Practical

Close-up of a France Schengen visa sticker in a passport.

Can I obtain a visa to come to France and look after my elderly mother?

Family regroupment permits are limited for adult children

A view of ‘a Bitcoin’ resting on a traditional card machine

I was victim of crypto scam, but recovered my assets: will any gains be taxable in France?

A reader wonders about consequences of exchange into Euros

What are the possible exemptions and reductions for France’s taxe foncière?

Exemptions exist for property owners based on several factors

practical

Travellers to Paris warned of poor exchange rates at airport currency exchanges

We offer tips to get the most value when exchanging your money

Taxe foncière bills arrive for French property owners: how to check bill is correct

We also review how to claim a refund if you believe the bill is too high

La rentrée: 12 points to understand French schools

From food to bullying - some things may surprise you about the education system in France

When does ‘mosquito season’ end in France?

Health authorities track progress of mosquito-borne diseases

Close-up of a hand holding an American passport.

How Americans can stay in France beyond the EU's 90/180 days rule

Old France-US deal lets some visitors stay for longer

Brightly patterned seed bug perched on the edge of a green leaf against a blurred green background

Why ground bugs are invading French homes – and what to do about it

Thousands of small bugs are flocking to house fronts and even indoors. One road had to be closed due to their numbers reducing tyre grip

Why French people say next Friday and we say this Friday...

Speakers of the two languages have different interpretations of the word 'next' when it relates to dates

Visitor visas for ‘digital nomads’ in France – is this permitted now?

Issue resurfaced again after MP asked question to interior ministry

Dark blue car with a crumpled bonnet, broken grille and damaged front bumper after a crash.

Irish driver crashes in south-west France after driving on wrong side of road

Head-on collision in Tarn a timely reminder for British and Irish drivers in France

Tap water restrictions increase in France: 57 departments on ‘crisis’ alert

Millions see highest restrictions as threat of tap water being cut off looms

Smiling woman in a straw hat holds a glass of white wine among vineyard rows.

US citizens in France: four steps to take now to avoid missing overseas voting deadlines

How to request, receive and return an absentee ballot

How a complex fraud caught out 1,000 clients of major French bank

Scammers ‘phished’ for information about Crédit Agricole customers’ local branches and then posed as staff

Gloved hands wiping and spraying disinfectant on a surface.

Cleaner of French home says I should have paid into a pension for her: is she right?

At home help should be declared through the Cesu system

Veterinarian in blue scrubs gently examining a worried-looking dog in a clinic

Can I bring a dog adopted in France to the UK?

Pets being brought from France to Great Britain must fulfil a number of requirements

French driving licence document beside a car key on a table.

Can I switch from pink paper driving licence to French plastic one?

All licences must be converted to modern format by 2033

A view of an electric Fiat 500 being charged

France unveils aid for second-hand electric car purchases and leasing

Some workers can benefit from up to €2,360 in aid

A graphic of someone calculating savings and interest

Can I reinvest lump sum to avoid French tax?

A reader worries about falling into the higher banding

French inheritance tax and paperwork for heirs living overseas

French tax authorities will need to know about your worldwide assets for inheritance tax purposes

New map shows most of France at risk from clay soil cracking

Map is official tool for insurance and property sales

Arranging car insurance as an American in France: everything you need to know

The process may take extra time and documents

Man arranges bottled water at a distribution point in Montsalvy during France’s 2022 drought.

40,000 people in France see water cut off: what to do if it happens to you

Plus, worst-hit areas and authorities step up enforcement as water shortages increase

Middle-aged man holding a mobile looking stressed with hand over his head

New cold-calling laws in France: what if I have a foreign number?

Cold-callers still dodge new laws

Tips to help reduce French mobile roaming fees when abroad

Risk of high costs during ferry trips highlighted

How does France’s new ‘right to repair’ rule cover your purchases?

Certain electrical goods benefit from 10-year additional protection

How many high-vis vests are you required to keep in your car in France?

Confusion remains over the road rules for yellow jackets

Can I reuse shower or washing-up water in my French garden during drought?

Recent rule changes look to improve water recycling but systems face strict rules

A view of the Revolut app ready to download on a smartphone screen

Revolut granted full French banking licence, can now offer expanded services

It is latest full licence granted to neobank following UK and Australia success

French drought update: all departments face tap water limits or warnings

There are 48 departments where toughest restrictions are in place as new heatwave only set to worsen historic drought

Silhouette of a person looking at a solar eclipse with the sun’s corona visible

August 12 solar eclipse: Protective glasses increasingly out of stock in France

Near-total eclipse visible in south-west on Wednesday evening

Alcoholism causes over 40,000 deaths a year in France

307,000 patients hospitalised every year

Paris,,France,,15-09-2023,:,Sign,Of,La,Poste

US-France postal disruptions make sending gifts costly – how to work around it

Three attempts and more than €200 later, American Greg Marshall still has not been able to send a 2.6 kilogram gift package back to the US

Best places to stop to break up a road trip through France

Not-to-be-missed sightseeing, overnight stays, tourist attractions and picnic stops a short drive from the autoroute

Yellow La Poste mailbox on a Paris pavement next to a stone wall.

How will proposed changes to La Poste affect people in France?

