For Americans moving to France

Every requirement for your move to France, in the order you’ll need it.

Every requirement in the order you need it — re-checked against official French sources every week, because the numbers move more often than anyone tells you.

Browse the guidesPlan my moveFree to read · no card
What a move looks like, counted back from the date
  1. 12 months outChoose your visaSeven long-stay types. Retired and not working narrows it to one.
  2. 6 months outOrder apostillesMarriage and birth certificates. State processing runs to weeks.
  3. 3 months outBook the consulate appointmentSlots fill first for spring movers.
  4. On arrivalValidate through ANEFWithin three months, or the visa lapses.
What we cover

31 topics, re-checked every week

Requirements, fees and thresholds change without announcement — the SMIC benchmark moved twice in 2026 alone. Every topic is re-verified against official French sources, and anything that changed is flagged.

VisasVisitor, work, talent passport, spouse, validation
7
The applicationDocuments, timelines, consulates, OFII validation
7
PropertyBuying, notaires, fees, mortgages
5
HealthcarePUMA, Carte Vitale, mutuelles
3
TaxResidency, treaties, filing
3
DrivingLicence exchange, importing a car
2
Shipping & petsMovers, customs, animal health certificates
2
BankingAccounts, FATCA
1
Settling inRegistration, utilities, schools
1
Members

The guides tell you what is required. The portal does it with you.

Everything above is free to read and always will be. What members get is the same information turned into their own file — dated, tracked, and answerable.

Ask about your own situation

The assistant knows your visa route, your dates, who is applying and what you have already gathered — so answers are about you, not about visas in general.

The guides answer the general question.

Your dossier, tracked

Every document the consulate will want, with what is done, what is outstanding and what needs an apostille first.

The guides list what is required.

Dated from your move

Tasks and deadlines counted back from your actual date, so you find out an apostille takes weeks while there is still time.

The guides say roughly when to start.

Documents drafted for you

Cover letters, financial statements and the declaration of no professional activity, filled in from your profile.

The guides describe what each one has to say.

Schengen day countingComing soon

Trips logged against the 90-in-180 rule, so you know where you stand before you book. Built as a standalone tool first, then included in membership at no extra cost.

The guides explain the rule.

Research on demand

Reports on a commune, a region or a specific requirement, written against current official sources and saved to your file.

The guides cover the common cases.

See what you’d getLifetime access · no subscription
Guides, in the order you’ll need them

All 15 guides →