Moving to France
1st Ever Ready provide international relocation and removals services with regular weekly loads moving in both directions, to and from each country. France is regularly served by our fleet, and we are able to take full loads, part loads and single items.
At very competitive rates we load & collect from any part of the UK however remote & can deliver to any area of France.
We offer a full or part packing service for all moves (or we can supply you with materials), a part or full export wrapping service for effects for extra journey protection, short or long terms storage either in this country or abroad & full comprehensive goods in transit insurance for any value as nominated by the customer (extra charges are incurred) & we have fully trained customer friendly, competent, experienced staff with FIDA trained & regulated personnel, at your country of destination.
We are here to make your move easy & stress free, thus allowing you to enjoy your new forthcoming horizons. We try to minimise the journey times of your goods by careful selection & keep track of the consignment by use of the latest navigational systems allowing us to be totally aware of the current location of effects.
If you are planning to move to Cyprus, the following information will give you an overview of what you may need to know before you relocation.
Please remember this is just some general information for anyone wishing or planning to move to France. For more information on any legal and social aspects of making the move visit the website; UK Embassy in France
Overall
Population; 60,424,213 people (July 2004 est.)
Location; Western Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay and English Channel, between Belgium and Spain, southeast of the UK
Geography; 547,030 sq km, with 22 regions in France. The terrain is mostly flat plains or gently rolling hills in north and west; remainder is mountainous, especially Pyrenees in south, Alps in east.
Climate; generally cool winters and mild summers, but mild winters and hot summers along the Mediterranean; occasional strong, cold, dry, north-to-northwesterly wind known as mistral.
Language; French 100%, rapidly declining regional dialects and languages (Provencal, Breton, Alsatian, Corsican, Catalan, Basque, Flemish)
Currency; euro (EUR) on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole currency for everyday transactions within the member countries.
Government; republic state of government and the head of state is President Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995), head of government: Prime Minister Jean-Pierre RAFFARIN (since 7 May 2002)
Religion; Roman Catholic 83%-88%, Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%, Muslim 5%-10%, unaffiliated 4%
Economy and Jobs
Job scene; France has a workforce today of 26 million, of whom fewer than 2 million are unemployed: the unemployment rate recently fell to below 9%. 6% of the labor force (about 1.5 million jobs, including 1 million civil servants and local government officers) are undergoing training.
Finding work; As France and the UK are both in the EU you do not need a work permit. You can apply for job vacancies and receive information and counseling from European (EURES) advisors at selected Job Centers before leaving the UK. UK nationals may also wish to use the French employment service (Agence Nationale pour l'Emploi-ANPE) to try to find employment.
Moving to France
Pets and Animals; Pet cats and dogs can travel from the UK via approved routes to a number of countries, including France, without undergoing quarantine - provided they meet the conditions of the Pet Travel Scheme. With other animals the health rules for taking animals between one EU country and another vary depending on the species of animal.
Cars: You are allowed to drive on "foreign" plates as a tourist for just three months. After three months, if you plan to stay, your vehicle will need a French number-plate. As a resident of France you have a month from the moment of obtaining your residence permit in which to re-register your "foreign" car. Thanks to the latest EU directive on driving licences, you can continue to drive on it until it expires.
Living In France
Renting; Don't buy, rent first. There are many reasons why it is wisest to try living in France before moving in for good. Up to half of "Brits" who go to live in France will be trying to leave within two years. Houses are of course, easiest to rent in the "off" season as well as being the best time to move to France to try out the life style. Renting in France is usually a good deal cheaper then in the UK.
Education; Decrees enacted in the 18th century have given France one of the most advanced systems of education and training in the world today. The vast majority of pupils attend schools, which are overseen by the Ministry of National Education. However, around 100,000 (suffering from various disabilities) go to special schools run under the aegis of the Ministry of Health, and 200,000 go to agricultural lycées (technical and vocational courses).
Money; France has high productivity per hour and a sophisticated social welfare system, but it also suffers from low labour force participation and high structural unemployment.
From 1997, France entered a phase of rapid growth. Domestic demand is particularly buoyant, thanks to a virtuous circle of job creation, renewed household confidence and increased disposable income. Business investment has also revived.
Health : The French health care system is one of the best in the world, offering high quality of services and being easily accessible at the same time. If France becomes the country of your residence, you will be covered by the state social security system which also includes health insurance. As a citizen of the UK, an EU country, and you are moving temporarily to France or looking for cover at the start of longer stay, you are automatically entitled to free basic health care in France due to reciprocal agreements among EU countries. The European Health Insurance Card replaces forms E111 and E111B, E110, E128 and E119.
