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Visas,Visas residency and citizenshipresidency

MakeYou suremust youtell meet the entryUK requirementsgovernment foroffices Francethat beforedeal youwith travel.

Visasyour andbenefits, residencepension permits

Checkand whichtax visaif or residence permit you needare tomoving liveor inretiring France.abroad.

YouCheck canthe getentry arequirements visafor orFrance residenceand permitread to:the French government’s:

• workInformation on how to register for residency
• studyguidance on visas
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• geta medicalfamily treatmentmember with a European nationality or non-European nationality already settled in France

TheFor Frenchassistance government’sin visaaccessing wizardyour explainsrights theas differenta visasresident andin visaFrance, requirements.

Forthe morefollowing information,public readinformation guidanceservices on:are available (in French):

• applyingCentre forde aContact FrenchCitoyen visa(CCC)
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• bringingeach commune. Contact your familyMairie to(local Francetownhall) for more information

RegisteringVisas asand aresidency resident

Onceif you arrive,were youliving needin toFrance applybefore for1 aJanuary residence2021

If permityou orapplied validatefor your longWithdrawal stayAgreement visa.Residence ReadPermit the(WARP), Frenchknown government’sin guidanceFrench onas youra arrival‘carte/titre inde France.

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• readRoyaume-Uni guidancede onl’Union residenceEuropéenne cards»’, andby travel4 documentsOctober for2021, foreignyour nationalsrights inare France
• contactprotected by the FrenchWithdrawal visa serviceAgreement
• contact, anpending English-speakinga lawyerdecision inon France
your application.

Extending

Children ordo replacingnot yourrequire visaa orWARP, residencebut permit

Contactmust yourapply localat their prefecture (inwhen French)they orturn the18 Frenchyears consulateold. inThe London forWARP informationis onissued howfree to:

• extendof charge. Contact your visaprefecture orif residencyyour permit
• replacechild is under 18 and has been asked to present a lost,WARP damagedfor work purposes or stolenfor visaother orreasons. residencyRead permit

YouFrench mayFAQ bewhich ableconfirms that it is possible to renewobtain ora replacecard yourfrom residenceage permit16 onlineif they meet the conditions.

YouIf canyou alsohave readapplied thefor Frencha government’sWARP guidancebut onhave whatnot tohad doyour if:

• youappointment haveor lostreceived your residencycard, permit
• your residencyfile permit has likely been stolen
• closed. You must keep your addresscertificate changesof –application you(from mayyour needinitial toemail requestconfirmation), acontact newyour residenceprefecture permit
and the Interior Ministry: contact-demandeenligne-brexit-dgef@interieur.gouv.fr. Keep copies of any correspondence.

Permanent

Late residency

applications

YouIf mayyou behave ablenot yet applied, you can still apply for ayour multi-annualWARP residencyif permityou orhave areasonable permanentgrounds residencyfor permitmissing the deadline. onceYou will need to provide evidence of why your residencyapplication permitis expires.late.

Replacement cards and renewals

ToIf findyour outsituation ifchanges you’re(address, eligiblemarital andstatus, howetc.) toor apply,you readlose theyour Frenchcard, government’syou guidancemust onreport residencethese cardschanges and travelrequest documentsa fornew foreignWARP, nationalsfree inof Francecharge, on the French Government portal.

Citizenship

FranceIf recognisesyour dualcommune citizenshiphas withbeen therenamed UK.or Thisrestructured means that you do not haveneed to givereport upthis (renounce)change youror Britishrequest citizenship to become a Frenchnew citizen.WARP.

ToIf findyou outchange ifyour you’rename eligiblefollowing formarriage Frenchor citizenship:

• readcivil guidancepartnership, onyour howadministrative todocuments getwill Frenchstay nationality
• contactin your localbirth naturalisationname authority(“nom (‘plateformede naturalisation’)famille/naissance”). (inYou French)

Helpcan withadd visa,your residencymarital andname citizenshipas applications

Thea British“nom Embassyd’usage” inif Parisyou cannotwant helpthis withto Frenchappear visa,on residencyyour orresidence citizenshipcard applications.

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.

Residency

You ifmust yourenew movedyour toWARP France before 1it Januaryexpires. 2021

IfAt youpresent movedthe toapplication Francewill beforebe 1processed Januaryby 2021,your andlocal havePrefecture. beenThis legallyis livingfree thereof sincecharge. then,Details youof how and yourwhen familyto membersapply haveand rightswhat underdocuments are needed can be found on the WithdrawalFrench Agreement.

