You have just signed the final deed (acte authentique) at the notary’s office, the keys to your Parisian apartment are in your pocket, and a long list of tasks lies ahead. For an international buyer, settling in Paris goes well beyond the physical move: it is a dense administrative journey, sometimes bewildering, where every step has its own timeline. At Home Select, we have accompanied hundreds of buyers from over 30 countries through this transition. Here is the chronological guide we provide to our clients.
Before the move: the administrative foundations
Opening a French bank account
A French bank account is the cornerstone of any relocation. Without a RIB (Releve d’Identite Bancaire, the French equivalent of bank account details), no contract can be signed: not for electricity, not for insurance, not for an internet subscription. Traditional banks such as BNP Paribas, Societe Generale, or HSBC accept non-residents, and some offer remote account opening. Online banks like Boursorama and Fortuneo offer lower fees but often require an initial salary domiciliation. Our advice: open your account at least one month before the final deed signing. The notary will require a French RIB to finalise the transaction.
Taking out home insurance
In France, home insurance (assurance habitation) is mandatory for all property occupants, whether owners or tenants. It covers water damage, fire, and civil liability. You will need to present a certificate of insurance to the notary on the day of signing. Budget between 200 and 600 euros per year for a Parisian apartment, depending on the size and arrondissement. Online insurers such as Luko or Lovys offer quick subscriptions, but make sure the coverage includes theft and electrical damage, two common risks in older Parisian buildings.
Organising the international move
Transporting your personal belongings from abroad requires specialist international removal companies. Budget 4,000 to 12,000 euros for a transatlantic move, 2,000 to 6,000 euros from Europe. The customs exemption for personal belongings applies if you are transferring your primary residence to France: your possessions are exempt from customs duties provided you have owned them for more than six months. The Cerfa form to prepare: the import exemption declaration. Allow 4 to 8 weeks between collection and delivery, and arrange temporary accommodation if the dates do not align.
The first week in Paris
Declaring your change of address
In France, a change of address must be declared to several organisations: La Poste (for mail forwarding, 30 to 70 euros per year), the prefecture or police station (if you hold a residence permit), your bank, your insurer, and the tax authorities. The official online service, service-public.fr, allows you to centralise most of these declarations in a single step. But some administrations still require a registered letter. Our network of service providers includes bilingual relocation managers who handle these formalities for our international clients: a considerable time-saver in the first weeks.
Residence permits for non-EU nationals
If you are a non-EU national, your relocation to Paris requires a residence permit (titre de sejour). The long-stay visa equivalent to a residence permit (VLS-TS) is the most common for property owners. The application is made at the French consulate in your country of residence before departure, and must then be validated online on the OFII (Office Francais de l’Immigration et de l’Integration) website within three months of arrival. Important: owning property in France does not automatically entitle you to a residence permit. The “visitor” visa is often the most suitable for buyers who do not work in France: it requires proof of sufficient resources without engaging in professional activity on French territory.
Transferring energy and internet contracts
Energy contracts in France are managed by EDF or Engie (historic providers) or by alternative suppliers such as TotalEnergies or Eni. Subscription is handled by phone or online, but allow 5 business days for electricity and gas activation. Water is managed by the co-ownership management company (syndic): charges are included in the communal service charges.
Internet is the sensitive point. Fibre optic connection takes 2 to 4 weeks with the main operators (Orange, Free, SFR, Bouygues). If your building is not yet equipped with fibre, the delay can reach 6 to 8 weeks. Practical tip: subscribe as soon as the preliminary sales agreement is signed so that installation coincides with your move-in. In the meantime, a mobile plan with tethering will keep you connected.
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The first month: anchoring your administrative life
Registering at the town hall
Town hall registration is not mandatory in France (unlike some other European countries), but it is recommended in order to appear on consular electoral rolls and to facilitate certain local procedures. The town hall of your arrondissement is your point of contact. This registration is also the starting point for school enrolment if you have children.
