (PUMa), and a healthy respect for the préfecture’s love of paperwork.
The rewards—cheaper property, better wine, and a functional healthcare system—remain, but the entry price is now administrative patience.
Don’t Forget To Check: Moving to France from the UK Checklist: The Ultimate Relocation Guide
The Post-Brexit Landscape: No More “Just Turning Up”
The reality is that freedom of movement is dead. For years, we at SeaFrance Holidays watched families relocate with nothing but a map and a sense of adventure. Now, you need a visa before you even book your ferry. If you plan to stay longer than 90 days in any 180-day period, you are an immigrant, not a visitor.
On my last trip through the Port of Calais, the salt air was thick, but so was the tension at the passport booths. The French border police (PAF) are meticulous. They want to see your stamps. If you’re moving permanently, you’ll likely be on a Visa de Long Séjour valant Titre de Séjour (VLS-TS). It is a sticker in your passport that acts as your residence permit for the first year. But there’s a catch: you must validate it online within three months of arriving, or you’re technically in the country illegally.
Visa Types for British Expats
| Visa Type | Best For | Key Requirement |
| VLS-TS (Visitor) | Retirees / Non-workers | Proof of pension or savings; no French work allowed. |
| Professional (Entrepreneur) | Self-employed / Artisans | A viable business plan approved by the French economy. |
| Talent Passport | High-earners / Tech / Arts | High salary threshold or significant cultural contribution. |
| Salaried Worker | Employees | A French company must prove they couldn’t hire a local. |
Where the Brits Are: Finding British Expat Communities in France
“Dordogneshire” isn’t a myth, but it has evolved. While the Dordogne remains the spiritual home of the British expat, newer hubs are emerging. I’ve spent time in the backstreets of Eymet, where the smell of baking baguettes competes with the scent of an English fry-up. It’s comforting for some, but stifling for others.
If you are looking for British expat communities in France, you generally have three choices:
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The Rural Dream: The Limousin and Charente regions. Here, you get “more house for your Pound.” It’s quiet, green, and heavily populated by British retirees.
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The Coastal Hubs: Brittany and Normandy. These are popular due to their proximity to the ferry ports of St. Malo, Caen, and Dieppe. It makes nipping back to the UK to see the grandkids much easier.
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The Tech/City Hubs: Toulouse, Lyon, and Bordeaux. These attract a younger crowd—families working in aeronautics (Airbus) or the wine trade.
Expert Field Note: The “Mairie” Relationship
In a small French village, the Mayor (Le Maire) is more powerful than the police. When you move in, don’t just hide behind your shutters. Go to the Mairie, introduce yourself, and offer a bottle of something decent (local wine, not Scotch). This one gesture will make your future planning permissions and administrative hurdles move 50% faster.
Healthcare in France for British Expats: A System That Actually Works
The French healthcare system is often ranked the best in the world, but it is not free at the point of use like the NHS. It’s a reimbursement system. You pay for your doctor’s visit (usually €26.50), swipe your Carte Vitale, and the state puts about 70% back into your bank account.
How it Works for Brits
If you are a retiree, the UK government still pays for your healthcare in france for british expats via the S1 form. You apply for this from the NHS Overseas Healthcare Services. Once you register your S1 with the French Caisse Primaire d’Assurance Maladie (CPAM), the UK covers your healthcare costs as if you were still in Britain.
But here’s the kicker: If you are under retirement age and not working, you generally have to wait three months before you can apply for “PUMa” (Protection Universelle Maladie). During those 90 days, you must have private health insurance. Do not skip this. I’ve seen expats hit with a €10,000 bill for a simple gallstone operation because they thought their EHIC (now GHIC) would cover a permanent move. It won’t.
Healthcare Coverage Comparison
| Service | Cost to You (Standard) | State Reimbursement | With “Mutuelle” (Top-up) |
| General Practitioner | €26.50 | ~€18.50 | 100% Covered |
| Specialist | €50 – €80 | ~70% of base rate | Varies (often 100%) |
| Hospitalization | High | 80% (usually) | 100% + Private Room |
The Digital Life: The British Expats in France Forum
In the old days, you’d meet at the local pub to figure out how to register a car. Today, the british expats in france forum landscape is where the real work happens. However, be careful. These forums (and Facebook groups) can be echo chambers of misinformation.
I’ve spent hours lurking on these boards. You’ll find “Dave from Devon” giving legal advice that is ten years out of date. For the most accurate help, look for groups specifically dedicated to the “Withdrawal Agreement” or sites like Stay Grounded in France. They deal in facts, not anecdotes about whose neighbor’s cousin got deported.
The Sensory Reality: What They Don’t Tell You
The move is often romanticized. People talk about the “light in Provence” or the “slow pace of life.” They don’t talk about the smell of the déchetterie (the dump) on a Tuesday, or the bone-chilling damp of a French stone house in January. French houses weren’t built with central heating in mind. You will become obsessed with wood burners and the price of oak logs.
