Paris is the capital and the most populace city in France. The city has long been one of the largest hubs in Europe for finance, commerce, fashion, tech, science, music, and painting.
If you are reading this, we assume that you are thinking of or have received an offer of employment in Paris. This guide will give you a run-down of all the things you need to know about relocating to Paris.
Getting Started:
Before relocating to Paris, there are a number of things that you will want to consider:
1. Accommodation
2. Bank Account
3. Tax Number
4. Cost of Living
5. Visas
6. Other– Overview of the city, healthcare, transport and useful websites.
Accommodation
Finding accommodation in Paris is competitive, so be prepared and start searching as soon as possible. Paris is a large city and has many neighbourhoods with many distinct personalities between them. If possible, it would be advisable to take a walk around the city and find an area that you think suits both your personality and your needs.
An option for those unsure of searching for property on their own, or want to streamline the experience can visit www.spotahome.com and they will provide you with the help you need looking for a new place to call home. Just visit the website and input your search, you can then take one of their virtual tours and see what the place is like and check out the landlord policies.
When you make a reservation on a property, that property stays blocked until the landlord responds to your request (up to 24hours). Once the landlord accepts, your payment method will automatically be charged. This is where you pay the first payment of the property as well as a small fee for the websites expenses.
They will then put you in direct contact with your landlord via email, so you can arrange a time to collect keys, move in time, and transfer any documents that have been requested by the landlord.
For more information visit their website.
UsefulLinks:
Rental Prices:
As of 2018, please see the rental prices of an apartment in Paris:
Average cost of 1 Bed apartment in Paris City Centre – €1,145
Average cost of 3 Bed apartment in Paris City Centre – €2,440
Rooms for rent around Paris can vary between – €550-1,100
Sources: https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/in/Paris
Supporting Documents:
When looking to rent you will be asked for the following documents, so have them ready when you begin your search to avoid any delays:
· Copies of Photo ID, Permits and Visas
· A bank statement/ Credit Report/ Tax ID
· Proof of employment – Usually your contract
· A letter of reference from your previous landlord
Fees, Keys and Deposits
Utilities:
The typical deposit you should expect to pay upfront is equivalent to two months’ rent. Any more than this should raise suspicions. When paid, you should then agree on a mutually suitable time and place with your landlord to pick up your keys and move in. It is highly advisable to have a written Tenant’s Agreement, in the event of any future disagreements with your landlord.
Make sure you are clear of which (if any)utilities are included in the property. The landlord should be able to give youa good indication of how much you should expect to pay in utilities.
Bank Account
Opening a bank account upon arrival is one of the most important things you should do. This will be used for your employer to pay you, and for you to pay rent/bills etc.
Most popular banks in France:
· Crédit Agricole
· BNP Paribas
· Société Générale
· Caisse d’Epargne
Tax Number
The French Tax Number also known as the SPI (Simplification des Procedures d’Imposition) is the tax reference number in France issued by the French tax authorities to all individuals paying tax in the country. Unlike other countries, this will not serve as identification as its only purpose is for paying taxes in the country. You will not need the SPI to carry out legal or financial transactions such as buying property, opening a bank account or getting a job in the country. It is only for taxes.
You do not need to apply for an SPI either, you will receive your tax number after filling out and submitting your first tax return to the French tax authorities. The number will appear on your income tax statement.
For more information: https://www.expatica.com/fr/finance/tax-numbers-in-france_1529316.html
Cost of Living
Please see below for the cost of living in Paris, as of September 2018.
Source:https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/in/Paris
Visas
EU/EEA/Swiss Citizens:
Citizens of member states in the EU Or EEA and Swiss nationals are free to live and work in France without a Visa
Citizens of all other states:
Citizens of non-EU/EEA member states will have to apply for a visa before enteringFrance. If they wish to stay for longer than 90 days they will also have to apply for a residence card. If you intend to work in France you must have an approved contract from your employer before you can be granted a visa/permit.Your prospective employer will contact the foreign labour section of the DIRECCTE, for authorisation of a French work visa. If your contract is approved, it is then sent on to the OFII, then to the embassy/consulate of your home country. You can then proceed with your visa/residence application.
For more information: https://www.expatica.com/fr/visas-and-permits/Moving-to-France-Guide-to-French-visas-and-permits_101096.html
Other
Overview of Paris –
Quick Facts:
· Paris is the capital city of France, with a population of 2.2 million people.
· The Eiffel Tower was originally supposed to only be a temporary installation, intended to stand for only 20 years after being built for the world fair 1889!
· The main bell in the Notre Dame Cathedral is named Emmanuel and weighs over 13 tonnes.
· There are 6,100 rues – streets – in Paris, the shortest measuring just 5.75 metres!
· There are at least three replicas of the Statue of Liberty in Paris. The most famous exists on an island in the Seine and looks toward her sister statue in New York
Healthcare
The French Government healthcare in Paris for all French residence and pays 75% of healthcare costs in most cases. If you are employed and have insurance through your place of employment, you can expect to pay next to nothing for a visit to your doctor, as co-pays and deductibles tend to be very low, if at all.
A lllegal residents in France are obliged by law to have health insurance. All expats are now eligible to apply for state French health insurance (l’assurance maladie) to access France’s world-renowned healthcare system now that the French government has instated anew universal healthcare insurance system known as the Protection Maladie Universelle (PUMA).
Transport
The metro is one of the most frequently used modes of public transport in Paris, across its 16 lines. It’s closely spaced stations allow for access from any capital quarter to any other, as well as a few lines going well into the suburbs. This is complemented above-ground by a quite complex bus route map of 347 lines and, the tramway has made a reappearance in eight lines around the capital periphery. Paris is also the hub of the RER, a higher speed and wider spaced station above and underground train network that connects the capital to more distant suburban regions. The Transilien, in a rail network radiating from the capital’s train and RER stations, complements this in turn with yet more suburban destinations.
Formore information: https://en.parisinfo.com/practical-paris/how-to-get-to-and-around-paris/fares-travel-passes-reductions
Useful Websites
Finally we would like to leave you with some links to some websites you might find helpful. You can click on the links below which we hope provide you with even more useful information.
https://www.expatica.com/fr/moving-to/moving-to-france-checklist-move-to-france_109102.html
http://www.easyexpat.com/en/guides/france/paris.htm
http://www.expatarrivals.com/europe/france/paris/moving-paris
http://www.expatfocus.com/expatriate-france-moving-to-paris