Key things to know in 2026

  • UK citizens already settled in France before 31 December 2020 are protected by the Withdrawal Agreement and hold a special WARP residence card ;
  • UK citizens arriving after 1 January 2021 follow the same rules as other non-EU nationals — a long-stay visa is required ;
  • UK driving licences must be exchanged within 12 months of becoming a French resident, under the post-Brexit reciprocity agreement signed in June 2021 ;
  • The S1 form still works for UK pensioners, granting access to French healthcare via Ameli.

Two Regimes: Pre-2021 vs Post-2021 Arrivals

The single most important question for a British national moving to France is the date of arrival. The UK officially left the European Union on 31 January 2020, but a transition period kept EU rules in force until 31 December 2020. Everyone who was legally resident in France on that date falls under the Withdrawal Agreement. Everyone who arrived from 1 January 2021 onwards is now treated as a third-country national.

The two groups follow completely different paths for residency, work permits and family reunification. A simple way to summarise:

Right Pre-2021 (Withdrawal Agreement) Post-2021 (new rules)
Residence permit WARP card, valid 5 or 10 years Long-stay visa (VLS-TS) then carte de séjour
Right to work Automatic, no work permit required Work permit or Talent Passport required
Healthcare PUMa or S1, full reciprocity preserved Private insurance for visa, then PUMa after 3 months
Family reunification Simplified, EU rules apply Standard third-country procedure
Driving licence Exchange within 12 months of becoming resident Exchange within 12 months of becoming resident

Both groups still benefit from the bilateral driving licence agreement signed in June 2021 and from the UK-France double-taxation treaty, so some practical issues remain identical regardless of when you moved over.

The Withdrawal Agreement and the WARP Card

The Withdrawal Agreement Residency Permit (WARP) is a French residence card created specifically for UK nationals who were already settled in France before 1 January 2021. It is the legal proof that you fall under the Withdrawal Agreement and keep the rights you held as an EU citizen.

Who Can Hold a WARP Card

You are eligible if you were a resident in France on 31 December 2020 and have continued to live in the country since. The original deadline to apply was 30 June 2021. Late applications are still possible in well-justified cases and are now handled through the ANEF (Administration Numérique des Étrangers en France) portal.

Validity: 5 Years or 10 Years

There are two versions of the card:

  • A 5-year card for British nationals who had been in France for less than five years on 31 December 2020 ;
  • A 10-year card for British nationals who had already accrued five years of legal residence by that date.

After five years of continuous residence, holders of the 5-year card can switch to the 10-year version. Both cards are renewable indefinitely as long as you remain a French resident. They grant the right to live, work, study and access social benefits in France on the same terms as before Brexit. Becoming a French resident long-term is therefore protected for this group.

For New Arrivals After Brexit

If you are moving to France in 2026 from the UK, the procedure is now identical to that of a US, Canadian or Australian citizen: you need a long-stay visa matched to your situation. UK passports allow you to enter France for short tourist or business stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period without a visa, but anything longer requires applying through the French consulate in London, Edinburgh or Manchester before you travel.

The Main Visa Categories

The right visa depends on why you are moving:

  • VLS-TS (Visa Long Séjour valant Titre de Séjour) for stays of one year, the most common option for retirees, students and the self-employed ;
  • VLS-T for temporary stays from 4 to 12 months, with no possibility of renewal in France ;
  • Talent Passport (Passeport Talent) for skilled workers, salaried employees earning above the threshold, founders and researchers, valid up to 4 years and renewable ;
  • Visitor visa for those with sufficient passive income who do not intend to work in France ;
  • Family visa for spouses and children of French residents.

From Application to Residence Permit

Applications go through the France-Visas portal and end with an interview at the consulate covering the UK (London, Edinburgh or Manchester). Allow six to eight weeks for the visa itself once the appointment is confirmed. Once in France, the long-stay visa must be validated online within three months of arrival. After that, the holder is treated as a regular foreign resident and follows the standard renewal procedure at the prefecture. The full breakdown of categories, fees and timelines lives in our dedicated guide to visa requirements for France.

