Healthcare & medical insurance
This is the most critical topic of expatriation. Poor coverage can ruin you financially. Here is how to get properly insured.
🇫🇷 What happens with the French Sécu
If you leave France for more than 3 months, you gradually lose your CPAM entitlements. You have two options:
- CFE (Caisse des Français à l'Étranger): keep contributing voluntarily to the French health insurance system. Cost: ~€200–500/month depending on income. Useful if you return to France often or plan to leave for a limited period.
- Private international insurance: more flexible, often cheaper for those under 45, covers you worldwide. Mandatory if you no longer contribute to CFE.
🌍 Choosing your international insurance
Key criteria to check:
- Coverage zone: worldwide or worldwide excluding USA? (USA coverage = significantly more expensive)
- Annual ceiling: minimum €500K, ideally unlimited
- Medical repatriation: essential
- Maternity: waiting period is often 10 months, plan ahead
- Dental & optical: rarely well covered, check the ceilings
- Direct billing: do you front the costs or is payment made directly to the clinic?
The international insurers most commonly used by expats
Banking & financial management
Managing your money abroad requires a clear strategy. Most expats juggle 2 or 3 accounts to cover every use case.
🇫🇷 Keeping a French bank account
Essential to receive your pension, handle any residual French taxes, and keep a financial foothold. Not every bank tolerates non-resident clients:
- Boursorama: generally accepts expats, no fees
- Fortuneo: same, widely used by expats
- La Banque Postale: legally required to open an account for any French citizen
- Traditional banks: some (Crédit Agricole, BNP) offer dedicated "expat" packages
🌍 Multi-currency account for expats
The winning combo for most expats:
📋 Reporting obligations: don't overlook them
💱 International money transfers
| Solution | Average fees | Delay | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wise | 0.3–0.8% | Instant–24h | Regular transfers, any currency |
| Revolut | 0–0.5% | Instant | Frequent small amounts |
| SWIFT wire | €20–50 flat + 1–3% | 2–5 days | Very large amounts only |
| Western Union | 3–8% | Immediate | Countries with no banking infrastructure |
Finding housing abroad
Never sign a lease remotely without visiting in person. The winning play: arrive in an Airbnb for 2–4 weeks, view places on the ground, then sign.
Phase 1: short-term
Book 2–4 weeks in an Airbnb or furnished flat in your target neighbourhood. Don't pay anything long-term until you've explored in person. Budget: count on 30–50% more than a long-term rental.
Phase 2: active search
View 5–10 flats. Join Facebook expat groups in the country (the best deals often circulate there before they hit the listing sites). Ask other expats on the ground for referrals.
Phase 3: lease & move-in
Have the lease translated if needed. Check: duration, notice period, utilities included, deposit (often 1–3 months rent), joint inventory. Photograph everything on move-in day.
Listing platforms by region
International relocation
The golden rule: move as little as possible. Every kilo costs you, and local furniture is often cheaper than shipping.
🛄 What to take, what to sell?
🚚 Shipping options
Children's schooling abroad
This is often the decisive factor for families. Options are plentiful and cost can be the top budget line, ahead of rent.
🇫🇷 AEFE French school
The AEFE (Agency for French Education Abroad) network includes 565 schools across 138 countries. Official French curriculum, diploma recognised in France, French Baccalauréat available.
Cons: Waiting list in some cities, high cost (€3,000–15,000/year), less cultural diversity.
🌍 International school
IB (International Baccalaureate) programme or British/American curriculum. Taught in English, perfect for kids who may relocate again.
Cons: Very expensive (€5,000–25,000/year), difficult transition back to France.
🏠 Local school + CNED
The child is enrolled in the host country's school for cultural integration AND follows the CNED (French National Centre for Distance Education) in parallel to maintain their French level.
Cons: Heavy workload, requires an available parent.
Schooling budget by destination
| City | French school | International school | Local school |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai | €8,000–15,000/yr | €12,000–25,000/yr | €3,000–6,000/yr |
| Lisbon | €4,500–8,000/yr | €8,000–18,000/yr | Free (EU) |
| Bangkok | €5,000–9,000/yr | €10,000–20,000/yr | €500–2,000/yr |
| Tallinn | €3,000–6,000/yr | €6,000–12,000/yr | Free (EU) |
| Casablanca | €3,500–7,000/yr | €5,000–12,000/yr | €300–1,500/yr |
Phone & internet
Keep your French number (useful for banking, 2FA) by switching to a contract-free plan or relying on roaming (e.g. Free International).
- Airalo: the benchmark, 190+ countries
- Holafly: unlimited data
- eSIM2Fly: Southeast Asia
Buy a local SIM upon arrival. Often under €15/month for unlimited data (Thailand, Georgia, Morocco). Sometimes requires a local residence permit.
Vehicle & driving licence
- In the EU: your French licence is valid indefinitely
- Outside the EU: International Driving Permit (IDP) required in some countries. Get it at the prefecture before leaving (free + 3 photos)
- Long-term residence: most countries require you to exchange for a local licence after 3 to 12 months of residence
Wait until you have your local residence permit. Rules vary: in Thailand a foreigner can own a motorbike but not a car without a local company. In Dubai, everything is easy with a residence visa.
Retirement abroad
- CFE: contribute voluntarily to the French pension scheme from abroad. Recommended if you still have years to validate.
- Bilateral agreements: France has conventions with 40+ countries: quarters contributed abroad can count towards your French pension.
- PER (Retirement Savings Plan): your French PER remains valid from abroad.
Your French pension may be taxed in France or in the host country, depending on the bilateral tax treaty. Always check before leaving; some countries (Morocco) offer an 80% reduction on foreign pensions repatriated locally.
Admin paperwork before leaving
The full checklist to tackle in the 3 months before your departure, plus the first weeks abroad.
✈️ Before leaving (in France)
🛬 On arrival (in the host country)
Keep preparing
Practical life is only one piece of the puzzle. Explore our full topic guides to prepare your expatriation from every angle.