Mortgages, medics and castles: essential articles for life in France
Before you go scouring the property pages for your ideal French home, you need to know that there are some fairly strict rules for those seeking a mortgage, including tight limits on minimum income and maximum loan length – here's how it all works.
If you are looking to move to France, access to nearby health services will be an important consideration. Booking a medical appointment in France can be time-consuming – especially if you are new to the country and are looking for an English-speaking doctor.
One from the archives, but still important for day-to-day life in France, as anyone going through the process of applying for official French documentation such as a residency or health insurance card may need to have some documents translated. Here are the rules for 'official translations'.
It is a legal requirement for banks in France and across the European Union to maintain and update the details of their clients as part of their requirement of due diligence in the fight against money laundering and the financing of terrorism.
They can – and must – occasionally request information from their customers to verify their identity, where they live, and where their money comes from. That can include asking for passports or residency permits for foreigners in France - here's what to expect if this happens to you.
French grammar can be fiendishly – some claim deliberately – complicated and almost all French learners have at one point despaired over ever getting it right. It may seem counter-intuitive, but the mistakes your French friends make when speaking English can be very educational, as we explain, here.
And finally, some places to consider for your next French holiday… You have probably already heard of the Cité de Carcassonne, but what about the eight nearby castles which have now been nominated for UNESCO World Heritage status? Here's what you need to know about visiting the Cathar castles in south-west France.
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France 24
4 hours ago
- France 24
Ryanair says will fine 'disruptive passengers' 500 euros
Europe's biggest airline by passenger numbers has previously hit out at "unruly" behaviour caused by travellers consuming excessive amounts of alcohol while waiting to board delayed flights. "Ryanair is committed to tackling unruly passenger behaviour for the benefit of its passengers and crew, and will continue to pursue disruptive passengers for civil damages, but at a minimum, they will now be issued with a 500-euro fine," Ryanair said in a statement Thursday. A spokesperson added that the penalty "will be issued to any passengers offloaded from aircraft as a result of their misconduct". Ryanair in January said that it had incurred costs of 15,350 euros as a result of a "disruptive passenger" on board a flight from Dublin to Lanzarote, in Spain's Canary Islands, last year. This was because the plane had to divert to the Portuguese city of Porto, where the passenger was arrested, and the more than 160 other travellers on board were provided with overnight accommodation and meals. Ryanair said it faced other costs, including the need for additional fuel and crew. The airline filed civil legal proceedings against the passenger in Ireland to recover its outlay. At the same time, it called on the European Union to limit the sale of alcohol at airports. Ryanair transported more than 200 million passengers in its last financial year to the end of March. It forecasts that the number will rise to 300 million by 2034.
Euronews
3 days ago
- Euronews
Buying a French home as an expat: Tips, tricks, and traps to avoid
Whether it's a Parisian attic or a countryside villa, owning a property in France is a dream shared by many Francophiles. As well as the lure of sun-baked terraces and world-famous food, expats are drawn in by the practical perks on offer, including affordable healthcare, strong social security benefits, and a good work-life balance. Yes, the dream is a possibility — but there are some tips and tricks you should know before starting out. After speaking with a range of experts, Euronews Business has compiled an advice list, essential for foreigners buying in France. When it comes to choosing a property, buyers will often pick homes located in areas they've visited on holiday, or perhaps they have friends nearby. While both of these factors can give you an idea of a location, experts stress that thorough research is key. 'Read, investigate, and don't be in a hurry unless you can afford to make mistakes,' Alex Balkin, executive director of Savills French Riviera and French Alps, told Euronews Business. 'Some places are gorgeous. There's a little well in the town centre, lavender sprouting out of it, there's a lovely little cat lounging lazily in the sunshine. Then you come back in November and it's dead as a doornail. Even the bakery is shut.' As well as checking out the area's ambiance and accessibility during the winter, it can also be useful to contact the local town hall, or the mairie. Officials can then keep you up to date with what's happening in the vicinity — including potential development plans. In order to get a better feel for a place, some expats may also prefer to rent before they buy. While homeowners may sell through an estate agent, many properties are also available privately, said David Yeates, editor of France Insider, a specialist French property online journal. Even so, it's important to avoid overpaying in these cases, he explained. 'The great risk is that many private sellers overvalue their property.' Yeates added that there are difficulties valuing French houses, particularly in the countryside, 'because there are not always obvious comparisons and sales in rural areas'. Doing online research can help, but you may also want to pay for one or two estate agents in the area to give you their expert opinion. When a deal is struck between a buyer and a seller, it involves more than these two parties. In France, all real estate transactions must pass through a notaire, a government-appointed lawyer who draws up and handles the contracts. Their fees are regulated by the state and are based on the value of the property. As the notaire is a neutral party, working for both buyer and seller, many people choose to appoint just one. It can also be useful to have a notaire for both parties, although experts say this isn't essential. 'Notaires are impartial, they're not allowed to lie by omission, and their work is backed by the French state,' Alex Balkin told Euronews Business. Some buyers may also want to hire a lawyer, separate to a notaire, to give extra, personalised advice on complex situations. On this, Balkin said: 'It's not always very useful, especially if they don't know the workings in France. They will, in some cases, create a problem where there isn't one.' David Yeates noted that hiring an extra lawyer can sometimes be advantageous, particularly 'if your family circumstances are complex or the transaction is substantial'. A lawyer could, for example, give advice on inheritance rights, as 'there are different solutions that you can adopt from the outset to deal with the entrenched rights of children'. Gazumping is a practice where a seller agrees to transfer a property to a prospective buyer and then revokes the deal at the last moment, instead giving it to a higher bidder. Unlike in some countries, the French market protects the buyer against this practice, as a preliminary contract binds the parties to the sale. After the two sides sign the 'compromis de vente', the seller is committed to the deal, while the buyer has a 'cooling off' period of 10 days to change their mind. 