How to Move to France: Practical Tips from an Expat
This blog post may contain affiliate links. I may earn a small commission for any purchases made through these links. Click here for the disclosure statement.
Are you dreaming of making the leap to move to France from the US? As an American expat who navigated the intricacies of moving to France, I understand the mix of excitement and apprehension that comes with such a significant life change. To help you with your journey abroad, I’m here to offer some practical advice, share my personal story, and reveal four popular ways for Americans to move to France.
In this Article
How I Moved to France as an American
General Advice on Moving Abroad
3 “Easy” (and 1 Long-Term) Ways to Move to France
How I Moved to France as an American
During my senior year of college, I had no idea what I wanted to do after graduation. Getting a 9-to-5 job seemed like a practical choice, but my desire to travel and learn French led me to apply for the Teaching Assistant Program in France (TAPIF). I was accepted in April 2019 and spent the summer working, studying French, and preparing for my move to France.
In September 2019, I flew from the U.S. to a small town in Brittany, France to start my new job as an English language assistant. I never knew that the experience would impact my life in so many positive ways: I met my boyfriend of 1.5 years, traveled all over France, met new international friends, and became more confident in myself. My stay in France inspired me to travel more and take advantage of opportunities to live abroad. Now I’m pursuing my master’s in Germany, preparing for a semester in Austria, and planning a trip to the south of France.
Teaching in France through the TAPIF program was an amazing opportunity. I’d recommend it to anyone who is motivated to live and work in France. If you want to learn more about TAPIF, check out my guide, The Ultimate TAPIF Guide, where I share more about my experience and tons of helpful info and tips.
Read More: A Day in the Life of an American in France
General Advice on Moving to France
You Can Do It
Going abroad can significantly transform your life. But how do you make it happen? First, it’s important to know that you are capable of moving to France (or anywhere else). When I first applied to the TAPIF program, I wasn’t very confident that I would be offered a spot. Why would they think that I am capable of teaching English? Do I even speak French well enough to live in France? Should I just get a job like all of my college friends instead? These doubts never benefited me. They just caused unnecessary anxiety and pessimism. If you want to move to France, you must believe you are capable (which you are) of doing so (as cliché as it sounds).
Read More: I Tried Living Like a Stereotypical French Girl
Learning French
Some opportunities to live abroad in France don’t require you to speak any French. However, it’s a big advantage to have some knowledge of the French language before you move abroad. If you’re applying for a certain program (even if it’s in English), knowing some French will demonstrate that you are interested in the language and can communicate at a basic level. It is also very practical for daily life in France: working with a landlord, going to the doctor’s office, interacting with colleagues, and more. Don’t worry if you’re not fluent. I had lower intermediate French skills when I first moved to France, and my level drastically improved once I started practicing with native speakers. I’ve also met people who moved abroad with no knowledge of the French language. Don’t let any fears about the language keep you from moving abroad, but improving your French skills can be very beneficial.
Read More: 15 Best French TV Shows to Learn French in 2024
Start Early
If you want to move abroad, then prepare for it now. It took about 9 months from starting my TAPIF application until I was actually on the plane to France. It will take some time to research programs, craft your applications, wait for a response, apply for a visa, pack, etc. Be patient throughout the process, and if you become anxious about the wait, then try focusing on other tasks. While I was waiting to hear back from TAPIF, I was busy with my senior year of college and preparing for my summer internship. Focus on your studies, work, and/or personal projects. Study some French. Save money. It is very. important to organize your finances before moving to France. Many opportunities to live abroad are not well-paid, so start earning and saving your money early.
3 “Easy” Ways to Move to France
There are three “easy” ways to move to France: teaching English, studying and being an au pair. These aren’t easy options because they don’t require any work; they are easy because you are more likely to get accepted for them. These three ways generally don’t require an advanced degree or expert knowledge of the French language. If you’ve already done some research on moving to France, you’re likely already familiar with these three options. You've found them mentioned in almost every article because they are some of the best ways to move to France. During my time in France, I met several expats, and almost all of them were doing one of these three things. I rarely met an expat who happened to find a job abroad without doing one of these options first.