There is also the frustration of the “Pause Déjeuner.” Between 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM, France stops. The bank is closed. The DIY shop is closed. Even the local préfecture where you’re trying to get your residency sorted is empty. If you try to fight this, you will fail. The only solution is to find a bakery, buy a pain au chocolat (still warm, the chocolate still gooey), and wait it out with a coffee.
Expert Field Note: Driving on the “Other” Side
If you bring your UK car, you have one month to start the registration process (the Carte Grise). The ANTS website—the French equivalent of the DVLA—is notoriously buggy. It will reject your photos, crash your browser, and ignore your emails. If you can afford it, pay a local garage a “service fee” (usually €50) to handle the upload for you. It is the best money you will ever spend in France.
How to Register for Healthcare as a British Expat
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Secure your S1 Form (if retired): Contact the NHS Overseas Healthcare Services at least a month before you depart. This is your golden ticket to the French system.
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Apply for your Carte Vitale: Once you’ve been in France for three months (or immediately if working), visit your local CPAM office with your birth certificate (translated into French by a certified traducteur assermenté).
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Get a Mutuelle: The state only covers about 70%. Buy a “Mutuelle” (private top-up insurance) to cover the remaining 30%. Without it, a long hospital stay will drain your savings.
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Register a “Médecin Traitant”: You must officially register with a local GP. If you don’t, the state will penalize you by reducing your healthcare reimbursements.
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Set up “Ameli”: This is the online portal where you track your reimbursements and download your insurance certificates. It’s the digital heart of your French life.
The Financial Burden: Taxes and Social Charges
British expats often assume that because they are “retired,” they don’t have to deal with French taxes. This is a dangerous mistake. If you live in France for more than 183 days a year, you are a tax resident.
France taxes your worldwide income. Thanks to the dual-taxation treaty, you won’t pay tax on the same pound twice, but you still have to declare it. You will also encounter “Social Charges” (CSG). Even if your income tax is low, social charges can take a significant bite out of your pension.
Regional Cost of Living (Estimated Monthly for a Couple)
| Region | Housing (Rent/Mortgage) | Utilities & Food | Total Est. |
| Paris / IDF | €1,800+ | €900 | €2,700+ |
| Dordogne / Rural South | €700 | €600 | €1,300 |
| Brittany / Normandy | €650 | €550 | €1,200 |
| French Alps (Chamonix) | €1,200 | €800 | €2,000 |
Expert Field Note: The “Taxe d’Habitation”
The French government has been phasing out the “Taxe d’Habitation” (residence tax) for primary residences, but it still applies to second homes. If you are a British expat keeping a UK “bolt-hole” or if you haven’t officially declared your French home as your residence principale, you will be hit with a bill every Autumn. Make sure your status is correctly filed at the local tax office (Hôtel des Impôts).
FAQ: Navigating Life as a Brit in France
Can I still move to France after Brexit?
Yes, but you need a visa. You can no longer just move and start looking for work. You must apply for a visa at a French consulate in the UK before you move.
How much money do I need to show for a French visa?
For a visitor visa (retirement), the French authorities typically look for an income equivalent to the French minimum wage (SMIC), which is around €1,400 per month after tax for a single person.
Does the NHS pay for my healthcare in France?
Only if you are a state pensioner with an S1 form. If you are early-retired or a digital nomad, you are responsible for your own insurance until you qualify for the French state system.
Do I need to speak French to live in France?
Legally, for certain long-term residency permits (the 10-year card), you now have to prove a minimum level of French (A2 or B1). Socially, if you don’t speak French, you will be perpetually overcharged and lonely.
Can I bring my British car to France?
Yes, but you must register it within a month. You will need a “Certificate of Conformity” from the manufacturer and you may have to pay a “Malus” tax if the car has high CO2 emissions.
What is the “90-day rule”?
Brits can spend 90 days in every 180 days in the Schengen Area without a visa. Once you hit day 91, you are an overstayer unless you have a residency permit.
Is the Dordogne still the best place for Brits?
It has the best infrastructure for English speakers (doctors, mechanics, and shops), but property prices have risen. If you want better value, look at the Creuse or Haute-Vienne.
How do I find a “British expats in france forum”?
Search Facebook for “Brits in [Region Name]” or visit Expatica and The Local France. These are generally more reliable than general travel forums.
What is a “Titre de Séjour”?
It is your physical residency card. You usually get your first one after your initial one-year visa expires. It is your most important document in France.
Do I have to pay French inheritance tax?
France has strict “forced heirship” rules. However, under EU law, you can choose the law of your nationality (UK law) to govern your estate by clearly stating this in your will.
Can I work remotely for a UK company in France?
Technically, yes, but your company must register to pay French social charges, or you must set up as a Micro-Entrepreneur in France and invoice them. You cannot just “work from home” on a UK contract without notifying the French authorities.
Is healthcare in France for British expats free?
No. It is a state-subsidized reimbursement system. You will almost always pay something out of pocket unless you have a 100% top-up insurance policy (Mutuelle).
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