Q&A for How to Move to France

You should do research on job openings in the area you are moving to in advance, and have enough money saved up to subsist on until you start working.

It depends on your age. If you arrive as a minor and you don't speak French, you'll have to take the UPE2A class to learn the language. If you're an adult, you are not required to learn the language (though obviously it helps).

This is not an issue. A visa application comes with a number of requirements. Most countries want to be sure they won't have to bear the medical and other costs associated with getting older. A job is usually a good way of showing you are capable of carrying these costs yourself, but if you have savings, they also serve as a guarantee, preempting the requirement of a job.

Anyone can learn to speak a language fluently with enough effort. Try immersing yourself in the language as much as you can - perhaps listen to French music, watch French movies, read books in French, etc. Maybe when you're a little older you could consider applying for a student exchange program.

There is no age limit. There may be extra requirements for older people, mostly related to who will cover any medical costs. 52 is not old at all. Check with the French embassy to find out more.

There are many beautiful places to retire in France, such as southern France's Nice and Monton. Do not move to Paris as it is always tourist season there, and very loud.

To learn French go to a website called Duolingo, it's helped me learn different languages. Otherwise follow the steps in this article for moving.

Most likely, no, you will not need to find a job. The thinking behind this is that host countries want some kind of guarantee that they won't have to carry the full burden of supporting you. So before they allow you to settle in their territory, some kind of proof is requested or required that you are more or less self-sufficient. A job is usually a good way of providing such a guarantee. But a bank statement is enough as well. Check with the French embassy to be sure.

Citizens of EU nations that are part of the Schengen Area are not required to apply for a visa if moving within the Schengen Area.

Not really; fortunately the US isn't quite at that point yet (assuming that's your home country). Finding a French person to fall in love with and marry should still work, but that presents its own set of challenges.

Yes. Anyone in the world can apply for French citizenship. There are, of course, rules and requirements which you must meet. Check with the French embassy to be sure.

Disability is not grounds for refusal. There are requirements that must be met before anyone's visa application can be approved. There may be a few extra small points depending on your disability, mainly aimed at establishing who will bear any additional medical costs.

This question is too complex to answer here. It depends on your citizenship, the rules for US Social Security benefits, your pension rights, etc. However, it seems unlikely that France would just pay out Social Security to non-French nationals. Contact a legal specialist to get personalized information.

Certainly. Anyone can live in France who has applied for the right visa and has been approved.

No, you can't work on a tourist visa. You'll need to apply for a visa that grants the right to work.

You will need to apply for a visa or residence permit that fits your circumstances.

When you arrive in France, you will need to apply for a residence permit as a "conjoint de français."

Since you are a French citizen, you don't need to take any immigration-related actions. However, you may want to consider setting up a local bank account, getting health insurance, and finding accommodations to settle into.

Apply for an entrepreneur visa, visit and purchase the chateau, and follow any local regulations for setting up a tourism business.

You can expect the work visa process to take 3 to 4 months. You can apply for French citizenship after living in France for 5 years.

You might consider applying for an Entrepreneur Visa, which could be suitable for your situation.

Yes, she can apply for a residence permit as a "conjoint de français" since you have French citizenship.

Absolutely, you can apply for a Long-Stay Visitor Visa, ensuring you have sufficient funds to support yourselves.

You should apply for a Long Stay Visitor visa, which is renewable for successive periods of one year.

Yes, you need to earn at least the minimum wage per person for your visa to be accepted, along with meeting other requirements.

You can apply for the Talent - Artiste visa, which is the most suitable for your situation.

You should apply for a long-stay visitor visa, which lasts for successive periods of one year. Make sure you have enough funds to support your stay.

Yes, if you have a degree and speak some French then it will be easier to find a job in France than if you know no French at all. In particular, try learning words in French that relate to your career.

You will need to apply for a work visa to work in France. You can do that at your nearest French embassy. Then you can apply for a job in France after arrangements are made for your move. You can also apply for the job before you leave, so that you are guaranteed the job once you arrive.