How to move to France from Canada : Your complete guide

Moving to France from Canada is an exciting opportunity to immerse yourself in a new culture and experience a different lifestyle. Any move, especially an international one, requires numerous checklists and careful planning. This guide will help you navigate the essentials! From visa options to settling in, and international money management, we’re here to help. We’ll also explore how Wise can help you transfer and hold funds at the mid-market exchange rate, making your move to France seamless. 🇫🇷🥖

What Are The Administrative Essentials For Moving To France From Canada?

Here’s a rundown of the administrative tasks to complete to prepare for your move:

1. Getting the right residence permit or visa

The French government website has an online visa portal that can help you get the visa you require depending on your situaiton

Always consult an immigration expert to determine which visa best suits your situation.

2. Consult a tax professional to manage Your investments and taxes during residency changes

With a change in residency status, you might run into tax related complications. There are several circumstances which might require the help of an expert in taxes, such as:

Always consult a professional tax expert about your unique situation.

How long does the French visa process take?

The processing time depends on demands, the type of visa, and seasonality. Short-stay visa applications can be submitted up to 6 months before departure, and long-stay visas up to 3 months.⁶

It typically takes 15 calendar days to process a French visa application. However, processing can take up to 45 days in certain cases.⁷

Things To Take Care Of In Canada Before Moving To France

1. Notify Banks and Credit Card Companies: Inform them about your move to ensure no disruption in service.
2. Notify Insurance Providers: Update your policies as needed.
3. Inform Government Agencies: Ensure your address and status are up to date.
4. Contact utility providers to cancel your services or arrange for them to be transferred to new tenants.
5. Sell or dispose of unnecessary items/furniture.
6. Close your bank accounts by following the proper procedures.

1. Move your money to a new EUR account to use in France. You could use Wise to get EUR account details including an IBAN, to make things easier and beat the bureaucracy barriers that might await you in France.
2. Arrange with Canada Post so any mail is redirected to your new address in France.
3. Speak to your doctor or medical professionals to obtain any necessary medical records to continue treatments in France.
4. If you have any pets, obtain the necessary documents, make sure their vaccinations are up to date, and confirm airline pet policies, including in-cabin travel conditions.
5. Cancel any memberships or subscriptions you will no longer use in France, such as gym memberships.
6. Obtain an International Driver’s Permit if you plan to drive in France.

Flight Expenses For Flying From Canada To France

Flight prices will vary depending on:

• Fuel prices
• Seasonality
• Demand
• Time of day and day of the week
• If a flight isn't selling well, airlines may offer discounts

Get More Out Of Your Money With Wise

Simplify Your Finances with Wise! Here’s what you get with a Wise account:

• get an International Bank Account Number or IBAN to store, send, and receive Euros seamlessly 💶
• manage over 20 currencies, including CAD and EUR, all from one account—no need for multiple bank services
• Wise offers the mid-market rate without markup, giving you the fairest value
• Wise has low transfer fees, starting at just 0.48%^*
• send money to over 160 countries and in more than 40 currencies
• by updating your address to France, you unlock additional features and benefits from Wise like local payment methods and the accessibility to other Wise services

Please see the Terms and Conditions for your region and visit our pricing page for the most up-to-date pricing and fee information on Wise products.

Preparing For Your Stay In France Before Leaving Canada

Estimated Monthly Living Costs in France

Currency conversion rates with Wise as seen on November 6, 2024 at 1:00 pm

Cultural differences to watch out for

Adapting to the French way of life can take time, especially with these cultural differences:

• The French don’t wear athleisure outside the gym.
• Social events may start later as time is more flexible.
• Formal greetings, such as saying bonjour when entering and au revoir when leaving, are important in France, even in shops.
• Meals in France are structured and often last several hours, with multiple courses and wine pairings, especially during social or family gatherings.
• French is the primary language, and it is essential to have at least a basic understanding of the language to live in France.
• Public displays of emotion or affection are common.
• French customer service is more formal.
• France values time off work, with vacations and personal time prioritized.
• Smoking is common in public places like cafes and parks.
• Recycling is strictly enforced in France.
• In corporate workplaces, strict adherence to hierarchy is the norm. By contrast, startups have fewer hierarchical levels.
• Post-work gatherings—commonly known as "after-work" events are a chance for colleagues to bond on a more personal level.

Made it to France? Here’s what you need to do next

Once you arrive in France, you’ll need to

• Get a French SIM card - this will be essential not only for your daily usage but also when submitting paperwork for administrative purposes.
• Validate your long-stay visa within the first 3 months of arrival. This can be done online via the government’s portal.
• It is important to bookmark the confirmation email you will receive, since the documents they send to confirm your validation will be useful when renewing your French visa.
• Depending on your reason for staying in France, you might be asked to go for a mandatory health checkup. This is done to certify that you are medically capable of carrying out the activities that bring you to France.
• Apply for your social security number and card. The social security number, called the numéro de sécurité sociale and the social security card or Carte Vitale are of vital importance in France, since your doctor, administrative officers and official records will ask for this number. Moreover, having a Carte Vitale helps with subsidising medical costs. An employer in France will require you to have a social security number for purposes of insurance, tax filing and other administrative requirements.
• Got your social security card? You'll also need to get a designated general physician or médecin généraliste. In France, you'll need a recommendation from your general physician in order to consult specialists or access certain medical treatments. Most medical appointments can be booked via the app - Doctolib, and can be held in person or via video call, depending on how it has been planned.
• Housing allowance: One of the final steps in the administrative processes would be any housing subsidies you could get from the government, based on where you live and your household income, amongst other factors. The government body which covers this is called the Caisse d’Allocation Familiales or CAF. Please be mindful that your application might take months to be processed, so ensure that your application is complete when submitting, to avoid unnecessary delays.

Nearly all government websites and information will be available only in French. If needed, it might help to translate the web-pages you come across, to understand important information better.

Transportation in France

• Public transportation in French cities is highly efficient, with well-connected trains, trams, buses, and metros that are frequent and affordable.
• French employers often reimburse 50% of public transport costs, based on the shortest route. Part-time employees working less than half-time receive support proportionally.
• Having a car is ideal when living in rural France, but not necessary in cities.
• Taxis and Uber are common in France, providing convenient options for travel, especially in urban areas.
• Cycling is extremely popular in France, with many safe, dedicated bike lanes and bike-sharing services.

Health Insurance Plans

Healthcare in France is supported by a well-established public system called Sécurité Sociale. However, having a private insurance plan allows for dentistry and private hospital care.¹¹

• Public Healthcare under Sécurité Sociale: The government covers up to 70-80% of medical fees, depending on the service, with higher reimbursement rates for certain conditions.¹²
• Employment-based insurance: French companies must offer private health insurance to cover medical costs not reimbursed by Sécurité Sociale. Employers and employees typically split contributions 50-50, although this may vary.¹³

For those looking for additional coverage beyond this, consider these popular private health insurance providers:

1. April International
2. AXA International
3. Allianz Care

Final Thoughts On Moving To France From Canada

Thorough planning—from securing the right visa to managing finances—is key to a smooth move from Canada to France. Consider using Wise for international money management — simplifying CAD to EUR transfers and ensuring you get the best value. Enjoy your adventure starting a new chapter in France!

Sources:

1. Canada - Government website
2. Government of Canada - Travel
3. Welcome to France
4. France - Visas
5. RBC Wealth Management
6. French visa - Government website for Canada
7. France Visa - official website in France
8. Skyscanner.ca
9. Numbeo
10. Wise Canada
11. Allianz Care
12. Internations
13. Velocity Global