Residencepublic documentsservice ifwebsite youWhat moveddoes toa FranceBritish beforeor 1family Januarymember 2021

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Appeal Januaryprocess

If 2021,your makeapplication sureis refused, you havewill abe Withdrawalnotified Agreementabout Residencethe Permitappeal (WARP).process. InRead French,the thisFrench isgovernment knownadvice ason how to appeal a ‘carte/titreresidency dedecision séjour(in ‹‹accordFrench).

Family demembers

Your retraitclose dufamily Royaume-Unimembers decontinue l’Unionto Européenne››’.be Thisable showsto thatjoin you haveand rightssettle underin theFrance Withdrawalat Agreement.

Childrenany dopoint notin needthe afuture. WARP,Find butmore mustinformation applyon forwho onethis atapplies to on the localLiving prefecturein (inEurope French)page.

They whenmust theytravel turnto 18.France Ifand yourthen childsubmit needs a WARP forapplication work,to theythe canlocal applyprefecture foras oneyour fromfamily themember. ageNationals of 16.

Forcertain morenon-EU information,countries readmay theneed Frencha government’svisa guidancebefore andtravel. frequentlyCheck askedthe questionsFrance onvisa Britishwizard citizens’to rightsee ofwhich residencenationalities afterrequire Brexita visa.

Under theFamily newreunion digitalvisas Entry/Exitare Systemfree (EES),of you’llcharge.

If needyour ajoining validfamily WARPmember oris otheryour Frenchdependant, residencythey permitmust whenjustify enteringthat orthe leavingdependency France.with If you haveexists one,in youthe willcountry notof haveorigin tobefore registertheir witharrival thein EESFrance, whenand entering,this leavingmust orcontinue travellingat withinthe the Schengenmoment area.in Withoutwhich it,they youapply mayfor bea wronglyWARP. identifiedRead asFrench overstayingguidance inon thehow Schengento Areaapply andfor denieda entryWARP toand Francewhat orsupporting otherdocuments Schengenyou countries.need.

ChildrenIf underyou 18need willfurther needinformation aon DCEMhow (‘Documentto desecure circulationyour pourresidency, étrangerincluding mineur’)contact todetails befor exemptprefectures, fromyou registeringmay withfind the EES.residency DCEMsin areFrance freewebpages asfrom partthese oforganisations youruseful:

• International rightsOrganization underfor theMigration’s Withdrawalguidance Agreement.
  on residency in France
• Franco-British Network’s guidance on residency in France

Special residence permits

YouIf you or your dependantsdependant may have a special residence permit or(categories ‘titreA, M and D, known in French as a “titre de séjour special’.special”) Ifthat this was issued by 31 December 2020, you canmay apply for a Withdrawal Agreement Residence Permit (WARP).

Toupon applysurrender forof athe WARP, you must give up your special residence permit. There is no deadline to apply, but you cannot hold both permits at the same time.

If

Passports youand dotravel

Coronavirus nottravel haverestrictions amay residenceaffect permittravel to and from France.

IfYou youcan wereapply livingfor inor renew your British passport from France.

Check beforethe 1French JanuaryTravel 2021,Advice butfor dopassport notvalidity haverequirements.

Always acarry Withdrawalyour Agreementpassport Residencewhen Permittravelling (WARP),within youthe mustSchengen applyarea. forIf one.you You’llhave needcitizenship toof submitan evidenceEU toor proveEuropean thatFree youTrade metAssociation the(EFTA) residencycountry, criteriain ataddition theto time.

Youyour canBritish nocitizenship, longeryou requestshould aenter WARPand online.leave Instead,France submitusing your applicationEU toor yourEFTA localpassport.

If prefectureyou (instay French).in ReadFrance thewith a French government’sresidence guidancepermit onor the closurelong ofstay thevisa, onlinethis residencetime permitdoes requestnot servicecount towards your 90-day visa-free limit for morethe information.Schengen area.

If youryou applicationvisit isother successful,Schengen you’llarea getcountries aoutside WARP.

IfFrance, yourmake applicationsure isyou unsuccessful,do younot mayexceed bethe ablevisa-free to90 appeal.days Considerin gettingany legal180-day adviceperiod. fromThis anapplies English-speakingeven lawyerif inyou France.