Don’t worry if teaching English or being an au pair is not your wildest dream. Getting some experience living and working/studying in France can open doors to more ideal opportunities. Even just being abroad and improving your French is very useful if you’re looking to stay permanently.
1. Teach English
As I mentioned above, I moved to France to teach English through TAPIF. Compared to other programs, TAPIF has much easier requirements. You don’t need an extensive teaching background or even French fluency. I’d highly recommend this program if you want to experience France, but aren’t serious about teaching in France long-term. You receive a very modest salary, but you only work part-time, so you’ll have a lot of free time to travel and improve your French. Check out my guide, The Ultimate TAPIF Guide, for detailed information about applying to the program, obtaining your visa, life as an assistant, and more.
You can also teach English full-time in France at foreign language schools, at public schools or even online. These jobs usually require a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) certification, which you can obtain through online or in-person courses. Getting TEFL certified can take between one to six months and requires about 100-200 hours of coursework and 6-20 hours of teaching practice. If you’re serious about teaching English, then a TEFL certification is essential for landing a teaching job in France. You can find much more info on the TEFL website.
Read More: 5 TAPIF Lesson Plan Ideas for Your First Semester
The goal of this guide is to support you during each stage of your TAPIF journey from applying for the program to departing from France. Each chapter discusses a different topic in-depth. I’ve researched everything you’ll need to know and included lots of useful information that you won’t find in the official TAPIF handbook. You’ll also discover a checklist at the end of every chapter that will help you throughout your TAPIF journey.
This guide also includes my experiences participating in the 2019-2020 program. My personal observations about the program are not universal to all assistants, schools, regions, etc., but they will hopefully give you insights into life as an assistant in France.
This Guide Includes…
How to step-by-step apply for the TAPIF program + my statement of purpose
How to successfully obtain your visa and prepare for France
How to find housing, open a bank account, and get settled in France
How to plan your lessons and be an amazing teaching assistant
How to navigate daily life in France, make extra money and make friends
How to depart from France and renew your teaching contract
2. Study
Studying abroad is another way to move to France. Many universities are eager to accept international students, so being a foreigner can actually be advantageous. The tuition is also very low in France compared to the U.S., so it might also be a smart financial move if you already plan to get a degree. There are lots of programs in French, but you can also find plenty of degree programs in English depending on your field. For more information on studying in France, check out the Campus France website. They provide lots of detailed information on studying in France.
Studying in France is also the perfect way to find a full-time job or internship in France. If you have a degree from a French university, you’ll have better chances of being considered by French employers. I can attest to this based on my own experience as a student in Germany. During my first semester, I applied for several internships and ended up landing a design internship in Berlin (that I started this month!). I’m already getting my foot in the door at companies in Germany just by being a student here. You can do the same as a student in France.
3. Become an Au Pair
Another way to move to France is to become an au pair. You’ll typically live with a French family and babysit or help with household tasks. The salary is quite low (similar to being a teaching assistant), but your housing and food are normally provided. I met a lot of au pairs while I was in France. Some of them got along great with their host family and shared only positive experiences, while others were treated poorly by their host family and were eagerly waiting for the end of their contract. If you’re considering becoming an au pair, it’s important to spend time finding the ideal host family for you.
Au pair jobs are available almost everywhere. Check out Aupairworld to find these opportunities or look into the Americans in France Facebook page.
A Long-Term Way to Move to France
Find a Company with Offices in France
This is another option if you want to move to France and you’re a bit more patient. Many companies have offices around the world, so consider finding a company with an office in France and who are open to offering their employees positions abroad. This second part is very important; you don’t want to join a company with offices in France and expect to be able to move there. Start by looking into some companies, apply for some jobs, and reach out to ask about potential opportunities as an employee to move abroad. If you interview for a position, be clear about your goal to move to France.
I have some friends who started working in large companies with global offices. After working at these companies for a few years, they were able to transfer to their offices abroad. This is obviously a long-term way of moving to France, and it might be more uncertain than other options, but it can be a great way to work full-time in France (or anywhere else).
Have you ever considered moving to France? What questions or concerns do you still have about moving to France? Let me know in the comments below.