Enrolling children in school
The Parisian school system follows a strict calendar. Enrolments for the September term begin in March for public nursery and primary schools. The town hall assigns the school based on your address: you do not get to choose the public school. For international schools, enrolments are more flexible but places are highly sought after: Lycee International de Saint-Germain-en-Laye, British School of Paris, American School of Paris, Ecole Jeannine Manuel. If your children’s education determines your choice of arrondissement, this is a criterion our property hunters factor in from the very start of the search.
Registering with the social security system
The CPAM (Caisse Primaire d’Assurance Maladie, the French public health insurance fund) manages your health coverage. Registration is mandatory for all French residents, regardless of nationality. If you work in France, registration is automatic through your employer. If you do not work, you must register with PUMA (Protection Universelle Maladie), the universal health coverage scheme. The processing time: 2 to 4 months to receive your Carte Vitale. In the meantime, take out private international health insurance (such as Cigna, Allianz Care, or April International) so you are not left without coverage.
The first three months: adjustments
The first tax declaration
Your first French income tax return is due the year following your arrival. If you move in 2026, you will declare your income earned since your arrival in France in May 2027. Form 2042 is the standard form; form 2042-NR is for non-residents receiving income from French sources. Rental income from a Parisian property you might let is declared on form 2044. The declaration is filed online at impots.gouv.fr, but the site is entirely in French. Hiring a tax accountant specialising in expatriation (budget 500 to 1,500 euros for the first year) is a worthwhile investment to avoid mistakes.
Finding a general practitioner
The French healthcare system revolves around the medecin traitant (general practitioner), whom each resident must designate with the CPAM. Without a designated GP, reimbursements are reduced by 40%. Finding a doctor accepting new patients in Paris is a challenge: waiting lists are common. The websites Doctolib and Maiia allow searching by neighbourhood and availability. Some doctors speak English: filter by language on Doctolib.
The pitfalls our clients encounter most often
Across the 1,200 mandates completed since 2011, our property hunters have identified the recurring obstacles of settling in. The elusive RIB: some banks take 10 days to issue the RIB after account opening, a problem if the final deed signing is imminent. Electrical standards: France uses type E plugs (with an earth pin), different from British (type G) and American (type A/B) plugs. Bring adaptors, and have the electrical installation checked if the diagnostic report showed no issues but the apartment dates from before 1974. Communal heating: in many Haussmann buildings, heating is communal and runs from October to April. It cannot be adjusted individually, and the service charges include a heating provision that can be substantial.
Home Select’s role beyond the purchase
Our support does not end at the handover of keys. Our 16 property hunters have built, over the course of more than 1,200 completed assignments, a network of service providers experienced in international matters: English-speaking removal firms, tradespeople accustomed to renovation requests from foreign clients, insurers offering bilingual policies, and tax advisers specialising in international mobility. With a 96% satisfaction rate, this network is an integral part of the value we deliver to our clients, especially those discovering the French system for the first time.
The most popular Parisian neighbourhoods among expatriates offer very different environments: the Marais for cultural dynamism, the 16th arrondissement for families near international schools, Saint-Germain-des-Pres for prestige and quality of life. The choice of arrondissement directly impacts the ease of settling in, from proximity to schools, international shops, and expat communities. This is a criterion we factor into the search from the very first meeting.
Whether you are coming from New York, London, Dubai, or Singapore, the Paris property purchase journey for a foreign buyer involves specific steps that we have mastered. Settling in is merely the final one, but it determines the quality of your first months in your new Parisian life.
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Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to organise an international move to Paris?
Allow 2 to 3 months between signing the final deed and being fully settled. The longest lead times are for internet connection (2-4 weeks) and school enrolment (should be anticipated from March for a September start).
Can you open a French bank account from abroad before moving?
Yes, several banks such as BNP Paribas, HSBC, or online banks like Boursorama allow remote account opening. The account should be active before the signing at the notary's office to receive transaction-related transfers.
Is home insurance mandatory from the day of the final deed signing?
Yes, in France, home insurance is mandatory for all occupants. It must be taken out before the keys are handed over. The notary will ask for a certificate of insurance on the day of the final deed signing.
What are the main administrative differences between settling in Paris and in an English-speaking city?
France centralises administrative procedures more heavily: town hall registration, social security affiliation (CPAM), mandatory tax declaration from the first year. Administrative processing times are often longer and most forms are in French only.
