Area: 632,834 km² (European France excluding overseas islands and territories)
Population: 66,991,000 (January 1, 2017)
Population density: 106 E / km²
Form of Government: Republic
System of Government: semi-presidential democracy
Neighboring countries: Spain, Andorra, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Monaco
Capital: Paris National
language: French
Religions:
51% Catholic,
9% Muslim,
3% Protestant,
1% Jews,
0.2% Jehovah’s Witnesses
Currency: Euro
Telephone area code: +33
Time zone: UTC + 1
In 2020, 4,741 Germans officially emigrated to France and 4,673 came back to their homeland. Within the 10 years from 2010 to 2019, 60,529 Germans officially emigrated to France and 56,590 moved back to Germany. In 2020 there were officially 81,129 Germans living in France as well as an additional 1.2 million people of German origin, although these only partially speak German.
The largest groups of migrants without French citizenship (with around 100,000 or more migrants each) come from Portugal, Algeria, Morocco, Turkey, Italy, Tunisia, United Kingdom, Spain, Belgium and China.
As a country starting with F defined by Countryaah, France includes some overseas territories (La France d’Outre-Mer), which are parts of the French national territory outside Europe. They are divided into DOM-ROM, COM, CSG and TAAF. The Départements et régions d’outre-mer (DOM-ROM) belong to the territory of the European Union, but are not a Schengen area and do not belong to the EU excise area, but have the euro as their currency. The DOM-ROM regions include French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte and Réunion.
The Collectivité d’outre-mer (COM) Saint-Martin (French part of the island of St. Martin), Saint Barthélemy, Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, Wallis and Futuna and French Polynesia, on the other hand, have autonomy with sometimes very different rights and dependencies.
Most jobs and opportunities in France are to be found in the metropolis of Paris with over 11 million residents. Around a quarter of the country’s production facilities are located there. But the rents in Paris are also exorbitantly high. For those who are not dependent on many job offers, there are many unique areas in which, for example, you can comfortably spend your retirement years. In Alsace, older people in particular still speak German. But southern France is also very popular.
Tourists experience many sunny sides here, while immigrants also experience some dark sides. There is still a lot of catching up to do in the health system and health insurance companies. People tend to be problem-oriented rather than solution-oriented, which leads to some problems in society.
General travel regulations (up to the corona pandemic)
As an EU citizen, you can enter France with your passport or identity card. This allows unlimited residence in France as long as a regular income is secured. This depends on the respective personal situation. Here you can find travel advice and recommendations.
Immigration and permanent residence, residence permit
If you want to live and work in France for a longer period of time, it is advisable to apply for a residence permit (Carte de Séjour). This can be done at the police department or in the town hall of the city in which you want to live. The residence permit is no longer compulsory, but it can make some work processes much easier.
Residence of economically inactive EU citizens or pensioners
If you have resided legally and uninterruptedly in the country for 5 years, you have the right to permanent residence. Thereafter, no further conditions are attached to the stay, such as proof of income. Until then, however, the following conditions apply in order not to represent a burden on the French social assistance system:
- Health and maternity insurance
- sufficient financial resources
The minimum amounts to be met per month for people who are not gainfully employed are as follows:
Under 65 years
- Single: € 513.88
- With one child: € 879.84
- Partnership: € 770.82
- Partnership with a child: € 924.99
Older than 65 years
- Single: € 800.00
- Partnership: € 1,242.00
For each additional child, between € 150 and € 200 must be provided.
You lose your right of residence if you do not live in France for more than two years in a row within the first five years (unless there are good reasons for this and you give them to the authorities).
Would you like to speak the language of your new home quickly?
Work – job offer
In France, the 35 hour week applies. This has been made more flexible in the past, but it will basically continue to be adhered to. One of the country’s goals is the expansion of high technology. Popular professions include nursing jobs as well as jobs in the catering and service sectors.
As in Germany, natural persons are taxed using a progressive system. The more you earn, the more taxes you pay. The tax rate (2018) is between 14 and 45 percent. There is an allowance of € 9,800. When you start work, you automatically pay into the French unemployment insurance. After six months, as a newcomer, you are entitled to unemployment benefit in France.
To start working in France, you should have at least a basic knowledge of the French language.
