HELP GUIDES

Income Tax in France

Healthcare in France

Inheritance Law and Wills in France

Visas and residency cards for France

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Make sense of… boating in France

Summer is almost upon us and many people will be taking to the water once more. We recap what paperwork you might need to get afloat

France’s tug-of-war between its regional languages and official French

How dozens of languages evolved over centuries to become a source of pride despite efforts to stamp them out

Explainer: Make sense of six-month visas for France

Popular with second-home owners, any non-EU citizen looking to stay longer than three months in France can benefit from a temporary long-stay visa (VLS-T)

practical

Make sense of… Physiotherapists (kiné) and osteopaths in France

Kinés (physios) and osteopaths are easily confused. In fact they offer different but complementary skills

Make sense of... Visiting the dentist

Reforms to make dental work more affordable have been delayed a year. Here we outline how the current dentistry system works

Make sense of... French vide greniers

A brief guide to France’s take on the good old jumble or car boot sale

Contesting a planning application in France

Anyone can contest a planning application – permis de construire – as long as they can show they have good reason to do so.

Make sense of: Maisons de Services in France

If you live in a rural area and need help with administrative procedures related to public services – such as social services, job centres, public transport, family benefits, energy, health prevention and even the post – you might face a long drive to one of their offices.

Make sense of... The Michelin Guide

When looking for a good place to eat out in France you face an embarras de choix, not only of venues but also of books and websites advising you on where to go – however top chefs still care most about a listing in the ‘ guide rouge ’, the original Michelin Guide

Make sense of: France’s online medical records

Anyone with a Carte Vitale can sign up for a dossier médical partagé (DMP), a personal online medical records system.

Make sense of: Sworn translators in France

However good your French, there may be occasions when you need the services of a sworn, or official, translator for administrative formalities.

Make sense of… Alternative funerals in France

Alternative choices for funerals in France are possible – from different types of service to choice of coffin, urn and place of rest. The Connexion explains more...

Make sense of: fake practice offices in France

The unemployment rate in France went down earlier this year for the first time in six years. It means that it has dropped from its record of 10.5% in 2013 to 8.5% (March-June 2019 figure). But the rate is still one of the highest in Europe, although behind Greece, Spain and Italy. We look at two schemes that France uses to get people into work, including a network of 110 “pretend” offices where 7,000 people go to “work” every day across the country.

Make sense of… your local French Mairie

In a survey of more than 15,000 people for the Association des Maires de France, three out of four people said they believed their mayor does a good job. We explain more about this key community role and also what a mairie does

Make sense of… The french ‘fonctionnaire’ status

There are millions of fonctionnaires in France: civil servants with a special status who are often seen as privileged. Reforms are under way.

Make sense of... Riding a scooter

Running a scooter can be an ideal way to be mobile – especially if you live in a city

Make sense of... French higher education

This month as students take up their university courses some will have experienced something new – a selective entrance system…

Make sense of... Service national

Bringing back ‘national service’ is in the news again. Here we look at the history of this in France and what form the new version may take

Make sense of... French private schools

Private schooling is increasingly popular in France but bears little resemblance to the UK

Make sense of... starting an association

The French equivalent of a ‘charity’ is an association reconnue d’utilité publique or an association d’intérêt général. The first is a status held by certain large organisations like the SPA animal charity or La Croix Rouge and which has to be applied for from the Interior Ministry. The latter is simpler and is the most common kind of structure. It is easy to set up and later it can apply to become reconnue d’utilité publique , which brings extra benefits and obligations, if it has more than 200 members and more than merely ‘local’ activities.

Make sense of

Make sense of… boating in France

France’s tug-of-war between its regional languages and official French

Explainer: Make sense of six-month visas for France

Make sense of… Physiotherapists (kiné) and osteopaths in France

Trending

Residency rights and border changes: What's new in France in 2025

Storms and snow: French weekend weather outlook December 21 - 22

French inheritance law: couples anxiously await EU decision as discussions continue

Police warn drivers of car headlights rules in France

Half of UK election postal votes - including from France - 'did not count'

Father’s anger at wine used in meals served to girl, 3, at state creche in Nice

Fines levied for failure to declare bank accounts held out of France

Make sense of... Visiting the dentist

Make sense of... French vide greniers

Contesting a planning application in France

Make sense of: Maisons de Services in France

Make sense of... The Michelin Guide

Make sense of: France’s online medical records

Make sense of: Sworn translators in France

Make sense of… Alternative funerals in France

Make sense of: fake practice offices in France

Make sense of… your local French Mairie

Make sense of… France’s Puma health system

Make sense of...The French and holidays

Make sense of…quirky French festivals

Make sense of… The french ‘fonctionnaire’ status

Make sense of.... La fourrière (car pound)

Make sense of.....The French Pacs

Make sense of ... French CRS riot police

Make sense of... French motorway art

Make sense of... The French bidet

Make sense of... Riding a scooter

Make sense of... French higher education

Make sense of... Service national

Make sense of... French private schools

Make sense of... starting an association

Make sense of... LGBT prides and rights

Make sense of... the new contrôle technique

Make sense of... Burial and cremation

Make sense of... French Christmas traditions

Make sense of... Bâtiments de France

Make sense of... MJC cultural centres

Make sense of... Learning to drive

Make sense of... Playing golf in France

Make sense of... La bise and other greetings

Make sense of... Leaving a tip in France

Make sense of... Camping in France

Make sense of... Autoroutes and péages

Make sense of... Le baccalauréat

Make sense of... The micro-entrepreneur

Make sense of... Les soldes d’hiver

Make sense of... French boules games