Living and Working in France
Quick links: Accommodation / Bank Accounts / Healthcare / Pay & Bens / Tax / Visas / Travel
Accommodation
The internet is increasingly used by those looking to rent a property in France, with popular sites listing the most up to date properties on the market.
Your monthly salary must be more than 3 times the rental value of the property. If you use an estate agent they will charge you a month’s rent for administration fees.
The deposit is usually 2 months’ rent and is refundable dependent on wear and tear at the end of the lease. Both the tenant and landlord must give 3 months notice. The tenant is protected by a law that forbids eviction in the months between October and March. Utilities are usually covered by the rent.
A new tenancy agreement must be registered at the local town hall as you will be eligible for an annual taxe d’habitation. You are also obliged to insure the property, producing valid insurance documents when you are given the keys and each subsequent year on the landlord’s behest.
Bank Accounts
Opening a bank account is easy - simply present your personal adviser with the usual passport, driving licence and utility bill to get started. You will be issued with account details necessary to set up standing orders and direct debits and a chequebook and bank card will be sent to you within a fortnight.
Healthcare
Medical treatment is not subsidised but there are exceptions, particularly if you require hospitalisation. Most doctors and hospitals have an agreement with Social Security (conventionné) to charge fees at a standard rate. It’s wise to check whether your health professional is conventionné - if not, even additional private insurance (mutuelle) may not cover you.
- To locate a GP: www.conseil-national.medecin.fr
- To locate a dentist: www.annuaire.chirurgiens-dentistes.fr
- To find a pharmacy: www.ordre.pharmacien.fr
- You can dial 112 from anywhere in Europe to report an emergency.
- Dial 18 for Fire, 17 for Police and 15 for Ambulance.
Pay & Benefits
France employs staff on both a temporary and permanent basis, has a 35 hour working week and a minimum wage of 8.44€. Salaries are paid at the end of the month and bonuses are available based on individual or company performance. Annual holiday allowance is 30 days, not including bank holidays, with many companies also offering generous benefits packages comprising health insurance, subprime lending and profit-share.
Tax
Surprisingly, only half of the people working in France pay income tax, filing their tax return by mid March and paying the outstanding balance on a monthly basis.
However, France imposes charges sociaux, which is similar to National Insurance in the UK - the only difference being that these charges are significantly more substantial and kick in at relatively low levels of earning.
For those lucky enough to work for a French employer, their company will foot the bill. Foreign residents who are self employed or run a small business will not enjoy the same privileges. These social charges are collected by an organisation called the URSSAF and in 2008 these payments were deducted at 13.4%
In addition to social security taxes there are mandatory health charges and pension payments. Rates can vary, but expect these two forms of tax to account for 20% of your income. This means that the social charges – social security, health and pension – can amount to more than 30% of your income.
Visas
Short stay visas are valid for three months. Long stay visas are issued by the French Embassy in your home country. A long-stay visa entitles you to apply for one of four types of temporary resident card: visitor, student, family or employee. If you intend to work in France for more than three months your first priority on arrival is to apply for a resident’s card*. Detailed information on visas is available from the French Embassy or Consulate in your home country.
* Citizens from the European Union no longer require a resident’s card to settle in France. Non-EU citizens must obtain a work permit and a long-stay visa before they can apply for a resident’s card.
Travel
The rail network in France is called the SNCF, an acronym of ‘suburban, regional and national trains’. The SNCF is also the umbrella group responsible for international lines, including the Eurostar to London and the Thalys service to Amsterdam. Larger cities have a Metro, or underground system, typified by that of Paris and many towns enjoy the benefits of a Tram network.