Healthcare for UK Expats

France runs a state healthcare system (Sécurité sociale) that reimburses around 70% of medical costs, topped up by an optional private mutuelle. UK nationals access the system in two main ways depending on their status.

UK Pensioners and the S1 Form

The S1 form is one of the few EU mechanisms preserved for UK retirees after Brexit. Issued by the UK Department for Work and Pensions, it confirms that the UK will reimburse France for the holder's medical care. Anyone receiving a UK State Pension who has paid at least 35 years of National Insurance contributions, or who reaches state pension age and moves to France, can apply for an S1.

The form is then registered with the local CPAM (Caisse Primaire d'Assurance Maladie), which issues a Carte Vitale on the same terms as for any French resident. There is no need to pay French social charges on the UK pension, since the UK is the funder of last resort. This is the most generous regime available to UK expats and a major reason why retiring to France remains attractive after Brexit.

PUMa for Working-Age Residents

UK nationals of working age who do not qualify for an S1 access French healthcare through PUMa (Protection Universelle Maladie) once they have lived in France for three months on a stable and regular basis. Employees and self-employed workers are automatically affiliated through their professional activity. People without a salary pay an income-based contribution.

Short Stays: GHIC Replaces EHIC

The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) was replaced by the Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) for UK residents in 2021. The GHIC covers medically necessary treatment during short visits to France, but it is not a substitute for the Carte Vitale and does not cover repatriation. Anyone planning to live in France should treat the GHIC as a stop-gap during the first weeks of arrival and apply for proper French cover as soon as possible. For background, see our note on EHIC and GHIC in France.

Banking and Money Across the Channel

UK Bank Accounts and Brexit

Several UK banks ended passporting rights in the EU after Brexit and have closed accounts held by customers with a French residential address. Lloyds, Barclays, Halifax and Coutts have all sent closure letters to French-resident customers since 2020. NatWest, HSBC UK and Nationwide have generally kept retail accounts open, but rules change with regulatory guidance — anyone moving to France should call their UK bank first to confirm they can keep the account.

Opening a French Bank Account

Setting up a French bank account is one of the first practical steps for any new arrival. It is needed for the rental deposit, utility contracts, payroll and to validate the long-stay visa. Most banks ask for a passport, a long-stay visa or WARP card, a French address with proof, and an initial deposit. The whole process typically takes three to six weeks for a traditional bank, and a few hours for an online-only bank such as Boursorama, Hello bank! or Revolut France.

Sending Money UK to France

Bank wire transfers from a UK to a French account remain straightforward: SEPA payments are instant or same-day and the IBAN is the only routing information needed. The only difference compared with the pre-Brexit era is that the GBP-EUR conversion is no longer free of FX margin in most banks. Specialist transfer services like Wise, Revolut and CurrencyFair generally beat high-street bank rates significantly when moving large sums (a property deposit, a pension lump sum, etc.).

Driving with a UK Licence

A UK driving licence remains valid for short visits to France with no extra paperwork. The picture changes once you become a French resident: under the Franco-British agreement signed in June 2021, you must exchange your UK licence for a French one within 12 months of your residency start date. Failure to exchange within that window means losing the right to drive in France until you pass the French driving test from scratch.

How to Exchange Your Licence

The exchange goes through the ANTS (Agence Nationale des Titres Sécurisés) online portal. The standard documents are:

  • The original UK photocard licence (front and back) ;
  • A valid passport or WARP card ;
  • Proof of French address less than 6 months old ;
  • A recent ID photo and signature in digital format ;
  • Proof of residency start date (visa validation, tax notice, etc.).

Processing times vary regionally and have been long since 2022, sometimes more than six months. The ANTS issues a temporary attestation that allows you to keep driving while the application is pending.

Bringing a UK-Registered Car

Importing a UK-plated vehicle is a separate procedure from the licence exchange. You need a quitus fiscal from the French tax office, a certificate of conformity from the manufacturer, and a French roadworthiness test (contrôle technique) before you can apply for a French registration certificate (carte grise) on the ANTS portal. The whole process takes about a month and is detailed in our broader guide to driving in France.