Forhave morea informationFrench onresidence permit. You are responsible for counting how tolong apply,you readstay under the FrenchSchengen government’svisa guidancewaiver, on:

• whatand Britishyou peoplemust andcomply theirwith familyits membersconditions.

  Different haverules toapply doif you are travelling to liveother EU inand FranceSchengen countries

• Brexit andas thea Withdrawalresident Agreementof France. Check each country’s travel advice page

Renewing yourfor residenceinformation permiton ifentry requirements.

If you movedwere toliving in France before 1 January 2021

You’llWhen needyou totravel, renewcarry your initialcarte/titre Withdrawalde Agreementséjour Residence« Permitaccord (de retrait du Royaume-Uni de l’Union Européenne » (the WARP) beforeor itfrontier expires.worker Yourpermit localissued prefectureunder willthe processWithdrawal yourAgreement, renewalin applicationaddition freeto ofyour charge.valid passport.

ForBorder informationofficers onmay howask minors to renewpresent youra WARPDCEM:

• read about(Document whatde BritishCirculation peoplepour andÉtranger theirMineur) familywhen membersentering haveFrance. Children tounder do18 toresident live in France
• contact yourunder localthe prefectureWithdrawal (inAgreement French)

Youshould alsobe needissued towith reportthis anydocument changesfree andof requestcharge. aThe newformat WARPof onthis thedocument Frenchhas governmentchanged portalrecently if:

• yourand personalis detailsnow changeissued –by forthe exampleprefecture afterin apaper changeformat towith yoursecurity addressmarkings orinstead maritalof status
• youra WARPlaminated card, and is lostrecognised oracross stolen
• youSchengen.

  You wantmust toproactively addshow your maritalresidence namedocument, (‘nomor d’usage’)other toevidence yourof WARP,residence asstatus, wellif asyou yourare birthasked nameto (‘nomshow deyour famille/naissance’)

Bringingpassport familyat membersborder tocontrol. FranceIf if you movedhave thereapplied beforefor, 1but Januarynot 2021

Theyet Frenchreceived, government’syour guidanceWARP, onshow whatyour Britishcertificate peopleof andapplication, theirwhich familyyou membersshould have toreceived doby toemail. liveIf inyou Francecannot explains:

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• howFrance, andyou whenmay theybe shouldasked applyadditional forquestions theirat residencethe document

Passportsborder andto travel

enter the EU.

ReadYour ourpassport guidancemay onbe moving,stamped livingon orentry retiringand abroad.exit. This coverswill hownot to:

• applyaffect foryour arights Britishin passportthe fromcountry abroad
• travelor urgentlycountries withoutwhere youryou Britishlive passport

Alwaysor carrywork. yourIf a passport andis residencestamped, documentthe whenstamp entering,is leavingconsidered ornull travellingand withinvoid the Schengenwhen area.you Ifcan you’reshow askedevidence toof showlawful yourresidence. passportRead atEU borderguidance control,for makeUK surenationals youon alsoentering showand yourleaving residencethe documentSchengen orarea.

If otheryou evidencehave ofrights residenceunder status.the YourWithdrawal passportAgreement, mayyou becan stampedenter ifand youexit doEU not.

Ifcountries youwith havea dualvalid citizenshippassport. ofYou an EU ordo Europeannot Freeneed Tradeany Associationadditional (EFTA)validity country,on youthe shouldpassport enterbeyond andthe leavedates Franceon usingwhich your EU oryou EFTAare passport.travelling.

European

EU Entry/Exit System (EES)

UnderThe theEU newplans digitalto introduce the Entry/Exit System (EES)). thereThe areexact newdate rulesthat forEES entering,will leavingbe orintroduced travellinghas withinnot the Schengenbeen area.confirmed. Non-EUOnce nationalsintroduced, willnon-EU neednationals, toincluding haveUK theirnationals, photovisiting andthe fingerprintsEU takenwill orneed verifiedto atcreate thea border.digital Thisrecord datawhen willentering bethe storedEU’s inSchengen aZone. digitalThis recordincludes andproviding usedbiometric todata monitor(fingerprints howand longfacial visitorsimage) haveat spent in the Schengen area.border.

