Key things to know before moving

  • A long-stay visa (VLS-TS) is required for any stay over 90 days, applied for at the French consulate in the US before departure ;
  • FATCA and FBAR: as a US citizen you must keep declaring your worldwide income to the IRS, even after you settle in France ;
  • The US-France tax treaty (signed 1994, revised 2009) prevents most double taxation through the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion and the Foreign Tax Credit ;
  • Driving licence reciprocity depends on your US state: only around 18 states have an exchange agreement with France, others require taking the full French test.

Visa Types for Americans Moving to France

US passport holders can enter France without a visa for up to 90 days within any 180-day rolling period under the Schengen rules. Anything longer requires a long-stay visa (visa de long séjour), and you must apply for it at a French consulate in the US before you leave. Switching from a tourist stay to a long-stay status from inside France is not allowed.

The right visa depends on what you plan to do in France:

  • VLS-TS (long-stay visa equivalent to a residence permit): the default route for most expats settling for a year or more, validated online with the OFII within three months of arrival ;
  • VLS-T (temporary long-stay visa): for stays between 4 and 12 months without intent to settle ;
  • Talent Passport (Passeport Talent): for skilled workers, researchers, founders and investors, valid up to 4 years and renewable ;
  • Étudiant (student) visa: for enrolment in a recognised French institution ;
  • Visiteur (visitor) visa: for retirees, remote workers and anyone with sufficient resources who agrees not to work in France.

For the full breakdown of categories, fees and supporting documents, see our dedicated guide to French visa requirements.

Application Process and the French Consulates

All long-stay visa applications go through France-Visas, the official French government portal, then through a biometric appointment at a VFS Global centre or at the consulate that covers your state. France has consulates in Washington DC, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, Boston, Houston, Miami, San Francisco and a few others, each with its own jurisdiction.

Finding the right consulate

You cannot pick the consulate freely: each one covers specific states. A New Yorker applies in NYC, a Texan in Houston, a Californian in San Francisco or Los Angeles, and so on. Check the jurisdiction map on franceintheus.org before booking anything.

Documents to prepare

The exact list depends on the visa, but most applications require:

  • A valid US passport with at least two blank pages, valid for three months beyond your stay ;
  • Proof of accommodation in France (lease, host attestation, hotel for the first weeks) ;
  • Proof of sufficient resources (bank statements, employment contract, pension statements) ;
  • Proof of private health insurance covering your first months in France ;
  • A birth certificate avec filiation, ideally apostilled and translated by a sworn translator ;
  • Recent passport photos meeting French biometric standards.

Processing typically takes 2 to 6 weeks, sometimes longer in summer. Once in France, you must validate your VLS-TS online within three months and start gathering documents for your French residence permit renewal.

Healthcare for Americans in France

For most Americans, French healthcare is the most welcome surprise of moving across the Atlantic. After three months of stable, regular residence, you can apply for PUMa (Protection Universelle Maladie), the French universal healthcare coverage. PUMa reimburses around 70 % of routine medical costs and up to 100 % for serious long-term conditions (affections de longue durée).

The remaining 30 % is generally covered by a mutuelle, a private top-up health insurance. Mutuelles cost roughly €30 to €120 per month depending on age and coverage, far below typical US premiums. Together, PUMa and a mutuelle deliver near-comprehensive coverage at a fraction of US costs.

Getting your Carte Vitale

Your application is filed with the local CPAM (regional health insurance office). Once approved, you receive a Carte Vitale, the green smart card that handles reimbursements automatically at the pharmacy and the doctor. Our step-by-step guide to applying for the Carte Vitale covers the documents and timing in detail.

What changes coming from the US system

A GP visit costs €30 (€26.50 reimbursed by PUMa). Most prescription drugs are partially or fully reimbursed. There are no insurance networks, no in-network/out-of-network logic, no prior authorisations for routine care. US-style health plans (Aetna, Cigna Global, etc.) are an option only for the first three months before PUMa kicks in, or as an additional layer for expats with US ties.

Banking as an American: the FATCA Problem

Opening a French bank account as a US citizen is harder than for any other nationality, and the reason is FATCA (Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act). Since 2014, France and the US share automatic information on the bank accounts of US persons, and French banks must report your balances directly to the IRS. The compliance overhead is heavy enough that some banks simply refuse to onboard Americans.

In practice, US citizens have a few reliable routes:

  • HSBC France and BNP Paribas: the two large traditional banks most willing to take on US clients, especially for premium accounts ;
  • Boursorama Banque and other online banks: usually open to US persons with a French address and a long-stay visa ;
  • Wise and Revolut: euro accounts with a French IBAN that work for rent, utilities and salary, useful as a bridge or as a permanent secondary account.

By French law, anyone legally resident in France has a right to a basic bank account (droit au compte): if every bank refuses you, the Banque de France will designate one for you. For the long version, see our guide to banking in France.

Taxes: the American Dual Obligation

The United States is one of the only countries in the world that taxes its citizens on worldwide income, regardless of where they live. Moving to France does not free you from filing a US federal tax return every year, on top of your French déclaration de revenus.