Working in France as a UK Citizen

Pre-2021 UK residents covered by the Withdrawal Agreement keep full access to the French labour market. New arrivals after Brexit need a work-authorising residence permit before taking up employment, which usually means lining up a French employer who will sponsor the application.

The Talent Passport for Skilled Workers

The most common route for UK professionals is the Talent Passport. It covers salaried employees earning at least 1.8 times the French minimum wage, intra-company transfers, founders, researchers, artists and investors. The card is valid up to four years, renewable, and allows family members to accompany the holder under a single application. The Talent Passport for Salaried Employees is the closest equivalent to a Skilled Worker visa in the UK system.

Freelancers and Students

Freelancers can apply for a Profession Libérale visa with a credible business plan and proof of resources. Students need a long-stay student visa and acceptance from a French institution. UK undergraduates lost access to the Erasmus+ programme in 2020 — the UK government's Turing Scheme replaces it for outbound mobility but does not give automatic discounts on French tuition fees.

Voting Rights Post-Brexit

UK citizens lost the right to vote in French municipal and European elections when Brexit took effect on 1 January 2021. EU citizenship of UK nationals ended on the same day, removing the right of any non-French EU resident to take part in local ballots in France.

UK citizens living abroad can still vote in UK general elections under the rules of the Elections Act 2022, which removed the previous 15-year limit on overseas voting. Registration is done on the gov.uk website with the last UK address used. UK nationals who naturalise as French gain back the right to vote in local and European elections, plus French national elections — naturalisation typically takes 18 to 24 months and requires five years of legal residence (or two with a French degree).

Tax Considerations

The UK-France Double-Taxation Treaty

The 1968 UK-France tax treaty (revised in 2008) is unaffected by Brexit and continues to prevent the same income from being taxed twice. The treaty allocates the right to tax different income streams between the two countries: UK State Pensions are taxed in France (the country of residence), UK government pensions and rental income on UK property are taxed in the UK, and salaried work income is generally taxed where the work is performed.

When Do You Become a French Tax Resident

France considers you a tax resident if you spend more than 183 days a year in the country, if your main home is in France, or if your principal economic activity takes place there. Tax residents must declare their worldwide income to the French authorities every spring, even if it is also reported in the UK. The treaty then provides a credit for tax already paid abroad. Our dedicated page on taxes in France details the schedule and the forms.

Declaring UK Bank Accounts

Any French tax resident with a foreign bank account, including UK accounts kept open after the move, must declare it on form 3916 alongside the annual tax return. The penalty for omission is a flat €1,500 per undeclared account, raised to €10,000 if the account is held in a non-cooperative jurisdiction. The UK is not on that list, but the €1,500 fine still applies.

Practical First Steps for Newly-Arrived UK Expats

The first eight weeks after landing in France set the legal and administrative groundwork for years to come. A reasonable order of operations looks like this:

  1. Validate the long-stay visa online within three months of arrival ;
  2. Open a French bank account with passport, visa and proof of address ;
  3. Sign a rental contract or housing agreement, then collect a justificatif de domicile ;
  4. Register with the local CPAM for PUMa, or submit the S1 form for retirees ;
  5. Apply for a Carte Vitale once the social security number has been issued ;
  6. Start the UK driving licence exchange via ANTS before the 12-month deadline ;
  7. Inform HMRC and the International Pension Centre of the move ;
  8. Register with the French tax office in spring of the following year for the first declaration.

For all of these steps, English-speaking support exists but is scattered across services. Our directory of English-speaking helplines in France lists the working numbers for Ameli, the prefectures and the main utility providers. The British Embassy in Paris (35 rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, 75008 Paris, +33 1 44 51 31 00) handles consular issues, lost passports and emergency assistance.

If you are retiring to France, our specific guide on retiring to France covers pension transfers and the S1 process in more detail.