The expatriation to-do list: procedures for living abroad

Before you go abroad…

• Check the validity date of your passport and those of your family members. Some countries require passports to be valid for more than 6 months.
• Take the necessary steps to obtain your visa (these vary from country to country, and can sometimes be done online).
• Book your departure tickets well in advance.
• Cancel :
  • subscriptions (telephone, internet, gym, etc.)
  • your contracts (insurance, mutual insurance, EDF…) and send notice of departure from your current accommodation.

• Inform the various French authorities of your departure (CAF, tax office, etc.).
• Apply for your international driving license at your local prefecture.
• Organize your move (apartment search, vehicle…)
• Find out about customs formalities (pets, vehicle, moving deadlines, etc.).
• Make copies of important documents and their English translations (passports, visas…)
• Take passport photos of yourself and your family.
• Prepare your luggage in advance, so as not to forget items that could be important to you (family photos, guide to your expatriation destination, personal belongings, etc.).
• Remember to take the necessary steps with your banks

If you have children…

• Start the procedures to enroll your children in school – be sure to check school start dates, as they vary from country to country around the world.
• Ask for copies of your family members’ birth certificates, and bring your family record book with you.
• Find out how the school system works, e.g. at what age children start school, whether they can be home-schooled…
• Find out about childcare options if you have a baby or toddler.

When it comes to health and living abroad…

• Make an appointment with your health professionals for a complete check-up before you leave for a foreign country (orthodontist, dentist, general practitioner…).
• Keep a file of all medical documents you may need (X-rays, repeat prescriptions, blood group cards, etc.).
• Prepare a first-aid kit, possibly with the help of your doctor or pharmacist, for anything you think might be useful and which you may not find in your future expatriate country.
• Draw up a vaccination schedule, including updates and reminders of vaccinations that are either compulsory or strongly recommended for your destination.
• Subscribe to repatriation assistance (which may be included in your international expatriate mutual insurance contract).
• If you have young children, are pregnant or have just had a baby, find out about the conditions for maternity and pediatric care.

If you’re retired, check with the CFE (Caisse des Français de l’Etranger) to calculate your pension points

Another thing to think about before moving abroad…

• Think about having your mail forwarded by post or via a specialized service.
• Before you leave, take an interest in traditions and customs, what life is like as a French expatriate abroad, etc… Reading articles written by French expatriates already living in the country can make your immersion easier. It can also help you find places where you can socialize. Doing your homework in advance will help you get to grips with your new home and expatriate life.
• If you’re unfamiliar with the language of your new country, start learning it: take a few classes so that you’ll have a basic understanding when you arrive.
• Sell any furniture or belongings you don’t want to keep.
• If you have pets, remember to have a check-up with your vet, and prepare for the regulatory formalities in force in your new country (visas, vaccinations, etc.).

Focus on expatriate health insurance

Whatever your destination, find out in advance about the healthcare system in your new country of residence. You’ll need to think about your international expatriate health insurance. In France, we are fortunate to be very well covered. Abroad, the quality of the healthcare system is much more uncertain. When you leave France permanently or even temporarily to live abroad, you lose your French social security coverage. You can opt for local health insurance. However, we strongly recommend that you carefully check the cover offered. In some destinations, such as the USA or Hong Kong, taking out a local policy may entail additional costs, such as co-payments, out-of-pocket expenses or non-reimbursed expenses. You can also find out more about the CFE(Caisse des Français de l’Étranger), while considering taking out complementary expatriate health insurance. A final option is to take out a mutuelle santé expatrié (expatriate health insurance). This solution covers your health expenses from the very first euro you spend. This option is the closest you’ll find to health coverage in France. Planning to travel during your expatriation? Check that your health insurance contract covers you in countries other than the one to which you are expatriating. There are expatriate health insurance solutions to protect you internationally, wherever you are in the world.

A worry-free expatriation: your expatriation 2024 to-do-list!

Drawing up a checklist, either online or on paper, will ensure you don’t forget any crucial stages in this life-changing move. Start your preparations three months before your departure, so you can feel confident. We also advise you to keep all the supporting documents relating to your expatriation, such as work contracts, vaccinations and moving invoices. And don’t forget to give your new address to the people you want to keep in touch with once you’re here! Finally, why not consider setting up a blog once you’re there? It’s a great way to share your new life as a French expat with family, friends and even the rest of the world. It gives you a platform to promote the French art de vivre, share the culinary delights of your new home and document your cultural discoveries.