Slower letters, fewer postboxes are included under suggested reforms

Two movers in uniform carry a grey sofa in a bright room.

Can we donate furniture to French charity shop before move?

Websites help residents find local collection services

Can I travel between France and UK with national ID card and not French passport?

EU and UK both have electronic border systems in place

Roadside radar speed camera warning sign against trees and blue sky.

What happens if a speed camera flashes two cars at once in France?

Some modern speed cameras have lane-distinguishing technology

What happens if I fail to renew my carte de séjour?

Why keeping your residency card valid matters if you are a foreigner in France

Solar panels mounted on a terracotta-tiled roof with trees in the background.

Do solar panel electricity sellers in France need to sign up for electronic billing?

Changes to system applies to sales subject to VAT

Notaire data on how the French coastal property market is faring

Fluctuation in housing prices come as flats see more steady change

What is the best way to find weather alerts in my department in France?

State forecaster issues official alerts for many weather disturbances

Does free legal help exist in France?

Some insurance policies include coverage of legal fees

What changes in France this August for your budget?

Energy bills change for millions, savings accounts see new interest rates, and back-to-school grant paid out

Red fuel nozzle inserted into a blue car at a petrol station.

When will fuel prices in France drop after oil price fall?

Both petrol and diesel costs increased across July as tensions flared in the Middle East

Is it really worth leaving the motorway in France to save on buying fuel?

Research shows this can depend on fuel type

Five questions for the new French civic knowledge test: Republic, politics and your rights

Thousands of foreign residents in France must pass before obtaining longer-term residency cards

How to restore a staircase in a French farmhouse - one step at a time

It is better to save an existing staircase than to make a new one

Building a house in France: where to save money and where to spend

Expert tips on planning, budgets and getting it right first time

How to use acrylic sheeting for window repairs in France

Transparent acrylic sheeting has advantages over glass for some applications

Collage showing office documents, call centre staff, a gas stove being adjusted and a car refuelling at a Beyour petrol station.

What changes for residents in France in August 2026

Bills will change for millions of households, fuel scheme extends, and savings accounts see new rates

Cars lined up in heavy traffic on a highway under a cloudy sky.

Key practical and cultural dates for your diary in France for August 2026

Early August sees severe congestion on French roads

France’s 2026 property tax bills: when they will arrive and what to expect

Taxe foncière is levied on all properties regardless of use with only a few exceptions

French government website helps check and manage risks where you live

Géorisques highlights how to stay safe from risks and dangers near you

Charred residential buildings stand amid scorched ground after a wildfire in Lege, France.

Why does French natural disaster insurance not cover wildfires?

Since most wildfires are caused by human activity, this affects insurance claims

France’s property market is stabilising (and why this is not a bad thing)

Five key points from the most recent French notaire data

Blue van driving on a rural road beside fields, with a warning sign and French road sign.

Explained: Driving on France's busy summer roads

Take note of the rules of the road as holiday traffic brings congestion and increased police checks

Tax declaration form, calculator and euro banknotes on a desk.

Americans in France: the investment traps that could cost you

Investing in France is possible, but can leave you out of pocket if done wrong

Up 17.3%, down 6.7%: how flat prices are changing across France

Largest cities saw little change but other areas vary considerably in fortunes

How are house prices changing in your area of France?

Notaire data shows strong growth in north but big cities such as Paris and Bordeaux see prices drop

More areas of France face highest level of tap water restrictions

44 departments now have at least one commune at ‘crisis’ level

How Americans can access France's healthcare system – and why it takes patience

Admin, long waiting times and uneven access to English-speaking doctors need to be factored in

What are criteria to apply for France's electric car leasing scheme?

Third year of popular programme sees 50,000 contracts available

Repairing cracked walls in our French home: what help is available?

Millions of homes at risk with early prevention and corrections now encouraged

Why does it take so long to get air conditioning approved for a flat in France?

Unit installation requires wider approval from co-owners

18 recent and upcoming changes in France in July 2026

Includes electricity bills, taxes, and an end to cold calls

Close-up of water dripping from a metal tap against a blurred background.

French drought update: 40 departments on highest level of tap water restrictions

All but 13 departments have at least some restrictions in place

Americans in France: how to vote in US midterm elections

French mail polices reported to be causing some complications

French wildfires: how are people told to evacuate? We do not have a French phone for texts

More than 200,000 residents and tourists have been evacuated in recent days following as blazes have spread

Mother and daughter loading a suitcase into the back of a silver car outside a house.

Free French police checks for your home and vulnerable relatives when absent

How to sign up for the Opération Tranquillité Vacances service and special wellbeing check

Historic house seen across a green lawn with yellow flowers and large trees in the foreground.

Can we claim ‘public land’ our home was built on in France?

‘Public domain’ land is treated in different ways

Fuel prices in France: outlook 'extremely uncertain'

Government remains unsure over future prices, while TotalEnergies relaunches price cap

Visa,Application,Form,And,Flag,Of,France

What are ‘local requirements’ for spouse of EU citizen to stay in France

Free five-year residency cards are available

Doctor taking a patient’s blood pressure with a digital monitor in a clinic.

Will GHIC cover Britons for 12-month French visa?

Health card provides ‘medically necessary’ healthcare at same rate as for citizens