BritishIf nationalsyou doare nota needUK tonational register with therights EESunder ifthe they’reWithdrawal legallyAgreement resident, inyou Francewill andbe haveexempt afrom validEES 5-year,registration, 10-yearif oryou permanenthave residencethe permit.correct documentation.

IfIn you’reFrance, legallydocuments residentthat inallow Franceexemption butinclude doall notforms haveof aWithdrawal residenceAgreement permit,residency contactpermits, yourincluding local5-year, prefecture10-year (inand French) forpermanent informationresidency onpermits. howAny toother getvalid one.

Forresidency morepermit informationissued aboutby theFrance EES,or read:

• EUany guidanceother onEU themember EES
• guidancestate onwill thealso EESmean forthat UKyour nationals
are exempt.

Resident

Please childrennote travellingthat inminors andmust outbe in possession of France

Bordera officersDocument mayde askcirculation childrenpour underétranger 18mineur (DCEM), whether travelling accompanied or alone, to presentbe aexempt minorfrom foreignerEES. movementDCEMs documentare whenfree enteringfor France.beneficiaries Inof French,the thisWithdrawal isAgreement. calledApply for a DCEM orthrough ‘Documentthe French government website Document de circulation pour étranger mineur’.mineur The(DCEM) FrenchService-Public.fr. authoritiesIf shouldyou issuehave thisone documentof forthese freedocuments, foryou childrenwill undernot 18need whoto haveregister rightsin under the WithdrawalEES Agreement.when travelling.

ChildrenFind willout alsomore needinformation thison documentthe EES initiative toon bethe EU’s exemptofficial  fromTravel registeringEurope with the European Entry/Exit System (EES).website.

Healthcare in France

ReadYou ourmust guidanceregister onfor moving,healthcare livingas a resident in France at the local CPAM or retiringCaisse abroadPrimaire D’Assurance Maladie office. This(in coversFrench). howMany to:

• planservices yourand healthcare
• taketreatments medicineare abroad

Toonly findpartially outcovered howby social security, and you will need to getpay medicalan treatment:additional charge.

• read

  In guidanceaddition, onyou healthcarecan inalso Franceregister andfor top-up health ininsurance France(‘mutuelle’)

• find hospitals(in French), so that you are covered for Britishall nationalsor inmost France
• readpatient thecontributions.

  You Frenchcan government’snot guidanceuse ona healthUK-issued insuranceEuropean foror foreignGlobal nationalsHealth livingInsurance inCard France

Working(EHIC or GHIC) in France

if you live and work on a French employment contract.

Read our guidance onon:

• accessing moving,healthcare livingin orFrance retiringand abroad.make Thissure coversyou workingare abroad,correctly includingregistered documentsfor youyour maycircumstances neede.g. fromas thea UKworker government.
  on a French contract
• mental health treatment in France

ToTravel workinsurance inis France,not youintended mayto needcover ahealthcare workcosts permitif oryou worklive visa.overseas.

Read Ourthe French government guidance onon:

• access travellingto healthcare
• how to Franceregister for workhealthcare explainsas thea differentworker work(in permitsFrench)
• how andto visasregister availablefor tohealthcare you.if Youyou canare alsoa readstudent

Read the FrenchNHS visa service’s guidance on worktravelling visaswith medicines.

Working in France

YouIf doyou notare needplanning ato workmove permitto orFrance visaand ifwork, you havemay beenneed livinga invisa. FranceRead legallythe sinceFrench beforegovernment’s 1guidance Januaryon 2021,working in France as youa haveforeign rightsnational underand thehow Withdrawalto Agreementget a visa. (in French).

To apply for a job,job you may need to provide a:

• UK police certificate
• UK ‘subject access request’, (thethe equivalent of a ‘casier judiciaire’)judiciaire’
• International Child Protection Certificate (ICPC), ifcriminal yourecords plancheck from the ACRO Criminal Records Office to work with children

Read:

• coming to work in France from the UK (in French)
• employing a foreign national in France (in French)
• working or providing services in France
• working in an EU country
• EU guidance on working in an EU country

If you livework in France on a French contract, including as a seasonal worker, there are different rules for accessing healthcare. Read the Healthcare section of this guide for more information.

If you work in France, even if you work for a UK-based company, this may affect where you pay National Insurance-type contributions. Read the National insurance and social security contributions section for more information.