'This period is a really important thing to know about because it allows you, the buyer, to withdraw if you have a change of heart,' Jack Harris, Partner at Knight Frank International Residential Real Estate, told Euronews Business. 'It's worth examining and understanding the suspensive clauses or conditions that can be included within this preliminary contract…because you'll then understand your liabilities as a buyer,' he added. It's also important to have a strong idea of the costs you'll incur when buying property, as well as being realistic about the potential returns. While some locations are anomalies, France's property market tends to be more stable than in other countries, meaning you won't see massive drops or gains in value. 'There are still very good investment areas, particularly areas like Paris, but countryside properties, they stay pretty stable … so you're not going to make huge amounts,' Joanna Leggett, marketing director at Leggett Immobilier International, told Euronews. 'These purchases tend to be a lifestyle choice rather than an investment choice.' Leggett added that a common mistake made by foreign buyers is underestimating the cost of renovation. 'These properties have a value ceiling and you may not get all of the renovation costs back,' she explained. 'Get estimates from local artisans before you go ahead and make an offer.' David Yeates of France Insider echoed these warnings, stressing that buyers should overestimate their costs and underestimate their incomes. 'It's very good to have dreams, but those dreams need to be proportionate to your capacity to realise them,' he said. A reminder: the information in this article does not constitute financial advice, always do your own research to ensure it's right for your specific circumstances. Also remember, we are a journalistic website and aim to provide the best guidance, tips and advice from experts. If you rely on the information on this page then you do so entirely at your own risk.
Euronews
3 days ago
- Euronews
Trump's travel ban on citizens from 12 countries takes effect
US President Donald Trump's sweeping ban on travel to the US by citizens of 12 countries took effect on Monday amid rising tensions over immigration. The 12 countries targeted include Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. Nationals from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela are partially restricted. On Wednesday, Trump warned in a video that new countries could be added to the list as "threats emerge around the world." The ban comes more than eight years after his first travel ban in 2017 denied entry to citizens from mainly Muslim countries, sparking chaos at numerous airports and prompting months of legal battles. Unlike Trump's first ban, no such disruption was immediately discernable at airports and other entry points. Experts expect the proclamation — which is broader and more carefully crafted — to withstand legal challenges partly due its focus on the visa application process. The ban does not revoke visas issued to countries included on the list however, unless the applicant meets narrow criteria for an exemption to the ban, his or her application will be rejected from Monday. Travelers with previously issued visas should still be able to enter the US even after the ban takes effect. The announcement that the ban would take effect on Monday was overshadowed by other immigration battles, including widespread protests in Los Angeles against Trump's deportation raids. The demonstrations prompted the deployment of the National Guard — despite objections from California's governor. The policy specifically targets citizens of Haiti and Afghanistan, though it makes exceptions for individuals who collaborated closely with the US government during the two-decade war. It also imposes stricter measures on Venezuelan nationals, who have faced increased pressure under the Trump administration in recent months — including abrupt deportations to a detention facility in El Salvador which have ignited a legal battle. The measure has been denounced by groups that provide aid and resettlement help to refugees. 'This policy is not about national security — it is about sowing division and vilifying communities that are seeking safety and opportunity in the United States,' Abby Maxman, president of Oxfam America, said. Trump has justified the ban by claiming that some countries had "deficient' screening for passports and other public documents or have historically refused to take back their own citizens. The nationals in the countries included on the list impose "terrorism-related' and 'public-safety' risks, as well as risks of overstaying their visas. He also tied the ban to a terrorist attack in Colorado, which wounded a dozen people, saying it underscored the dangers posed by visitors who overstay visas in the US. The man charged in the incident is from Eygpt, a country not included in Trump's list. French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday slammed the withdrawal of climate funding by the US, saying it was time to reach an agreement for the entire planet. Macron said this on the eve of the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference and amid rising pressure for nations to turn decades of promises into real protection for the sea. Speaking to scientists at one of the sideline forums of the UN conference, the French president said: 'Unfortunately, if we are more or less clear-headed, we are at a time when international science, which still depends a lot on American funding, is withdrawing this funding, where we have a lot of people who are questioning multilateralism and these agencies". The US is not attending the key UN Ocean summit in the French southern city of Nice, after the Trump administration effectively pulled out of all climate-related agreements and withdrew funding upon assumption of office in January. On Sunday, Macron called on nations to commit to a moratorium on deep-sea exploitation. "I want us to reach an agreement for the entire planet. Because it's completely crazy. It's completely crazy to go and exploit, to go and drill in a place we don't know. It's frenzied madness." Host to the third edition of the UN Ocean conference, Macron said around 30 heads of state and government have committed to a moratorium on deep-sea exploitation. "There are already about 30 of us who have agreed. We're not going to give up. It's completely crazy to go and exploit, to go and drill in a place we don't know. It's frenzied madness," he stressed. More than 50 world leaders are expected to attend the UN conference this week, with a major focus of the weeklong summit being a push to ratify the High Seas Treaty, which would enable conservation in international waters. Thousands of delegates, including scientists and environmental advocates, began to arrive in Nice on Sunday for the conference that aims to debate plans to confront growing threats to the ocean and the need to transform pledges into protection. The United Nations has called the threats a global emergency facing the world's oceans as they confront rising temperatures, plastic pollution choking marine life, and relentless overexploitation of fish and other resources.
