Moving to France

France has a multi-layered immigration system. Most long-stay visas convert into a 'Titre de Séjour' (residence permit) after arrival. The Passeport Talent targets skilled workers and entrepreneurs.

France has Europe's second-largest economy (after Germany) with strength across luxury goods (LVMH, Hermès, L'Oréal), aerospace (Airbus, Safran, Dassault), automotive (Stellantis, Renault), energy (TotalEnergies, EDF), pharmaceuticals (Sanofi), technology, and a large public sector. The labor market is formal, regulated, and credential-conscious. The 35-hour workweek is the legal standard (though many cadres/managers work longer), and employment protections are among the strongest in Europe.

France's healthcare system is consistently ranked among the world's best by the WHO. The Sécurité Sociale reimburses approximately 70% of GP visits (consultation at EUR 26.50 for a généraliste), 80% of hospital costs, and varying percentages for medications (15-100% depending on the drug's classification). Most residents carry a mutuelle (complementary private insurance, EUR 30-100/month) to cover the remaining gap (ticket modérateur), dental, optical, and hearing aids. Major hospitals include Hôpital de la Pitié-Salpêtrière and Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades in Paris, Hospices Civils de Lyon, CHU de Bordeaux, and Hôpital de la Timone in Marseille. The SOS Médecins service provides home visits 24/7 (call 3624 or your local number) for urgent but non-emergency situations. Pharmacies (recognized by the green cross sign) are plentiful, and pharmacists in France provide medical advice, administer vaccines, and can dispense certain medications. An emergency pharmacy (pharmacie de garde) is always open at night and on weekends — check your local listing or call the police for the nearest one.

France's digital infrastructure is functional and improving rapidly, though the transition from paper-based bureaucracy is incomplete. Government portals (service-public.fr, impots.gouv.fr, ameli.fr) handle many administrative tasks online, but follow-up by physical mail or in-person visits is still frequently required. FranceConnect is the emerging single-sign-on identity system for government services.

French culture is high-context, formal in structure, and deeply invested in intellectual and aesthetic pursuits. Politeness is not optional — it is a rigid social architecture. Saying 'Bonjour, Madame/Monsieur' when entering a shop, a bus, or a doctor's office is a non-negotiable social key; failing to do so is perceived as aggressive or contemptuous, and service quality will reflect that perception. Dinner is late (8:00-9:00 PM), meals are multi-course experiences rather than fuel, and wine is a food group, not an indulgence. Intellectual debate is a national sport — disagreeing with someone's ideas over dinner is not only acceptable but expected and enjoyed, as long as it remains impersonal. The French distinguish sharply between professional life (vie professionnelle) and private life (vie privée): asking colleagues about salary, religion, or personal problems is intrusive. The 'apéro' (pre-dinner drink, typically around 7:00 PM) is the quintessential French social ritual — declining an invitation to apéro is declining an invitation to belong.

• •Bonjour is not 'hello' — it is a social handshake. Use it when entering any establishment: shop, bakery, bus, elevator, waiting room. Follow with 'Madame' or 'Monsieur.' Failure to say Bonjour is the number one reason tourists receive poor service.
• •Lunch is sacred. Many businesses and offices close or slow between 12:00 and 2:00 PM. A proper lunch (entrée, plat, fromage/dessert, café) is culturally expected. Eating a sandwich at your desk is increasingly common in Paris but still viewed with mild pity.
• •The Apéro: the pre-dinner drink ritual (olives, chips, charcuterie, wine or pastis) around 7:00 PM is how friendships are maintained and social bonds formed. Being invited to someone's apéro is a sign of genuine warmth.
• •La Bise: cheek-kissing as a greeting varies by region (one to four kisses) and relationship. In professional settings, a handshake is standard. Do not hug — hugging is reserved for very close family or emotional moments.
• •Strikes and protests: grèves (strikes) and manifestations (demonstrations) are constitutionally protected and culturally normalized expressions of democratic participation. Transport strikes, in particular, are frequent. Check RATP and SNCF strike alerts before planning travel.