If you were regularlyliving commutingin France before 1 January 2021

You have the right to work inunder another EU orthe EuropeanWithdrawal FreeAgreement Tradeif Associationyou have a Withdrawal Agreement Residence Permit (EFTAWARP) or have applied for one. You must have a WARP in order to work. Read the French government’s advice on Brexit and working in France.

If you live in France and were regularly commuting to work in another EU or EFTA country before 1 January 2021, read our guidance for frontier workers.

Recognition

Professional of qualifications

IfYou may need to get your professional qualification recognised if you want to work in France,a youprofession maythat needis regulated in France.

Read guidance on:

• recognition of professional qualifications
• how to get your foreignqualification qualifications recognised in France.

Driving

If you were living in France

before 1 January 2021

ReadIf ourthe guidancerelevant onregulator moving,in livingFrance andofficially retiringrecognised abroad.your Thisprofessional coversqualification howbefore to:

• drive1 abroadJanuary legally
• take2021, or you started the recognition process by this date, make sure you understand the terms of your UKdecision. vehicleYou abroad
• should get drivingadvice licencefrom letters
the relevant regulator.

The

Studying Frenchin governmentFrance

If provideyou informationplan onto drivingstudy in France,France, includingyou howmust to:meet all visa requirements before you travel.

• drive

  Read inthe Campus France withguidance ato foreigncheck drivingwhat licence

• exchangefees ayou foreignmay drivinghave licence
• registerto apay. foreignCheck vehicle
• applywith your grant provider for aany Frencheligibility drivingfor licencestudent support
(in French).

ForRead more information read guidance on:

• drivingcontinuing your studies in the EU
• roadstudying travel in France,the inEuropean safetyUnion
• healthcare andfor securitystudents in the travel advice for France

DrivingIf you were living in France usingbefore a1 foreignJanuary driving licence2021

YouThe canstudying drive in Francethe forEuropean shortUnion staysincludes orinformation if you arewere already living in France before 1 January 2021.

Tax

The UK has a studentdouble taxation agreement with France usingso athat drivingyou licencedo issuednot in:pay tax on the same income in both countries. Ask the relevant tax authority your questions about double taxation relief.

You should get professional advice on paying tax in France. Find an English-speaking lawyer in France.

Read the guidance about:

• tax if you leave the UK to live abroad
• Gibraltartax on your UK income if you live abroad
• Jerseytax if you get a pension and live abroad
• Guernseypaying income tax in France
• theEU Islefactsheet ofon Manbuying goods online from UK websites

Declaring your assets

IfYou youmust havedeclare oneany ofassets these(in licencesFrench) andheld itoutside wasFrance, issuedincluding beforebank 1accounts, Januarysecurities, 2021,insurance, youannuities canand useproperty. itThis todeclaration driveis inseparate Franceto untilthe itannual expires.tax return.

National insurance and social security contributions

YouNational cannotInsurance-type replacecontributions(NIC) orare renewcalled any‘social ofsecurity thesecontributions’ licences(SSC) in France. Find out if you liveneed to pay National Insurance in France.

Exchangingthe yourUK foreignor drivingsocial licence

security contributions in France.

YouIf mustyou exchangeplan yourto UK,move Gibraltar,to Jersey,France Guernseyand orwork, Iseeven ofif Manyou drivingcontinue licenceworking for a FrenchUK-based licencecompany, if:

• ityou wasand issuedyour afteremployer 1may Januaryneed 2021to –pay makesocial thesecurity exchangecontributions withinin 12France. monthsThese ofsocial yoursecurity arrivalcontributions inwould France
• itentitle wasyou issuedto beforecertain 1benefits, Januarysuch 2021as andhealthcare, hasin expired,France.

  Read orguidance willon expireNational Insurance for workers from the UK working in the nextEEA 12or months

Switzerland.

You can applycheck onlineyour throughUK the National AgencyInsurance forrecord.

Benefits

UK Securebenefits

Read Titlesour (ANTS)guidance on entitlement to UK benefits and pensions. while you are living in France

You’llCheck needwhich to:UK benefits you can claim while abroad and how to claim them.

• get

  Many aincome-related checkbenefits codesuch fromas thePension DVLACredit –and Housing Benefit cannot be paid if you’re abroad for English,more Welshthan and4 Scottishweeks.

