French paperwork checklist
Every document you need, in order
Written and maintained by the UK→France route team — the coordinators and crews who run the UK→France corridor every week. Regulatory detail on this page describes French and EU rules as we understand them at the review date above; confirm anything you intend to rely on with the French douanes, service-public.fr, HMRC and the French consular network, because these rules change and we are movers, not advisers.
What paperwork should be done before you leave the UK?
Before you leave the UK you need the long-stay visa in your passport, a secured French address, healthcare cover for arrival, HMRC told you are leaving, and the customs inventory agreed with your remover. Pets need their health certificate timed to the crossing. We handle the customs side; the residency side is yours. You do not normally need an EORI number.
- Long-stay visa. Applied for in the UK and stamped in your passport before travel.
- French address. A signed rental contract or property deed.
- Healthcare cover. Full private insurance for arrival, or an S1 if you draw a UK State Pension.
- Customs inventory. Itemised, valued, dated and signed; we prepare it with you.
- Transfer-of-residence claim. Cerfa 10070, lodged by our customs agent.
- HMRC. P85 form filed to say you are leaving the UK.
- UK pension provider and bank. Told of your new address.
- UK utilities. Final readings and closure arranged for the move date.
- Post. A forwarding service set up.
- Pets. AHC appointment booked so it is issued no more than 10 days before entry to the EU.
- Vehicle. V5C and proof of ownership ready for the 846A and French registration.
What should you do as soon as you arrive in France?
As soon as you arrive, check utilities and meter readings, check the delivery against the inventory, and validate your long-stay visa online on the ANEF portal within its deadline. Validation is an internet procedure with an online tax payment, not an OFII or prefecture appointment. Then visit the mairie and get a French phone number, which most other sign-ups ask for.
- Utilities. Gas, electricity and water confirmed active; internet may take longer.
- Meter readings. Recorded at handover.
- Delivery. Checked against the customs inventory.
- VLS-TS. Validated online on ANEF, with the residence tax paid online.
- Mairie. Visited for school enrolment and local formalities.
- Phone. A French SIM, often easiest in person at an operator's shop.
What comes next while you are settling in?
While you settle in, the priorities are a French bank account, registering any imported car on French plates within one month of settling, enrolling children at school, and setting up French insurance. Healthcare registration follows once you meet the PUMa residence condition, or straight away if you hold an S1. Keep copies of everything; most French offices ask for the same documents.
- Bank. A French account opened.
- Vehicle. Registered with ANTS within one month of settling, using the 846A from customs.
- Contrôle technique. Booked if the car is old enough to need one.
- School. Children enrolled through the mairie or the local education office.
- Insurance. Home, car and top-up health (mutuelle) policies set up.
- Driving licence. Checked against the exchange rules for UK licences.
- Phone. Contract moved to a French operator.
What should be in place once you are established?
Once you are established, the residence card application should be under way on ANEF ahead of your visa's expiry, PUMa or S1 registration should be complete, the car should be on French plates and school places confirmed. This is also the point to review French tax residence with an adviser who knows both systems, before your first French return.
- Residence card. Applied for online on ANEF before the VLS-TS runs out.
- Healthcare. PUMa or S1 registration complete; Carte Vitale requested.
- Vehicle. French registration certificate received and plates fitted.
- School. Places confirmed.
- Tax. French tax residence reviewed with an adviser.
- Household. Utility contracts and broadband settled.
More guides
on UK→France moves
The complete guide to moving from the UK to France
Everything from carte de séjour to customs clearance — the route specialist's handbook for British movers
paperworkCarte de séjour for British movers
Post-Brexit residency permit applications — what UK citizens need to know
practicalHealthcare in France for UK movers
PUMa, S1, Mutuelle — the French healthcare system