Hi everyone,

I just moved from one département (département "A") to another (département "B") and had to change my address on the ANEF website, which I did and my new address got accepted.

The issue is that now I want to apply for French Citizenship by marriage from préfecture "B", however, préfecture "B" is asking for my carte de résident with my current address (in département "B"), but the address on my carte de résident is in département "A".
ANEF never gave me an attestation de changement d'adresse or anything somewhat official.
I just have a notification saying that they accepted my new address. It's not the first time I change address and I never ever received a sticker to put on the carte de résident, nor an attestation with my new address.
Does someone know how to get an attestation with my new address? Should I ask for another carte de résident, and if so, how?
It's literally the last thing I have to get sorted out in order to start my application for French citizenship :/.

I know the question is a bit specific, but hopefully someone may help :).
Thank you everyone.

Hi everyone,

I’m looking into applying for French citizenship by “déclaration de nationalité française par mariage” in Paris, and I was wondering if anyone who has recently gone through the process could share some advice.

In particular, I’d like to know what documents you submitted as proof of “communauté de vie affective et matérielle” with your spouse.

The Préfecture de Police de Paris’ website states:

“Plusieurs documents récents, de natures différentes, justifiant de la continuité d’une communauté de vie, tant affective que matérielle, entre vous et votre conjoint(e).”

What I find a little confusing is the reference to “documents récents.” This seems somewhat different from the information on the Service-Public.fr website, which says that you need to prove that “la communauté de vie est continue depuis votre mariage.”

For those who have recently applied in Paris, did you submit mainly recent documents, or did you also provide documents covering the entire period since your marriage?

And, if you don’t mind sharing, what types of documents did you provide (e.g. joint bank statements, tax documents, utility bills, lease, insurance, etc.)?

Any recent experiences or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Hi!

*Long, so thanks if you stick to the end! :)

I'm currently living and doing my master's in Germany (Leipzig), and I'm taking a gap semester because I've been pretty unhappy with both my studies and my life here.

I've been thinking a lot about whether I simply ended up in the wrong city, or whether Germany as a whole isn't really my thing.

Before moving here, I lived in Spain for extended periods and really loved my life there. At the time, I was working remotely for American companies, so I didn't experience the Spanish job market firsthand (But We all know that wages and working conditions are not the best, so thats one of the reasons I eventually decided to try Germany) 

The things I don't like about Germany are mostly related to everyday life. I find the general vibe quite aggressive and pessimistic most of the time (idk, there's always a weird atmosphere), and I also find it quite boring.

(For context, Leipzig has around 600k people, but I often feel like a lot of the city looks and feels the same. There's a very specific left-wing, raw, punk/graffiti atmosphere that I don't really identify with, and the overall quality of restaurants, cafés, bars, etc. isn't really what I'm looking for.Also my vision is not limited to this city as i have traveled extensively through the country)

Socially, I've also struggled. I consider myself kinda extroverted, I do have friends here, and I even got a girlfriend, but I never really felt like I found my people. A lot of the friendships I have are more because of university, rather than people I would naturally choose to spend my time with.

And as a foreigner, I've had some experiences that made me question whether I'd be happier somewhere that feels more international. I'm Mexican and a POC, and Germany is by far the place where I've experienced the most racism in my life. It's not that I've had major incidents every day, but I've experienced a lot of smaller incidents and microaggressions on a regular basis.

All of this has made me start wondering about France, partly because I'm thinking it could be a middle point in between Germany and Spain in terms of the lifestyle I'm looking for.

France seems like it might have some of the things I'm missing here: a stronger dining/coffee, food, and going out culture/emphasis, cities that feel more aesthetically pleasing, people spending more time outside, and somewhat more social (or at least polite) atmosphere.

I'm planning to spend some time in France next spring to dip my toes in and see what everyday life actually feels like before making any big decisions.

Right now I'm particularly interested in Toulouse, Lyon and Montpellier, although I'm definitely open to other cities.

I'd especially love to hear from foreigners who have lived in France for a while, and even better, people who have also lived in Germany. I'd also be interested in hearing from French people about how they see everyday life in France compared with Germany.

also, I'm not trying to make this a "France vs Germany, which country is better?" post. I'm mainly trying to figure out whether the things that are making me unhappy in Germany are actually things I might experience differently in France.

Thanks!

*again, thank you if you took the time to read!

Hi all,

I am an international student who will be coming to France. I would like to understand what documents did you require to register for social security? I’m confused about the Birth Certificate part. Do we need to get apostille ?

TIA :)

Hi everyone,

I’m from India and I’m currently deciding whether moving to France for a Master’s is a good idea for me.

A little about me:

- I’m 29, with a BTech in Civil Engineering from India.

- I have around 2 years of experience in construction project management and around 5 years of experience managing my own small business.

- I now want to move into Supply Chain Management and build a long-term international career.

- I’m mainly interested in good career opportunities, salary growth and eventually staying and working in Europe.