  French drivingbenefits

  French licences

unemployment benefit

For French unemployment benefits, you should:

• getcheck aif checkyou’re codeeligible fromon the DriverFrench andgovernment’s Vehiclewebsite
• contact AgencyPôle (DVA)Emploi –(in forFrench) Northernto Irishclaim

French drivingdisability licences

contactbenefit

Contact the relevantMaison licensingDépartementale authoritydes toPersonnes askHandicapées for(MDPH) a(in letterFrench) orto certificatefind ofout entitlementwhich, –if forany, Gibraltar,disability Guernsey,allowance Jerseyis ormost Isleappropriate offor Manyou.

French licences

family allowance

YouTo should apply for thechild exchangeallowance, beforefamily theincome 12support, monthssingle-parent isallowance over.or Applicationshousing mayallowance, takecontact timethe toCAF process,(Caisse andd’Allocations you’llFamiliales) (in French). If you need yourhelp Frenchapplying, licencerequest toan driveappointment legally.with the social worker at your local town hall (mairie).

Pensions

WhenRead yourguidance applicationon isentitlement acceptedto youUK willbenefits getand apensions securedwhile deposityou receiptare (‘attestation deliving dépôtin sécurisée’).France.

Read YouState canPension useguidance thisif documentyou tohave drivelived in FranceAustralia, untilCanada or New Zealand and you getare claiming or waiting to claim your newUK licence.State Pension.

Disabled drivers

YouIf mayyou beretire ablein toFrance, applyyou for:can claim:

• ayour FrenchUK disabledState parkingPension cardor new UK State Pension . Contact the International Pension Centre for further information
• anyour EUFrench parkingpension cardif foryou peopleworked within disabilities

IfFrance, youby havecontacting ayour UKlocal Bluepensions Badgeoffice and(Caisse lived’Assurance inRetraite France,et youSanté mustau returnTravail itor toCARSAT) the– originalsee UKCLEISS issuingand authority.

Sécurité Sociale (in French)
• pensions if you’ve worked in other EU countries

Tax

Read ourthe French government’s guidance on moving,French livingsocial orsecurity retiringincluding abroadpensions.

Read Thisthe coversMoney tax,and includingPension payingService’s UKMoneyHelper taxguidance on pension and Nationalretirement Insurance. for more information on cross-border pensions.

The

Life certificates for UK hasState Pensions

If you get a double‘life taxationcertificate’ agreementfrom withthe FranceUK Pension Service, soyou thatmust respond as soon as possible - Your payments may be suspended if you do notnot.

Alternatively, payyou taxcan onask theyour samelocal incometown hall (mairie) to fill in botha countries.French life certificate (certificat de vie) (in French) instead.

Money and banking

ContactWhether UK banks can provide services to customers living in the FrenchEEA taxdepends authorityon (inlocal French)laws and regulation. Read the Money and Pension Service’s MoneyHelper guidance on banking, insurance and financial services for anymore questionsinformation abouton doublecross-border taxation relief.banking.

Accommodation and buying property

ConsiderRead gettingour professionalguidance on:

• legal requirements and advice on payingbuying taxa property in France.
• buying Toa doproperty this,abroad

Driving findin anFrance

You English-speakingcannot lawyerrenew inor France.

Declaringreplace your assets

YouUK, mustGibraltar, declareJersey, anyGuernsey assetsor (inIsle French)of heldMan outsidelicence if you live in France. ThisRead includes:the guidance on what you must do to drive legally in France:

• bankwhat accountsyou need to drive in the EU
• securitiesdriving licence rules in France if you live there
• insuranceroad travel in France
• annuities
• property

Expiration of driving licence

ThisIf declarationyour islicence separatehas expired, or has less than 12 months’ validity remaining, you must exchange it for a French licence. You do not need to take a driving test to exchange categories that were awarded with a test. If you have categories on your licence that you did not take a test for, these will not appear on your French licence. If you wish to retain them, you will need to pass the annualrelevant taxFrench return.test.

NationalExchanging Insuranceyour UK, Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey or Isle of Man licence

If you live in France, the rules for exchanging your licence for a French one vary depending on when and where your licence was first issued. You cannot use an International Driving Permit (IDP) instead of exchanging your licence.

Check ifwhen your licence was first issued. If you needhave toa payphotocard Nationallicence, Insurancecheck ifthe you’reearliest goingdriving toentitlement workdate inon the EU,back Gibraltar,of Iceland,your Liechtenstein,licence Norway,to orsee Switzerland.when it was first issued. All paper licences that did not come with a plastic photocard were issued before 1 January 2021.

