Practical

Have rules on burning garden waste recently changed in France?

Spring is a popular time to clean up in garden

Is it necessary to sign up to a local déchetterie in France before using it?

Rules are changing in several areas to cut down on excessive waste

Applications for UK ‘ETA’ to open: What does this change for people in France?

Border rules change from April 2 for EU citizens

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Can we gift French property to our daughter?

Gift taxes will be levied if certain thresholds are passed

French property owners and tenants: what are rules for obligatory undergrowth clearance?

Land in many areas must be cleared to reduce risk of forest fires

French acronym explainer: What is ANTS?

The Agence Nationale des Titres Sécurisés is responsible for issuing all important personal documents potentially at risk of fraud or identity theft

France's falling inflation and rising local taxes require particular attention

Proactive financial planning can help you weather the storm

French home energy cheque aid will be sent later in 2025 - who gets this?

Changes mean vouchers can no longer be used for eco-renovations

New car-sharing lanes on Paris ring road and two motorways: how do they work?

Limits will be in place for rush hour traffic with fines of €135 for rule-breakers

Tip to find affordable top-up health insurance in France

Local mutuelles communales schemes can offer cost-effective health coverage for residents

Registering a car at your second home in France: when you need to do this and how

France is a signatory to the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic

9 updates for drivers in France: Toll rises, Paris car-sharing lanes and fines

Including a new car-sharing lane in Paris and the pedestrianisation of Lyon city centre

Remember to check French doctors' Optam contract - or risk paying more

Mutelle top-ups do not necessarily reimburse patients for care from practitioners who have not signed a sector 1 Option de Pratique Tarifaire Maîtrisée

Launch of ‘secure medical prescriptions’ in France for certain painkillers - what are new rules?

Stricter rules are being put in place to fight addiction and falsified prescriptions

Tax, boilers, vehicles: 9 changes in March 2025 in France

The 2025 budget comes into force later than usual

French speed radars: can you check if you have a fine online in case missed in post?

Outstanding fines can be found online

Is it possible for French border officials to stop stamping passport as it is almost full?

Passports need one blank page on them when travelling

Is extra insurance for French garden pool required?

Sarah Bright-Thomas of Bright Avocats answers a reader query

Is there a simple renewal process for six-month French visas?

Second-home owners are required to obtain visas for extended visits to properties in France

Is it possible to find French cadastral plans online?

Certain plans go back to the 1800s

Meningitis cases in France are at ‘exceptionally high’ level

Winter flu cases may be behind current hike with 90 cases recorded last month

Receive parcels for others and earn money in France

Parcel collection platform Welco is focusing on rural communities where the service is most needed

How to save money on train travel in France

If you are planning a trip, try these handy hints to ensure you get the best deals

Language tests for French residency cards: examples of questions asked

Language tests will need to be taken by Britons, Americans and other non-EU nationalities applying for certain cards

French tax allowance for many over-65s is rising

New levels will help to keep income tax bills low for those concerned

Foreign residents of France frustrated by slow progress of inheritance petition

British, US, Irish, and Dutch couples have all told of stress due to 2021 forced heirship law

How many Britons and Americans got their first French visa or residency card in 2024?

Provisional figures for 2024 show around three million were delivered in total to all nationalities

List: Exchange rates for declaring foreign income in 2025 French tax declarations

All foreign income must be converted and declared in euros

‘Careful’ road signs appearing in French towns and villages: what do they mean?

Signs display up to five blue hearts and are source of pride for local communes

Good news for electric car owners in France as thousands more charging stations to be installed

MPs recently rejected plans to bring forward ban on petrol vehicles

French residency card system 'dysfunctional' says immigration lawyer

'If people need lawyers more and more, it means the procedures are more complex so they can’t do it themselves.'

Scotland-France ferry plan faces delays

Grant negotiations with Scottish government stall new ferry service aimed at boosting freight and passenger links between Rosyth and Dunkirk

Watch out for these three letters on French bank transfers - they may indicate a scam

Direct debit deductions made by scammers can go unnoticed amongst legitimate payments

Map: Sale prices of flats across France and how they rose or fell in 2024

Areas including Corsica and Poitiers saw prices rise, but significant falls of nearly -8% elsewhere were recorded

Discover the charm of Menton lemons and how to grow citrons in France

Sue Adams explores the rich history of France's only IGP-recognised lemon, celebrated annually at a vibrant festival

Recap: Recent updates and changes in France you may have missed as of February 2025

Bank fees, healthcare costs, and various changes to public transport usage are among the most noticeable

Speed cameras in France: how do they compare in number to the US and the UK?