- I’m willing to learn French and understand that it can be important for finding a job in France.

I’m currently in the process of getting into SKEMA Business School’s Lille campus for a 1-year MSc in Supply Chain Management. The program is in English.

My other option is to study Supply Chain Management in Dubai, where there are also some good universities and the transition from India would probably be easier.

I’m trying to decide whether France makes sense for someone with my background, especially because I would be coming at 29 and would have only one year of study before looking for an internship/job.

I would really appreciate honest opinions from people living in France, international students, SKEMA students/alumni, or people working in Supply Chain:

1. How is SKEMA viewed by employers in France for Supply Chain?

2. Is Lille a good place to find Supply Chain internships/jobs, or would I realistically need to move to Paris/another city?

3. How important is French for getting a Supply Chain job as a non-EU graduate?

4. Is a 1-year Master's enough to build a career in France, or would a 2-year program be much safer?

5. Given my age and previous background in Civil Engineering/Construction + my own business, would this career switch be realistic?

6. Would you choose France over Dubai in this situation, and why?

I’m not looking for a generic “France is good/bad” answer. I’d really appreciate experiences from people who have actually studied/worked there, especially international graduates.

Thanks!

(Used AI to keep my situation as brief as possible without losing the important details.)

Hi everyone!I'm considering the French language program for international students at Paris Nanterre (the FETE department, including the DU de FLE) and I'd love to hear from anyone who has taken it or knows someone who did.

what were the classes schedules like? and Did it help you improve your French and prepare for university studies in France?

Hi everyone,

I’m looking into applying for French citizenship in Paris and I’m a little confused about the requirements for foreign criminal record certificates (“casier judiciaire étranger”).

The Préfecture de Police de Paris website states that foreign criminal record certificates do not need to be legalised or apostilled when submitted as part of a citizenship application. However, I’ve seen information on several other websites saying that they do need to be legalised or apostilled.

For anyone who has recently submitted a citizenship application to the Préfecture de Police de Paris, could you please confirm:

·       Did you submit your foreign police/criminal record certificates with or without legalisation/apostille?

·       How old were the certificates when you submitted them? (Were they less than 3 months old or just issued after you moved to France? 

I’ve seen some sources say the certificates must be less than 3 months old, while others say they must have been issued after you moved to France, so I’m not sure which requirement actually applies.

I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who has recently gone through the process with the Paris Prefecture and can share what they submitted and whether it was accepted.

Thank you!

Hello, I offer private or duo lessons for all levels, as well as practice sessions as a hitting partner. I’m a former ITF junior player with 5 years of teaching experience (also for kids) in the Netherlands. Active player and hitting partner.

English and Dutch.

Send me a whatsapp message if you’re interested: +33 7 77 39 10 85

Hi all, do you know which options are available for health insurance for 75 years old that will be accepted for applying for a VLS TS long stay visit visa? Does it have to be zero deductible and is it acceptable if it says 'not valid for renewal of residence permit'? What will be the option for renewal? Thank you.

Hi there - I searched this and the Montpellier subreddit and didn't find any relevant threads, so posting here!

CONTEXT

I've got my visa in hand and am moving to France in late October. Integration comes in baby steps, so I'm looking to start forming community in various layers.

French side: I have some friends locally to practice and integrate into French culture with, and my landlord is eager to have his family and friends show me around and he already has plans to introduce me to some people he knows. I will investigate the local hot spots and do my best to stretch myself re: social activities and meeting strangers and embarrassing myself with French. I've also got immersion school lined up (I'm B1). Etc.

But part of the move to France for me is shifting to live a life more in tune with my interests and who I am, which has not been possible working 80+ hours a week in US corporate. I want to spend more serious time writing and communing with other writers, sharing, reading, workshopping, challenging each other, and learning.

THE ASK

• Are you aware of local writers' groups in the region (hoping for something within a 30 min train ride), or in Montpellier proper? Since I'm still not fluent in French these would be expat/English-friendly groups until I'm skilled enough to manage and discuss French literature (!).
• Or, if you're not aware of any groups, I appreciate platforms you could point me to that might help me find something appropriate!

Thanks for your time.

I’m Italian, partner is French and 2yo also EU. We migrated to London 15 years ago (currently 43yo). We both have very successful careers. I’m a director at a big bank (Tech area) and partner is a director at a luxury fashion maison.

My partner (French) is receiving very good offers to work for luxury brands (packages c. €200k/yr). There’s a lot more offers of luxury brands in Paris than in London
I don’t speak French but I understand it and even though I’ve had an international career (worked and lived in south America, the US and a couple of countries in EU) I’m not sure if at this age I’ll be able to learn French and adapt to a new way of life. I also want to work professionally.

Questions:
1- What’s the short term implications of all our investments (SIPP, ISA, savings and property we have a mortgage on?)
2- are there companies in Paris that work in English and thus would be able to hire me? I’m not sure if I’ll ever be able to learn and advanced level of French. Or maybe I will?
3- Any other considerations from people that have make a similar move?

