Ways to live in France
These are the residence routes in Bordr's guide that we have checked against official sources. Each one links to the government page.
Programme details are shown in English.
Work permit Work permits →
Talent Passport — qualified employee
A multi-year residence card for graduates hired by a French company or an innovative start-up at a set salary.
- What you need
- At least a master's-level degree and an employment contract with gross pay of at least €39,582 a year.
- Income
- from about $3,790 a month
- How long
- Up to 4 years
- Renewable
- Yes
- How to apply
- Long-stay visa via france-visas.gouv.fr, then the card online within 2 months of arrival
- Family
- Family members can come with you
Student visa Student visas →
Long-stay student visa (VLS-TS « étudiant »)
For people admitted to a French university or school. The visa itself works as a residence permit for the first year.
- What you need
- Admission to an institution and proof of at least €877.50 per month for living costs (for applications from 1 August 2026). Students may work up to 964 hours a year, about 60% of full-time.
- Income
- from about $1,010 a month
- How long
- 4 months to 1 year, then a residence card for the rest of the studies
- Renewable
- Yes
- How to apply
- Via Campus France (in many countries) and france-visas.gouv.fr
Freelancer and self-employed Freelancer and self-employed visas →
Entrepreneur / liberal profession residence card
For people who want to run a business, work as a sole trader or practise a liberal profession (consultant, designer and so on) in France.
- What you need
- A viable activity and income from it at least equal to the full-time minimum wage (SMIC).
- How long
- First card up to 1 year, then a multi-year card of up to 4 years
- Renewable
- Yes
- How to apply
- Long-stay visa via france-visas.gouv.fr, renewals at the prefecture
Investment and golden visa Investment and golden visas →
Talent Passport — economic investor
A multi-year residence card for people making a large direct investment in a French business that creates or keeps jobs.
- What you need
- A direct investment of at least €300,000 in business assets, personally or through a company you hold at least 30% of, creating or preserving jobs in France within four years.
- How long
- Up to 4 years
- Renewable
- Yes
- Cost
- €225 for the first card
- How to apply
- Long-stay visa via france-visas.gouv.fr, then the card within 2 months of arrival
- Family
- Family members can come with you
Cost of living
Monthly amounts in US dollars.
| Room in a shared flat | $450 |
|---|---|
| One-bedroom flat | $700 |
| Two-bedroom flat | $1,230 |
| Bills | $140 |
| Typical local salary | $3,120 |
| Budget for one person | $1,720 |
Cities to consider
- ParisCafés, museums and boulevards≈ $1,169 a month for one person, before rent
- MarseilleRaw, sunny port city≈ $1,109 a month for one person, before rent
- LyonFrance's food capital≈ $1,112 a month for one person, before rent
- ToulouseThe pink city≈ $1,102 a month for one person, before rent
- NiceRiviera light and sea≈ $1,158 a month for one person, before rent
- NantesCreative city on the Loire
- StrasbourgHalf-timbered and European
- BordeauxWine, stone and riverfront≈ $1,077 a month for one person, before rent
Climate by month, neighbourhoods and costs for each city are in the Bordr guide.
What life is like
Programme details are shown in English.
Why people move
Markets, bakeries and long lunches shape a lifestyle built around good food. Paris draws those after culture and careers, Lyon and Bordeaux offer a gentler pace, and the south from Montpellier to Nice brings sea and sunshine.
Day to day
High-speed trains cross the country in a few hours. The public health system is strong once registered. Cards are accepted widely, fibre internet is common, and daily life is far easier with French.
Trade-offs
Paperwork is notoriously complex and slow. Strikes regularly disrupt transport. Housing in Paris is expensive and small, and limited French can make integration difficult.
Before you move: visa-free entry
Most people arrive as visitors first, then apply from inside the country or come back with the right visa. How long you can stay as a visitor depends on your passport:
United States90 days
United Kingdom90 days
Australia90 days
Canada90 days
New Zealand90 days
SwitzerlandVisa-free
NorwayVisa-free
Singapore90 days
Japan90 days
South Korea90 days
Israel90 days
United Arab Emirates90 days
Hong Kong90 days
South AfricaVisa
Mexico90 days
Brazil90 days
Questions
Does France have a digital nomad visa?
Not among the routes we have checked. Remote workers usually come as visitors within the visa-free limit or use one of the other routes on this page.
How much money do I need to live in France?
A single person can live on from about $1,720 a month. A one-bedroom flat costs about $700 a month.
How can I move to France?
The routes we have checked are: Work permit, Student visa, Freelancer and self-employed, Investment and golden visa.
Sources and last check
This page is general information, not legal or immigration advice. Requirements change; confirm with the official government page or a licensed adviser before you apply.