Pensions

Claiming

If your UKlicence pension

Readwas ourfirst guidanceissued outside of the UK, you should check the French authorities’ rules on moving,exchange livingfor orthe retiringcountry abroadof issue (PDF, 357 KB). This(in covers:French).

• how

  If toyour claimUK, yourGibraltar, UKJersey, StateGuernsey Pension

• whereor theIsle UKof governmentMan paysdriving anlicence annualwas increasefirst inissued thebefore State1 Pension
January 2021

Your UKlicence stateis pensionrecognised in France for as long as it is calculatedvalid. differentlyCheck ifthe you’veexpiry previouslydate livedon inthe Australia,front Canadaof oryour Newplastic Zealandphotocard andlicence. nowIf liveyou inhave thenot EU.

Claimingbeen issued with a Frenchplastic pension

photocard, you can continue to use your paper licence for as long as it is valid. Paper licences are usually valid until you are 70 years old.

ContactIf your locallicence pensionshas officeexpired, (CARSAT)or (inhas French)less tothan find12 outmonths’ whethervalidity remaining, you canmust claimexchange it for a French pension.

licence. You cando alsonot readneed guidanceto on:

• retirementtake ina France
• yourdriving pensiontest. rightsWhen andyour retirementapplication (inis French)

Benefits

Claimingaccepted UKyou benefits

Readwill ourreceive guidanceyour on‘attestation de moving,dépôt livingsécurisée’. orYou retiringcan abroad.use Thisthis coversdocument how to claimdrive UKin benefitsFrance abroad,until includingyou Childreceive Benefit. your new licence.

You can alsoonly readexchange guidanceyour onlicence benefitsif andit pensionsis fordue UKto nationalsexpire inwithin the12 EU,months. EEAIf oryou Switzerland.

Claimingdo Frenchnot benefits

Youhave maya bevalid entitledreason to somerequest Frenchan benefits.exchange, your application will be rejected.

ToIf findyou outneed ifto you’reexchange eligibleyour andlicence, howapply toonline claim:

• usewith the FrenchAgence government’sNationale benefitsdes simulatorTitres (inSécurisés French)(ANTS)
• read guidance(in French).

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Buying andfor rentinglonger propertythan in1 France

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Confirming your driving entitlements

YouTo canexchange alsoyour readdriving licence you need to provide proof of your driving entitlements to the French government’sauthorities. guidanceA on:certificate or letter of entitlement sets out which categories of vehicles you are entitled to drive.

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Voting, inand France

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Studying

Exchanging category A (large motorcycles) driving licence in France

If you planpassed toa studytest infor France,category A (large motorcycles) in or before 1974 and your photocard shows the same date for categories A and B, you mustwill meetbe allable visato requirementsexchange beforeyour licence and receive both categories when you travel.are eligible to do so.

YouIf doyou have already exchanged your licence and did not needreceive acategory studentA visaentitlements ifthat you have beentaken livinga intest Francefor, legallyyou sincecan beforeapply 1for Januarya 2021,correction ason the ANTS online platform. If ANTS ask you havefor rightsany underfurther theinformation, Withdrawalthey Agreement.should contact DVLA via existing official routes.

Disabled drivers

ForIf moreyou information,have reada guidanceUK on:

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• the French(in consulateFrench).

  Bringing ina LondonUK-registered vehicle to France

Children

Read our guidance on moving,taking livinga orvehicle retiringout abroadof the UK.

If Thisyou coversare movingresident abroadin withFrance children,you including:

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• childFrench maintenanceplates payments(Immatriculer ifun véhicule d’occasion) within a parentmonth livesof abroad

taking up residency. You can start the process on the online ANTS platform (in French).

SchoolsDriving andoutside educationFrance with a French licence

TheYou Europeancan Commissionuse providesyour informationFrench aboutlicence when visiting the schoolUK. systemKeep inup-to-date Francewith the UK Highway Code.

AllIf childrenyou agedgo 3 to 16live mustin attendthe schoolUK, oryou homecan schoolexchange inyour France.French licence for a UK one without taking a test.

ForTo moredrive information,in readanother thecountry, in addition to your French government’slicence, you may need an IDP. Apply for one with the Agence Nationale des Titres Sécurisés (ANTS) (in French). More information on how to apply for an IDP is on the Interior Ministry website (in French).