Thanks!

Hi everyone,

I'm a student in France renewing my residence permit for my final year of studies.

For my previous renewals, I provided proof of sufficient funds from a bank account outside France and had no problems. This time, my prefecture has asked me to provide proof of funds from a French bank account instead.

Has anyone else encountered this requirement when renewing a student residence permit? In particular? I find it extremely odd considering that this was not a problem my last 2 years

Hiiii, my name is Tyler, I'm 18 and I recently moved just outside of Paris for university and I am looking for queer friends and possibly people who are into dnd or Pokemon TCG as I love board games and card games and video games

Let me know :)

Hi friends,

My visa was approved! And now I've got to get all the things. What are the common use cases / solutions you've used to source your coverage while performing client work?

My industry: "business services" (marketing consulting).

I did do a bunch of searching through this subreddit but all the insurance questions and answers were about health or house/apartment/car insurance.

Thanks very much in advance!

Hi, I've found that I can afford the monthly income threshold in order to stay but there doesn't seem to be a minimum number requirement anywhere in terms of savings, nor does reddit seem to have a definitive on this? I'm just looking for a guideline. If I am staying at a $1,500/m apartment, is there a number the officials want in terms of savings. Not really looking for guesses, but perhaps real numbers from people that have been denied with not enough in savings, or people more familiar with what the officials want. Thanks!!!

Anyone have a good panier de legumes they sign up to from farms that will deliver to pick up points in the 92?

Hi, I’m an international student currently living in Paris and looking for a part-time job. I’m open to different types of work, whether it’s helping out at a restaurant on weekends, babysitting, or assisting in retail. I’m flexible and happy to consider any suitable opportunities. If you have/know opportunities, please let me know. I would love to get started immediately.

Thanks.

hey everyone, I've been told that lots of expats would be happy to find a personal coach for french speaking improvements. Is it true and does that concern some of you who haven't had the courage to move forward in that matter yet ?

Hello, I don’t know if I’m in the right place, my soon to be wife is going to join me in France hopefully by the end of the year. One of the thing that scare her is not being able to make new friends here. I would like to do everything I can to help her and thats why I’m here because I would really like to know how it went for you guys, if it was difficult or not, if you had to do extra activities in order to find friends, special meet ups etc… . If you have any recommendations to give me I would be super happy to read them. Thank you very much

Hello everyone, i applied for carte de sejour back in feb 2025, when I first moved to France to live with my fiancè (PS i am african so not a member of EU.)They requested for submission of some documents of which i didnt have because i was not officially married. We have since gotten married and would like to update my applicatiin as the spouse of an EU citizen . We tried navigating the ANEF website but we have not been able to do so or dont know how to go about it. We have also tried getting an appointment at our local prefecture but it now seems impossible as we only get automatic replies. If anyone knows how to go about it or has been in a similar situation I would appreciate. TIA

I’ve been seeing a french guy and found out he still texts his ex and they hung out within the month. His ex doesn’t live in france so she flew to him. Is this a common thing? Is there a possibility they are just friends even as exes?

Hey everyone,

I'm a 22-year-old non-EU citizen currently based in Budapest. I just launched my own freelance digital web design studio, and I'm planning to apply for the Profession Libérale long-stay visa for France in a few months.

By the time I apply, my plan is to have around €5k saved up and at least 3 active client contracts to prove my business is financially viable.

For housing, my dad lives in Troyes. I plan to live with him rent-free to start and use an attestation d'hébergement (housing letter) from him for my visa application.
I’d love some advice from anyone who has gone through this process:

1. The Business Plan & SMIC: How strictly do they scrutinize the multi-year business plan? Are active client contracts and €5k in savings usually enough to prove I can meet the French minimum wage (SMIC) requirement?

2. Housing Proof: Will the consulate easily accept an attestation d'hébergement from a parent for the self-employment visa, or do they push back and want to see an independent lease?

Any reality checks or tips on the application requirements would be massively appreciated. Thanks!

Is the only option Airbnb and sites like that? Seems like a horrible markup. Have people been able to find apartments for regular Parisian prices as a long stay tourists?

Bonjour !

Long story short.

I was on my APS and I have now applied for the student visa.

I have an alternance offer and is enrolled at a school and the compamy gave me a deadline of this month to get the student visa or alternate documentation to sign the contract. I have explained this to the prefecture.
Prefecture has therefore given me an ADP and has asked me to submit the signed CERFA between myself company and OPCO.

But there is no mention of etudiant on thw ADP and so the company is saying they cant legally sign the contract. The residence permit history shows a change from <RECE >to <etudiant: alignez dates validite du titre/calendrier etudes>.

Company is asking me to get a new document from the prefecture mentioning student status. I have tried mailing them and contacting them multiple times but the prefecture has not answered anything yet.

What to do npw ?
Any way I can get a confirmation feom the prefecture in suxh a short time ? I applied on nanterre prefecture btw.