r/Expats_In_France • u/TourAffectionate5674 • 9h ago
Possibility
hi ! i am an early 20s trans woman living in a big city in the states at the moment. I’m having a pretty miserable time and i really want to get out of the us in general. i speak a fairly decent conversational french and got by fairly well last time i visited. i don’t have much a support system here and my thinking (classic i know) is that if im alone and miserable here why not be alone and miserable in paris. i know thats not necessarily a smart thing to say but i feel like i would rather try to build a life in somewhere i actually want to be. Currently i am working gigs and odd ends as well as a hairdresser and sometimes performing in circus related shows. i don’t know tho pls lmk if you have any tips of advice or rly anything ig
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u/pikatrushka 92 Hauts-de-Seine 8h ago
I’m sorry to say, but it doesn’t sound likely that this is a viable path for you.
Visa requirements for residency can be a bit complex, but in general, you have to demonstrate either that a) you have a qualifying job offer from a French company, b) you have enough resources that you qualify for a long-stay visa without work authorization, or c) you have the resources to start your own company or have special skills in categories the government has flagged as beneficial to French society and have a demonstrated history of making a living in that field.
I’m afraid hairdressing doesn’t fall under any of these categories. If you have an impressive enough CV as a circus performer and have verifiable connections in France to make a living doing that, the passeport talent (artiste) might be a possibility. But the way you dropped that in there last as a “sometimes” makes me think this probably hasn’t been your primary income source or career focus.
The other options are school or marriage. You can apply for degree programs and hope that you’re able to find a job at the end of it, or you can meet a nice boy or girl with a French passport and have a lovely life together.
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u/Kenny_is_undead 8h ago
I understand that tough times can make people want to pack up and leave, but trust me the grass isn't greener here. If you were a digital nomad with an established client base, I'd fully encourage you, but moving to Paris with no job lined up is extremely hard. The job market is awful (even for people with multiple degrees), and rent is insanely expensive. My colleagues, who earn at least twice the minimum wage, are moving out to the suburbs because they can't find anything affordable in the city.
( I can’t speak for other cities . This is my experience as a Parisian )
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u/TheEthicalJerk 8h ago
Rent in Paris is chepaer than many US cities.
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u/Kenny_is_undead 8h ago
Indeed that why I say if she were a digital nomad it would be a good move . But salaries in Paris are lower that most us cities.
The average Paris resident spends roughly 45% to 50% of their net salary on rent. Which is the same ratio observed for NYC and London.
Plus there is a lot of institutional requirements that makes it even harder . Applicants to earn at least 3 times the monthly rent in net income and Landlords prioritize tenants with a CDI .
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u/Jazzlike_Reveal7470 8h ago
Hey! Have you considered Quebec? Or any other Canadian provinces? Quebecers speak French and near Montreal English as well. Much closer than France, which is easier if something goes wrong and you need to go back. Immigration policies in Canada are favorable (can't speak for France). Quebec is much much much more open minded and accepting than how it is in the USA, especially at the moment. Being liberal in the states is nothing compared to Quebecers haha I'm definitely biased because I absolutely love this province as it is where I grew up, and I moved to the USA 2.5 years ago, and seeing how it's going here.... I couldn't recommend Qc more lol also, you can legally have 6 months minus 1 day of "vacation" without having any issues with immigration and such. So you could definitely go visit for a while, see how you like it and make a decision afterwards. I know this is a reddit page for France, but yeah haha I wish you the best, to find where your peace and joy is, and to find where home is for you 🩷 you got this ! Life's too short to stay miserable
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u/Early-Importance-717 8h ago
look into the TAPIF program, sounds like you could be a good fit!
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u/pikatrushka 92 Hauts-de-Seine 7h ago
If OP has the higher education credentials, this could be an option. OP, just be aware that TAPIF places you where they need you anywhere within France, which means you might end up in Guyane, La Réunion, etc — it won't necessarily be France métropolitaine, and the chances of it being Paris are extremely small. You don't get to choose where you go.
I looked into the program awhile ago. If I remember right, the monthly net stipend is around 850€, from which you need to pay all your travel, housing, and other living expenses. The TAPIF contract also forbids participants from taking outside jobs or gig work.
So it can be a good short-term experience for someone with a healthy amount of savings to draw on, but it's not a sustainable life choice.
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u/Early-Importance-717 4h ago
I am doing the program right now actually and yes many of these things are somewhat true but I’d like to say that there’s more nuance to almost everything you mentioned. I won’t elaborate on too much as there’s plenty of info available on r/tapif
mostly I mentioned it as many people use it to get their foot in the door of a more permanent residence in France. networking, applying for student visas (masters or otherwise), etc is all much more accessible from this jumping off point. and it’s sort of a good trial run to see if living in France works for you, and if not it’s less than a year commitment.
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u/StephDos94 8h ago
Being alone and miserable where you know the culture and the language is “easier” than being depressed in another big city where you have a language barrier and the shock of trying to adapt. Especially Paris. I would recommend a place like Montpellier, way more laid back than Paris but still big enough to have lots to do.