https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from France in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed It's the practical question that people moving to France need to ask themselves - from accommodation to transport, via grocery shopping and childcare, we take a look at the cost of living in France in 2026. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260302/how-much-money-do-you-need-to-live-in-france-in-2026 Mon, 02 Mar 2026 12:07:48 +0100 how-much-money-do-you-need-to-live-in-france-in-2026 Learning a new language is difficult and reaching out to a support line can feel intimidating - but a surprising number of services and companies in France do offer a helpline in English. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260401/listed-the-english-speaking-helplines-in-france Wed, 01 Apr 2026 13:43:45 +0200 listed-the-english-speaking-helplines-in-france Foreigners living in France will, sooner or later, have to swap their driving licence for a French one - here's how to do that, how to use the website and who is eligible. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260401/step-by-step-how-to-swap-your-driving-licence-for-a-french-one Wed, 01 Apr 2026 12:23:01 +0200 step-by-step-how-to-swap-your-driving-licence-for-a-french-one If you have long-term plans for a move to France, then learning French should definitely be on your to-do list - but when's the best time to start learning? We asked French language coach Llyane Stanfield for her tips. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260304/ask-the-expert-when-is-the-best-time-to-start-learning-french Wed, 04 Mar 2026 08:42:23 +0100 ask-the-expert-when-is-the-best-time-to-start-learning-french If you're a non-EU citizen moving to France, one of your first tasks is figuring out your visa. You may have heard that France's 'visitor' visa is among the easiest to get, but there are some important things to know before applying. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260223/8-articles-to-read-before-applying-for-a-french-visitor-visa Mon, 23 Feb 2026 12:11:50 +0100 8-articles-to-read-before-applying-for-a-french-visitor-visa It sometimes flies under the radar, but for resident Marc Wisbey, Montpellier is the perfect French town. He explains why we should all move there. https://www.thelocal.fr/20201127/seven-reasons-to-move-to-montpellier Fri, 27 Nov 2020 10:43:44 +0100 seven-reasons-to-move-to-montpellier With its sunny weather, car-free lifestyle and good travel links, the elegant southern French city of Montpellier is attracting more and more Americans. We spoke to some long-term residents about what attracted them. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260219/why-so-many-americans-are-moving-to-montpellier Thu, 19 Feb 2026 16:12:30 +0100 why-so-many-americans-are-moving-to-montpellier New in France? Still trying to get your head around everything from banks and visas to furniture and food? Here are six articles that may help. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260203/6-useful-articles-for-new-arrivals-in-france Tue, 03 Feb 2026 16:41:45 +0100 6-useful-articles-for-new-arrivals-in-france Property prices in French cities can be astronomical (looking at you, Paris), so prices in the countryside can seem very tempting. Samantha David spells out the many essential questions you need to ask before taking the plunge. https://www.thelocal.fr/20250305/17-key-questions-to-ask-before-buying-your-dream-home-in-rural-france Wed, 05 Mar 2025 17:12:24 +0100 17-key-questions-to-ask-before-buying-your-dream-home-in-rural-france In this month's moving to France newsletter, we look at the realities of life in rural France and getting the correct visa, via internet access and why so many Americans moved to France in 2025. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260130/moving-to-france-rural-internet-driving-licences-and-the-reception-for-americans Fri, 30 Jan 2026 17:09:12 +0100 moving-to-france-rural-internet-driving-licences-and-the-reception-for-americans Whether you're moving for love (of a person or of croissants), for work or for political reasons - here's our checklist of how to move to France as an American. https://www.thelocal.fr/20241028/checklist-how-to-move-to-france-as-an-american Mon, 28 Oct 2024 12:40:03 +0100 checklist-how-to-move-to-france-as-an-american In this month's Moving to France newsletter we take a look at the property traps that foreigners often fall into, renting rules, how to make your second home into a main residence and planning a (legal) house-warming party. https://www.thelocal.fr/20251104/moving-to-france-property-traps-renting-rules-and-house-warming-parties Tue, 04 Nov 2025 16:13:00 +0100 moving-to-france-property-traps-renting-rules-and-house-warming-parties Southern European countries often seek out foreigners to help revitalise emptying rural areas. Although France has 'rural revitalisation' initiatives including tax breaks and €1 homes, most of them are geared towards French people. https://www.thelocal.fr/20251028/the-french-aid-schemes-to-help-people-move-to-the-countryside Tue, 28 Oct 2025 16:38:29 +0100 the-french-aid-schemes-to-help-people-move-to-the-countryside Becoming an official resident of France brings with it various rights and perks - but with rights comes responsibilities. Here's what you're letting yourself in for. https://www.thelocal.fr/20250610/what-are-your-responsibilities-as-a-resident-of-france Tue, 10 Jun 2025 15:03:36 +0200 what-are-your-responsibilities-as-a-resident-of-france In this month's moving to France newsletter we look at the French property market and the three most crucial words in real estate listings, plus the apps that will help you find somewhere to rent and then make friends in your new home. https://www.thelocal.fr/20251017/moving-to-france-property-adverts-friendship-apps-and-what-to-pack Fri, 17 Oct 2025 11:51:59 +0200 moving-to-france-property-adverts-friendship-apps-and-what-to-pack It can be difficult to find a house or apartment to rent in France - especially if you're searching in the big cities like Paris. So here's a list of the apps that make things a little easier. https://www.thelocal.fr/20251003/6-of-the-best-apps-to-a-house-or-apartment-in-france Fri, 03 Oct 2025 14:13:25 +0200 6-of-the-best-apps-to-a-house-or-apartment-in-france More than 750,000 homes were on the market across France in September, up from 698,000 in January, a study has found. https://www.thelocal.fr/20251002/brittany-drives-increase-in-properties-for-sale-in-france Thu, 02 Oct 2025 18:20:48 +0200 brittany-drives-increase-in-properties-for-sale-in-france Three little words on a French property listing could have a noticeable effect on the amount buyers end up forking out when buying a place in France. https://www.thelocal.fr/20250926/the-three-little-words-that-change-the-cost-of-your-french-property Fri, 26 Sep 2025 17:31:16 +0200 the-three-little-words-that-change-the-cost-of-your-french-property From cheese to medication, pets to DIY items, there are some limits on what you can bring with you when travelling into France - and the reason for your travel matters too. https://www.thelocal.fr/20250828/what-you-can-and-cannot-bring-to-france Thu, 28 Aug 2025 18:48:14 +0200 what-you-can-and-cannot-bring-to-france In this month's Moving to France newsletter we look at changes for retirees, the French schooling system and a warning about the people who claim they can find you a loophole in French immigration admin. https://www.thelocal.fr/20250822/moving-to-france-changes-for-retirees-french-schools-and-loophole-warning Fri, 22 Aug 2025 10:35:43 +0200 moving-to-france-changes-for-retirees-french-schools-and-loophole-warning