OMG I got the job! Now how do I move to France? Where can I go for advice?

March 19, 2009 11:18 AM

I'm starting a job in France in June. I'm English. I'm going to need various stuff (bank account, apartment, insurance, mobile phone, phone, internet, register with a doctor, find some decent French lessons, and heaps of stuff I'm sure to have overlooked right now). Does anyone know any good expat websites or guides to moving to France? Or a forum where I can ask a load of questions?

Obviously as I'm coming from the UK I don't need a visa. I've googled (honest) and the guides I have found are either totally superficial (half a page on banking stuff that's utterly obvious) or totally specific (how to open a franchise in France). I'm interested in details like "what happens to my ISA account?" and "how do i open a bank account without an address" or it's corollary "how do i rent a flat without a bank account?"

posted by handee to work & money (4 comments total)

AngloINFO France

Congrats on the job! If you tell us where in France you're headed, I might be able to offer more specific advice.
posted by pearl228 at 11:31 AM on March 19

You are welcome to post more questions here, as there are lots of expats here that could answer your questions.

"how do i open a bank account without an address" or it's corollary "how do i rent a flat without a bank account?"

Given that you are in the UK, your bank is probably capable of doing bank transfers to France, in which case you can pay the deposit and first month of rent using your UK bank account. Immediately after you move in to your new apartment, you need to go to the nearest EDF office to get the electricity switched to your name (which might be difficult to do without help from a French person; ask your landlord or rental agency for help). Then you will receive a letter from EDF which serves as an initial "justificatif de domicile" (proof of residence). Your most recent EDF bill will always serve as your justicatif de domicile for the purposes of doing anything in france (getting a mobile phone, opening a bank account, getting internet service, etc). You can bring this EDF statement to a bank to open an account. It will be mildly annoying to find a bank with someone who speaks competent English (you might have to try 2 or 3 different banks) but it's not that difficult.

Once you open your bank account, you will receive some RIBs (Releve d'identite Bancaire) which contain your IBAN and other numbers needed for withdrawals/deposits. You'll use your RIBs (along with your passport and EDF statement) to do other things like get internet service, get a mobile phone, etc.
posted by helios at 2:09 PM on March 19

Well, I applied this year to be a teaching assistant in France, and one of the things that keeps me from freaking out about possibly moving there for nine months is looking at websites full of practical advice about what to do should I get to go.

I think the information at the Teaching Assistant in France Survival Guide and the Assistants in France Forums will help you out, though obviously there's stuff that won't apply.

Good luck!
posted by two or three cars parked under the stars at 2:52 PM on March 19

Thanks Pearl228 - it's Grenoble; helios - well that settles the chicken and egg question, which is cool. And thanks for the links two or three cars parked under the stars. I'm gonna dig around in those links right now and try to learn some more.
posted by handee at 1:16 AM on March 20