More fines are issued per-camera by French radars than many other countries

DIY solar panel installation cost in France set to rise: why and by how much?

Safety reasons are among concerns but grid manager says solar panel fires are extremely rare

How can renovations on French second home reduce capital gains tax?

Reductions related to length of ownership start after five years

Are French vet costs regulated by the government?

There are several ways you may be able to reduce annual fees

Must chimney in French home be swept annually even if it is not used?

Some areas require chimneys to be swept multiple times per year

Education in France: Can children be enrolled part way through school year?

Older children are assessed on their skills before entering the education system

Can French forced heirship rules be bypassed?

Antonia Ridley-Hughes of Ashtons Legal, answers a reader query

Digital health cards, prescriptions, no-show fees: what impacts you as France’s 2025 health budget is finally approved

Healthcare will cost state over €265 billion in 2025 estimates budget

Can UK paper driving licences be used to hire vehicles in France?

Some have highlighted issue of using non-French licences to hire vehicles

Will my daughter have to pay tax on inherited property in France?

The value of a property can often be above tax-free sums on inheritance

When will ‘notaire fees’ for property purchases increase in France?

All departments are likely to vote in favour of raising fees

Faulty airbags: 236,000 Citroen owners in France told to stop using cars

Manufacturer says drivers should check if the airbags could be faulty and if so not to drive the vehicle until repaired

New language tests for French residency cards: Eight key questions

The new rules are expected to come into effect this year

Five ways the latest 2025 budget will impact property owners in France

Changes include increasing notaire fees, tax exemption from property gifts and the extension of the Loc'Avantages rental scheme

Buying a property in France may cost more from April as ‘notaire fees’ allowed to rise

Departments can opt to increase fees by 0.5% under 2025 budget

More French roads set to return to 90km/h speed limit

More than half of departments have overturned 2018 rule change which capped speeds at 80 km/h

Did you know? La Poste will pick up medicines from a pharmacy and deliver them to you

Postal service is one of numerous services that are part of growing medical delivery sector

Beware this ‘bin change’ scam doing the rounds in France

Fraudsters claim to be from local mairie but ask for money on-the-spot

Obligatory new French tests for some residency cards: is level too tough?

The tests are reported to cost around €100 to take

Driver wins French speeding appeal due to radar day and time error

The man was not even on the road at the time stated on the fine

What is the process if Brexit card holder’s passport is stamped by mistake?

Manual stamping of passports will soon be phased out

Is property declaration form required for French second homes this year?

The Biens immobiliers form was introduced in 2023

Can we switch to ‘universal’ marriage regime in France?

John Kitching, a director of French Law Consultancy Limited, answers a reader query

Must neo-bank ‘pots’ of non-euro currencies be declared to French tax authorities?

Foreign accounts need to be declared on annual income tax declaration

What are the best ways to access French family history records?

Several online resources are available

French work office is too cold - is it grounds to work from home?

France’s labour laws require offices to be at a ‘suitable’ temperature

Is there an official complaints process against notaires in France?

Notaires are legally responsible for their own practices

How to avoid massive traffic jams amidst holidays and ski season

Roads in the east will be particularly busy this weekend

Look out for these strange pink eggs in your garden in France

Apple snails can lay hundreds of eggs and quickly destroy gardens

Lawnmowers recalled in France over risk of blade detaching

The recall scheme lasts until 2027

Is French property slump ending? : Key points in latest notaire review

The post-Covid slowdown is close to its end, but warning factors remain

How to maximise your time off in France this year

The calendar of public holidays makes 2025 a good year for those looking to make the most of holiday time, with a number of long weekends and opportunity to ‘bridge’ extra days

112 communes in France recognised as natural disaster zones after flooding

The status was confirmed after Rennes had its ‘rainiest month since 1945’

Pre-Brexit Ehics ending: what visitors to France need to do

Some 1.8 million UK Ehics are estimated to come up for renewal this year

What to do if scammers try a ‘money mule’ trick on your French bank account

Scammers send you money ‘by mistake’ and become increasingly threatening if you do not return it

French house prices 2024: how did your area fare in new notaire data?

Cities including Reims and Dijon recorded sales price falls of over -10% - however the slump is said to be over

Why pampas grass is forbidden in French gardens

There are sanctions for offences including introducing the plant into the wild or even owning one

This French state-regulated savings account pays 3.5% (tax-free) in 2025

The Livret d’Epargne Populaire is reserved for people on modest incomes

Major traffic restrictions to be implemented in Lyon from June

It will become the fifth French city to implement a limited traffic zone. We review which vehicles will be exempt from rules

Practical

Have rules on burning garden waste recently changed in France?

