Why do People Move Permanently to France? One Couple’s Story.
Moving to France was the topic of the last Oliver’s France post, Why People Move to France…Permanently! It may have been eye-opening or even enticing to read about reasons people choose to relocate for good. All kinds of reasons!
In this post, you’ll see a closer view of one couple who did just that. Paul and Angela retired in southwestern France. Here are the highlights of their story.
Steps to Retiring in France: Paul and Angela’s Story
Paul and Angela first visited France together, and that trip had ups and downs. Despite this, they both felt at home there. Over the next 24 years, they made at least a dozen more trips to France. Somewhere along the way, they knew they wanted to retire there. The pace of American life, consumerism, politics…for many reasons, they wanted the French way of life for their later years. That is a common theme among ex-pats before and after they move to France.
During 2018 and 2019, as Paul neared retirement, they focused their research and exploration on the southwestern corner of France, in a region called the Languedoc. It has a similar climate and vibe to Provence. In 2018, they attended a seminar with an immigration consultant who outlined the steps they needed to take to immigrate. They ended up hiring the consultant to walk through the steps with them. They claim it was money well spent.
“In December 2019, we sold our house in Raleigh, North Carolina. We moved into a rental property in early January 2020, anticipating that we would be there until our departure in October of the same year. Then, COVID.” Paula and Angela had to delay their plans, but when the embassy opened to issue visas a year later, they moved forward. Their consultant had arranged an unfurnished rental for them in Montpellier, for their arrival since having a residence was a necessity for their visa.
In France, at Last!
They arrived in France, two large dogs in tow, and settled into their new home and new country. Within a year, they decided to buy a home, so they began looking. They ended up in a hilltop village surrounded by vineyards, all within an hour of Montpellier.
Village Life in France
“From our nearly 200-year-old restored vintner’s house in a small village in the department of Hérault we have a beautiful view of the eastern ridges of the Montagne Noire. On clear winter days, we can see the snow-capped mountains of the Pyrénées, which lie 100 kilometers west of us. Our village is less than a 30-minute drive from the small beach resorts on the Mediterranean Sea. We just celebrated our 4th Christmas here in France as retired American emigrés and marvel at how quickly the time has flown by.”
Their community accepted them gladly, despite the fact that they’re still getting more comfortable with French. “Our village has character, and the mayor is very active in promoting village events. There’s a healthy mix of young and old French residents and numerous residents from the UK and even several from the United States.”
Paul and Angela’s consultant also helped them obtain their residence permits and access to the French medical system.
More Aspects of Paul and Angela’s Integration into France Life
- On the visa process: “One’s passport is good for staying in France for up to 90 days. After that, you will need a visa that is issued by one of the French consulates around the States. We came here on a visitor’s visa that is good for one year. After that, a separate process is required each year to obtain annual residency permits. After being here for 5 years, one can either apply for citizenship or a 10-year residency permit with varying levels of language proficiency requirements.”
- On cultural adaptation: “The American immigrants that arrive here and try to integrate into local customs and traditions seem to be the most successful. Learning the language is also important. Those that try to replicate their American life in France seem to have the most trouble.”
- On driving licenses: “We are told that the French driver’s test is nothing to sneeze at. However, some states have reciprocity with France, which enables an applicant to
exchange a US State license for a French license.”
- On the French medical system: “French health care is as good as claimed and the insurance system is a complete breath of fresh air compared to the States.”
- On overall adjustment: “Over the first 3 years here, we ran across many issues that we’d anticipated, though occasionally something unforeseen did pop up.”
Words of summary from Paul and Angela
“All-in-all, we are very happy to be here though and aside from friends and family we don’t miss the life we had in the States.”
You’re in good company, Paul and Angela!
Related Posts
What is the Languedoc?
Adventures on the France-Spain Border
Living in France
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