Read the EU guidance on:on: 

• compulsoryEU schooling
• homedriving schooling
• enrollinglicences yourand child in primary schoolinsurance
• enrollingdriving yourlicence childexchange and recognition in secondarythe schoolEU

ChildcareDriving a French-registered vehicle in the UK

TheSome publicparts serviceof forthe earlyUK childhoodhave (inmeasures French)in place to reduce air pollution. Check the list of Clean Air Zones before you travel.

Before entering the Ultra-Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) in London, you may need to submit a copy of your vehicle’s registration document showing the Euro standard it was manufactured to. Guidance on ULEZ is responsibleon the Transport for childcareLondon serviceswebsite.

Voting

You cannot vote in France.France or in European Parliament elections.

ForYou moremay information,be readable guidanceto on:vote in some UK elections. You can:

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Births, deaths, marriages and civil partnerships

Births

If your child is born in France, you can register the birth with the FrenchUK authorities.

Read ourin guidanceaddition onto moving,registering livinglocally. orIf retiringyour abroadchild has British nationality., Thisyou coversdo hownot to:

• need to register the birth with the UK authorities to get a UK birth certificate
• apply for youra child’s first British passport

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Deaths

ReadIf oursomeone guidancedies onin moving,France livingread orour retiringguidance abroad. This covers:on:

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Find out how toyou registercan theget deathmarried withor theget UKa authorities civil partnership abroad.

IfFind someoneout diesabout notarial and documentary services in France,France

You readmay guidancealso on:need:

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Pets

If you’re moving to France with your pet, read the guidance and ensure you comply with the regulations:

• declarationtaking ofyour death,pet funeralabroad
• moving andto burialEU incountries Francewith your pet

Marriages

To andvisit civilother partnerships

countries with your pet, check the rules for the country you’re travelling to. Contact your vet to get the travel documents your pet needs.

Read our guidance onon:

• bringing moving,your livingpet orto retiringGreat abroadBritain. ThisCheck coversthat howyour topet’s getrabies marriedvaccinations orare formup ato civildate. partnershipVets abroad.

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• travelling with your pet in Francethe EU.

Emergencies

TheDial Frenchthe governmentEuropean providesemergency informationnumber on:112 in France, or dial:

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Divorce

Dial andthe separation

ReadEU our116 guidance000 onhotline moving,to livingreport ora retiringmissing abroadchild. Thisin coversthe howEU tocountry getwhere ayou divorcelive or endin aanother civilEU partnership.country.

TheIf you need guidance on child abduction, read the guidance on international parental child abduction, the French government offers guidance on howchild tocustody getand athe divorceFrench orgovernment legalguidance separationon inchild Franceabduction.

Consider; takingthe legalEU adviceguidance fromon anchild English-speakingabduction lawyerand inthe FranceEU guidance on child abduction to another EU country.

Documents

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Readvictim ourof guidancea onrape documentsor forsexual Britishassault peoplein abroad.France, Thisread covers: 

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Lawyers,cases translatorsof rape and notaries

sexual assault.

ToIf findyou anhave English-speakingbeen lawyer,the translatorvictim orof notarydomestic abuse in France, read the guidance on professionalwhat servicesto ifdo and where to get support: Information for UK nationals affected by domestic abuse in France

If you’re abroadthe victim of a crime, have been arrested, or are affected by a crisis, contact the British Embassy Paris.

PetsReturning to the UK

IfCheck the COVID-19 travel guidance for entering the UK.

Tell the French and UK authorities if you wantare returning to bringthe UK permanently.

You should tell your petlocal withFrench tax office (in French) that you toare France,changing readaddress guidanceand on:the date you will leave.

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Returning

If you get a French pension, contact your pension provider.

To move your pension to the UK

UK, contact the International Pension Centre.

Read the guidance on returning to the UK permanently. Thiswhich includes information onon, bringingamongst familyother membersthings, backbringing tofamily themembers, UK, tax and access to services.

IfYour thenon-British NHSfamily fundsmembers yourwishing healthcareto return with you will require their own immigration status.

Useful information

• help and services in France
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Disclaimer

WeSupport providefor thisBritish informationnationals asabroad: a guide only.sets Forout definitivehow information,to contactstay safe abroad, and explains how the FrenchFCDO authorities.

Readcan oursupport consularyou informationif disclaimer.you get into difficulty.