My husband and I would like to move to France in the next 2 to 3 years perhaps sooner depending on circumstances. We will be looking very seriously over the next few months for property there. Given the declining exchange rate of our currency (Rand) we aim to move quickly and will be looking for a modest abode. I have read some of the postings on non EU and residency, but could not relate. What are the pre-requisites for living in France as a non-EU member? How easy is it to buy property there? What is the health system like and can you gain access via health insurance or medical aid? What are living costs like? Where is the best place to buy for good weather, relatively good transport and friendly people?
Welcome to the Forum.
So many questions! Narrowing it down to weather, as that is one crtierion that changes from place to place, what sort of weather do you like? Hot, cold, mild, fresh air, snow, mediterranean, continental, maritime? Then we can say which region suits.
I can't tell you much about the health care from a non EU citizen's point of view. However, you do have to have private cover when you arrive, and must keep it on at least until you gain the right to reside. I have anecdotal evidence only that some people manage to get into the state system (a paying-in stystem based on your income, and which system you are in and how much you pay depends on whether you are employed or not) once they have gained the residency rights required (titre de sejour) but how this is done, I do not know.
There are some fora based in the US for American citizens looking to move here, and those who have already done so. I imagine that their situation is similar. I'll try to find some for you.
Tania wrote:Hi Cathy, thanks for the response. We love warm weather, cannot do cold, wet and snow for protracted periods. (despite us having had three weeks of uninterrupted rain in SA in January). We both are very outdoors people who enjoy gardening, walking, swimming and generally being able to get out and about regularly.
Much of France is warm or hot in the summer. So it's probably going to be winter weather that will be the decider. Cold excludes you from most regions of France as it is very cold in the winter, especially at night. The warmest places in winter are all along the west coast (maritime influence) and the south east coast (mediterranean influence). Wet excludes you from the north west e.g. Brittany. Snow excludes you from the Pyrennes in the south west and the Alps in the east. That leaves two areas: the mediterranean area to the south east (but watch the Mistral winds that come down the Rhone valley) and the south west coastal coniferous forests, the area in which I live.
On a map, look between the town of Soulac-sur-Mer (near the Gironde) right down the south west coast to Biarritz. The coast is miles and miles of golden sand (which the western winds across the Atlantic have whipped up into large sand dunes) and inland, there are man-made coniferous forests, interspersed with marshland (watch out for mosquitoes) and heathland. This is a generalisation but you get the picture. If you are right on the coast, you will find it very windy. Most people live inland, protected by forests.
You can't "swim" in the Atlantic Ocean, unless you go out beyond the breakers. You can have a great deal of fun, though, jumping the waves. It is dangerous and in the summer, most places have supervised sections of beach. As far as I know, you can swim in the Mediterreanean Sea, where the tidal influence is minimal. But someone else would have to tell you about that area.
Jambo Tania, habari! I hate to be the negative one (many will disagree) but there are some points for you to consider. The main one being that Sth Af's have a hard time getting a visa to come here. We receive a lot of bookings from South African people to stay with us and then are not able to come because they are not able to obtain a Schengen Visa; and I am mostly referring to Sth Africans just living in the UK. People from South Africa tend to have particular difficulties in this purpose. If you wish to live in France then obtaining the right to settle here has to be your first port of call. Do either of you have Irish parents/grandparents OR European born parents? if so then it may be possible.
If not then I suspect you will have your work cut out for you coming to live here. It will be incredibly difficult otherwise.
My three eldest sons' father is Sth African born and yet will need to use his Australian passport when he plans to come visit them...simply because coming here as a Sth Af would be all that more difficult. I do not know why they are so hard on the South Africans here, but they are. Well, in a way I do, but maybe I should not state it here. In short, they tend to arrive and not leave; many white South Africans are leaving their country for certain reasons these days ( I know, I have ex in-laws there) and other countries know this...
Personally I don't like your chances. Just being realistic and honest
Jura wrote: Do either of you have Irish parents/grandparents
Do either of you have Irish parents/grandparents
Why this nationality in particular?
Sanibonani Tania,
Don't be put off by negative comments.
Lots of Non-Eu nationals need a Visa for France, South Africa is not alone. But long-term planning is necessary. I would also suggest you attempt to establish if you have grandparents born in the EU. Or, short-term living in the UK - easier to acquire EU status.- 4 years, I think, at present. Loads of SA citizens in the UK, (quite a few in France too) many with top jobs, often heard on the TV/Radio, but you do have to grit your teeth in winter. Parts of France as cold - or colder. Certainly compared with Durban/JHB which we were used to!
Happy to discuss further is you want to PM me.
Bonne Chance
Tegwini
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