Moving to France from the USA

Practical checklist for Americans moving to France — VLS-TS Visiteur, Talent Passport, Profession Libérale, OFII validation, carte de séjour, sécu, and the first 30 days.

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Visa & legal right to stay

Pick a route: VLS-TS Visiteur (no work allowed, ~€19,000/yr income), Talent Passport (skilled/employee/founder), Profession Libérale (freelance), or Salarié (sponsored)
Must
Book a TLScontact appointment for the consulate covering your state
Must
France outsourced consular collection to TLScontact in most US cities.
Validate your VLS-TS visa with OFII within 3 months of arrival
Must

Paperwork to gather before you fly

Apostilled birth and marriage certificates with sworn French translations
Must
FBI background check apostilled
Detailed letter of intent in French explaining why you're moving
Proof of income/assets matching the route's threshold
Must
Private health insurance covering France for the first 3 months minimum
Must
Proof of accommodation (lease, deed, or notarized attestation d'hébergement)
Must

Money & banking

Open a French account at BNP Paribas, Société Générale, Crédit Agricole, or Boursorama
Boursorama opens online; brick-and-mortar banks require an in-person visit with your carte de séjour or VLS-TS.
Get a RIB (account ID) — almost every French admin form needs one
Must
Apply for a numéro fiscal at the local centre des impôts
France taxes worldwide income — get cross-border tax advice before you trigger residency

Housing

Use SeLoger, LeBonCoin, or PAP.fr for long-term rentals
Paris landlords require a dossier: 3x rent in income, last 3 payslips, tax notices, and a French guarantor or Visale
Must
Budget 1-month deposit (unfurnished) or 2 months (furnished) + agency fee
Get an attestation d'assurance habitation before signing the lease
Must

Healthcare

Carry the private policy from your visa for the first 3+ months
Must
Apply for PUMa (Protection Universelle Maladie) after 3 months of stable residence
Must
Choose a médecin traitant and declare them to your CPAM
Must
Add a mutuelle (top-up insurance) to cover the 30% PUMa doesn't reimburse

First 30 days on the ground

Validate your VLS-TS online via the OFII/ANEF portal — pay the OFII tax stamp
Must
Register your address with your mairie (some require it, all are happy to do it)
Get a French SIM (Free Mobile, Orange, SFR, Bouygues)
Buy a Navigo card in Paris or a regional pass elsewhere
Use your US driver's license for up to 1 year — exchange only available for a handful of US states
Must

FAQ

Can I work remotely for a US employer on the Visiteur visa?

Technically no — Visiteur signs a sworn statement promising not to work in France. Many Americans do it anyway, but it's a gray-zone risk at renewal. Use Talent Passport or Profession Libérale instead.

How hard is the housing dossier in Paris?

Very. Without French payslips you'll need Visale (free state-backed guarantor) or a service like GarantMe to be competitive.

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NextLatitude is for organization and guidance only. Visa rules, tax thresholds, and procedures change — always confirm with the relevant consulate or a licensed professional before acting. Last reviewed 2026-06-01.