The 1994 treaty and how double taxation is avoided

The US-France tax treaty, signed in 1994 and substantially revised in 2009, exists precisely to prevent double taxation. Two main mechanisms apply:

  • Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE): an annual exclusion of foreign-earned income from US taxation (around $126,500 for 2024, indexed each year by the IRS) ;
  • Foreign Tax Credit (FTC): a dollar-for-dollar credit on US taxes for income tax already paid in France, often more advantageous than the FEIE for higher earners.

French income tax is generally higher than US federal tax at comparable income levels, so most expats end up owing little or no US federal tax thanks to the FTC. You still have to file, however: skipping a return can trigger penalties even when no tax is due. For the French side, our guide to paying taxes in France covers residency rules, deadlines and the online impots.gouv.fr portal.

Don't forget your home state

A few US states (notably California, Virginia, New Mexico and South Carolina) are aggressive about claiming state tax even on residents who move abroad. Sever your state ties cleanly before leaving: change your driver's licence, voter registration and mailing address to a tax-friendly state, or formally notify your home state of your move.

FBAR: Reporting Your French Bank Accounts

On top of the IRS return, US citizens must file an FBAR (FinCEN Report 114) every year if the total balance across all foreign accounts exceeds $10,000 at any point in the year, even for a single day. The threshold is cumulative across every non-US account: bank, brokerage, joint account, and even foreign retirement plans count.

Key points:

  • The FBAR is filed with FinCEN, separately from your IRS return ;
  • The deadline is 15 April, automatically extended to 15 October ;
  • Non-filing penalties are severe, up to $10,000 per violation for non-wilful errors, far more for wilful ones ;
  • If your total foreign assets exceed certain higher thresholds, you may also have to file Form 8938 (FATCA reporting) with your IRS return.

Most American expats hire a US tax preparer specialised in expatriate filings. The investment is modest compared to the cost of a single missed FBAR.

Driving Licence: Reciprocity by State

France has bilateral driving licence exchange agreements with around 18 US states. If your licence was issued by one of those states, you can swap it for a French permis de conduire within the first year of residence, without taking the test. If your state is not on the list, you must pass the full French test (theory and practical) once your one-year grace period ends.

Common cases

Status Examples of US states
Reciprocity (direct exchange) Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan and others (around 18 states in total).
No reciprocity (French test required) California, New York, Florida, Georgia and most of the remaining states.

The official list changes occasionally. Always check the current version on the French consulate or consulfrance website for your jurisdiction before assuming an exchange is possible.

If your state is not on the reciprocity list

You can drive on your US licence for up to one year after the validation of your VLS-TS. After that, you must hold a French permis. Since your state has no agreement, the only route is to enrol in a French driving school (auto-école), pass the theory exam (code de la route) and the practical exam. Our broader guide to driving in France covers both the exchange and the test procedure step by step.

Working in France as an American

Employment in France requires a visa that authorises work. The most common routes for Americans are:

  • Talent Passport for skilled professionals, researchers, founders, qualified employees of recognised companies, and investors meeting threshold requirements ;
  • Salarié visa when a French employer sponsors you and the contract is approved by the French labour authorities ;
  • ICT (Intra-Company Transfer) for employees of a US group transferring to a French entity ;
  • Profession libérale or entrepreneur visa for freelancers and self-employed workers, with a viable business plan and proof of resources.

Freelance work is allowed but tax compliance gets complex: you become liable for French income tax, social charges (around 22 % under the micro-entrepreneur regime, more in standard regimes) and US self-employment tax under most treaties. The US-France social security totalisation agreement avoids paying social contributions in both countries simultaneously, but documentation is essential.

Sending Your Belongings to France

An international removal from the US to France runs roughly $4,000 to $12,000 for a small apartment by sea freight, more for a full house or air freight. Major US-to-France movers include AGS, Schumacher Cargo, Allied Pickfords and Mondial Movers. Quotes vary widely, so always request three estimates.

For French customs, you will need:

  • A Certificat de Changement de Résidence from the French consulate that handled your visa ;
  • A detailed inventory in French with the approximate value of every item in euros ;
  • A copy of your visa and proof of French residence ;
  • Receipts for items owned for less than six months (a 20 % VAT applies otherwise) ;
  • For inherited goods, documents proving the relationship and date of death — duty-free import is allowed within one year of death.

All shipments must arrive within twelve months of your move to qualify for duty-free entry as personal effects.

First Weeks in France: Priority Checklist

Once you land, the first weeks revolve around paperwork. A pragmatic order of operations:

  • Validate your VLS-TS visa online with the OFII within three months — the only step that activates your residence status ;
  • Sign a lease and obtain a justificatif de domicile (electricity, broadband or insurance bill in your name) — the master key to everything else ;
  • Open a French bank account as soon as the address proof is in hand ;
  • After three months of residence, apply for PUMa at your local CPAM and start the Carte Vitale file ;
  • If eligible, exchange your driver's licence at the local prefecture (online via ANTS) before the one-year deadline ;
  • Update your IRS and home-state tax records, set a recurring reminder for the 15 April / 15 June deadlines and the FBAR ;
  • Save the contacts of the US Embassy in Paris (2 avenue Gabriel, 75008 — +33 1 43 12 22 22) and your local US consulate, and our directory of English-speaking helplines in France.

If you are moving in retirement specifically, our guide to retiring in France covers Social Security portability, pension taxation and visa specifics for retirees.