Is it necessary to sign up to a local déchetterie in France before using it?

Applications for UK ‘ETA’ to open: What does this change for people in France?

Can we gift French property to our daughter?

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This low-cost supermarket olive oil is voted best by French consumer association

School rugby player 'entirely responsible' for crippling injury, French court rules

Applications for UK ‘ETA’ to open: What does this change for people in France?

Map: How well (or not) each French area is served by health workers

New car-sharing lanes on Paris ring road and two motorways: how do they work?

See how long it takes to sell a property in France by area in 2025

Strikes at French ports to continue during March: List of dates

French property owners and tenants: what are rules for obligatory undergrowth clearance?

French acronym explainer: What is ANTS?

France's falling inflation and rising local taxes require particular attention

French home energy cheque aid will be sent later in 2025 - who gets this?

New car-sharing lanes on Paris ring road and two motorways: how do they work?

Tip to find affordable top-up health insurance in France

Registering a car at your second home in France: when you need to do this and how

9 updates for drivers in France: Toll rises, Paris car-sharing lanes and fines

Remember to check French doctors' Optam contract - or risk paying more

Launch of ‘secure medical prescriptions’ in France for certain painkillers - what are new rules?

Department in Nouvelle-Aquitaine to increase property purchase fees

Cultural and practical dates in France in March 2025 for your diary

Court rules that half-built motorway in south-west France is ‘illegal’ and stops work

Tax, boilers, vehicles: 9 changes in March 2025 in France

US to offer ‘golden visas’ - does France have a similar programme?

What to do in case of a road accident in France

How your Crit’Air car sticker rating correlates with insurance costs

Are there any ways to reduce notaire fees when buying a property in France?

What is a Ghic card and does it work in France

French speed radars: can you check if you have a fine online in case missed in post?

Is it possible for French border officials to stop stamping passport as it is almost full?

Is extra insurance for French garden pool required?

Is there a simple renewal process for six-month French visas?

Is it possible to find French cadastral plans online?

Meningitis cases in France are at ‘exceptionally high’ level

Receive parcels for others and earn money in France

How to save money on train travel in France

Language tests for French residency cards: examples of questions asked

French tax allowance for many over-65s is rising

Foreign residents of France frustrated by slow progress of inheritance petition

How many Britons and Americans got their first French visa or residency card in 2024?

List: Exchange rates for declaring foreign income in 2025 French tax declarations

‘Careful’ road signs appearing in French towns and villages: what do they mean?

Good news for electric car owners in France as thousands more charging stations to be installed

French residency card system 'dysfunctional' says immigration lawyer

Scotland-France ferry plan faces delays

Watch out for these three letters on French bank transfers - they may indicate a scam

Map: Sale prices of flats across France and how they rose or fell in 2024

Discover the charm of Menton lemons and how to grow citrons in France

Recap: Recent updates and changes in France you may have missed as of February 2025

Speed cameras in France: how do they compare in number to the US and the UK?

DIY solar panel installation cost in France set to rise: why and by how much?

How can renovations on French second home reduce capital gains tax?

Are French vet costs regulated by the government?

Must chimney in French home be swept annually even if it is not used?

Education in France: Can children be enrolled part way through school year?

Can French forced heirship rules be bypassed?

Digital health cards, prescriptions, no-show fees: what impacts you as France’s 2025 health budget is finally approved

Can UK paper driving licences be used to hire vehicles in France?

Will my daughter have to pay tax on inherited property in France?

When will ‘notaire fees’ for property purchases increase in France?

Faulty airbags: 236,000 Citroen owners in France told to stop using cars

New language tests for French residency cards: Eight key questions

Five ways the latest 2025 budget will impact property owners in France

Buying a property in France may cost more from April as ‘notaire fees’ allowed to rise

More French roads set to return to 90km/h speed limit

Did you know? La Poste will pick up medicines from a pharmacy and deliver them to you

Beware this ‘bin change’ scam doing the rounds in France

Obligatory new French tests for some residency cards: is level too tough?

Driver wins French speeding appeal due to radar day and time error

What is the process if Brexit card holder’s passport is stamped by mistake?

Is property declaration form required for French second homes this year?

Can we switch to ‘universal’ marriage regime in France?

Must neo-bank ‘pots’ of non-euro currencies be declared to French tax authorities?

What are the best ways to access French family history records?

French work office is too cold - is it grounds to work from home?

Is there an official complaints process against notaires in France?