Keep Your Head If You Move To France

A sometimes humorous, but always factual look at the problems you’re likely to encounter if you move to France. Many books make it sound a breeze: it isn’t always – AS WE FOUND…...
Schools and clinics are great, although one dentist gave me arsenic for a root canal. Emergency health treatment is free with your EHIC card, but for your GP you’ll need to be employed or a pensioner. And food is yummy, though not cheap.
Perhaps you want to renovate an old house – you’ll get one cheap. Again there’s paperwork, especially if you have neighbours. Out in the sticks, no one will care much what you do.
You may think that finding and buying a property is similar to the UK – it isn’t. You’ll need to ask around for a good lawyer, who will probably not speak English.
If you’re not a pensioner, you may need to find a job. Good luck! Many people think “Oh, I’ll teach English.” If you haven’t had professional training, you won’t. Qualifications are essential in France.
Perhaps you’re thinking of running a B and B or a smallholding. Don’t think you can just get started – there’s a mound of paperwork to get through first – the French love bureaucracy.