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LIVING IN FRANCE

Schengen rules, marriage and citizenship: 6 essential articles for life in France

The reality of Schengen Zone rules, staying safe in hunting season, property rental scams and how to avoid them, the iconic women behind the Olympic golden statues, and correct terms of address - these all feature in our must-read articles for life in France.

Published: 22 September 2024 08:03 CEST
A newlywed couple pose at sunset on the Alexandre III bridge in Paris
A newlywed couple pose at sunset on the Alexandre III bridge in Paris. (Photo by JULIEN DE ROSA / AFP)

Europe’s Schengen Zone is the area of frictionless travel and free movement, but from police checks to passports, there are important restrictions for foreigners living in France, especially as Germany increases border checks.

Explained: The rules of travelling in the Schengen zone for French residents

The season for la chasse is now open in most of France. The opening date varies according to area, but in 2024 most départements opened the hunting season on either September 8th or September 15th. People in rural areas need to be aware of the safety precautions needed when ‘la chasse’ is active.

How to stay safe during France’s hunting season

More and more people head online to begin their search for a new rental property in France – whether they’re seeking a long-term rental to live or somewhere just for a few months.

But this can be risky with scammers active in the market. So how can you avoid falling victim to online criminals?

How to avoid French property rental scams

They were one of the early highlights of the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games in Paris this summer, emerging from the River Seine near the Alexandre-III bridge as the flotilla of boats carrying international athletes passed.

Now golden status of the 10 famous women have been made and are on display in Cour d’honneur of the French National Assembly until October 5th, while more permanent homes for them are discussed. Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo hopes to install them along rue de La Chapelle in the 18th arrondissement.

How many of France’s ‘10 most iconic women’ can you name?

If you’re a citizen of a country outside the European Union, moving to France to live can be an administrative minefield, but are there any advantages to being married to someone who is French?

Unfortunately, that wedding band doesn’t give you an automatic right to French citizenship, or even – necessarily – the right to live in France. Here’s what you need to know.

Does it help with moving to France to be married to a French person?

You might have heard that the use of the title Mademoiselle has become a little controversial in modern France – so, should you still use it? And if so, when?

Reader question: Should I use Madame or Mademoiselle in France?

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LIVING IN FRANCE

How to prove to French authorities that you are alive

If you live in France you'll be used to official requests for all sorts of documents, but one that may come as a surprise is being asked to prove that you're still alive. Here's how to do that.

Published: 19 September 2024 15:57 CEST
How to prove to French authorities that you are alive

Official processes in France usually involve collecting together a big dossier of documents, and requests for certain type of certificate are common (the one for ‘a birth certificate issued within the last three months’ regularly baffles foreigners).

A request that is less common – but still vital – is the request for a Certificat de Vie – a certificate of life, which is basically a piece of paper asserting that you remain within the mortal realm.

Here’s how to get it and why you might need one.

Who needs it?

You only need to provide this certificate if it is requested from you.

The people most likely to get a request for a Certificat de Vie are pensioners. Pensioner providers regularly ask for proof that you are still alive, and if you don’t provide it it’s highly likely that they will stop paying out your pension.

The people most commonly asked to provide this are people living in a different country to the one paying out the pension (so for example people who have worked in France but then moved to another country, or pensioners who have moved to France) but they are fairly widespread for all types of pension.

The other people most likely to ask for it is the benefits office, especially if you are receiving a French Assurance invalidité (disability benefit) or Allocation de solidarité (top-up benefits) – as with pensions, failing to send the certificate can result in your payments being stopped.

Some people may instead be asked for an Attestation sur l’honneur de non-décès (sworn declaration of non-death). This is simpler to provide because it’s not a specific form it’s just something that you write out in formal French declaring that you remain alive, and then sign and date.

You can find templates for creating an attestation in the correct format and legal French here.

How to get it

There are two ways to obtain the Certificat de Vie – in person or online.

If you live in France, you go along in person to your local mairie and ask them to complete the form for you – it’s form Cerfa n° 11753*02, but the mairie staff will know that. Be sure to take with you official ID (ie passport or French ID card), and depending on your circumstances mairie staff may ask for extra paperwork such as proof of address.

Once you have the form, you can send it to whoever has requested it, either by registered mail or a scanned copy uploaded to an online portal.

You can find a sample copy here to show you what the form looks like.

If you live outside France, you can request the certificate at the French consulate, while some police stations will also provide it (depending on the country).

But for those living outside France there is also an online option, which now includes the option to verify your continuing life via your biometric details, meaning that you don’t even need to leave the house.

This would be useful to people who have worked in France for part of their career, meaning they get a partial French pension, but have then either returned to their home country or moved to another country.

In order to use this, you need to download the app ‘Mon Certificat de Vie’ – find full instructions on using it here.

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