We often talk about expatriates and what leaving France implies in terms of organization, but we talk much less about those who take the opposite path. Many people return to France for family or professional reasons a few months or even a few years later and the process begins again.
However, after a long period spent abroad, returning home can be complex and delicate. In this article you will find how to effectively prepare for your return to France.
Gather all administrative documents from the country of residence
The ideal being to prepare your return to France a few months in advance, we recommend that you gather all the useful administrative papers that you may have difficulty recovering once you return. Be sure to group together your pay slips, employment contracts and certificates, local tax notices, etc. before leaving.
Concerning your civil status documents, these must also be in order for all family members following you. Marriage, death, birth and/or divorce must have been correctly transcribed in the civil status registers of the consulate or embassy of the foreign country in which you resided.
Furthermore, in the event of marriage to a foreign national or birth occurring in the country you are preparing to leave, a visa application must be made for your spouse and/or children at the consulate of the country where you reside if it is not part of the European economic area or Switzerland.
Obtain your removal from the French register from the consulate
Before your return to France, you will need to contact the French consulate in your country of residence to request your removal from the register. This process is now simplified since you can do it online on the service-public.fr website. Be sure to keep your cancellation certificate carefully. To simplify customs formalities related to your move, do not hesitate to also request a certificate of change of residence.
Re-register for social security
Depending on your professional situation and the country of residence from which you are returning, you can potentially regain your health insurance rights.
If you are returning from a European Union country
If you reside in a country of the European Union, the European Economic Area or Switzerland, numerous regulations require member states to ensure that you can recover your Health Insurance rights upon your return. Periods of contribution, residence or even insurance are therefore taken into account. You will also have the possibility of subscribing to mutual insurance.
If you are returning from a country outside the European Union
Several situations allow you to access your rights to health insurance:
- You have found a job and signed an employment contract;
- The country in which you went to work is bound by a social security agreement;
- You have contributed at least 18 months to Pôle Emploi Services;
- You have contributed to the CFE (fund for French people abroad).
If you do not meet any of these criteria upon your return to France, you can still claim Universal Health Coverage (CMU).
Prepare your return to employment in France
If you do not have a job when you return to France, know that professional training can help you prepare for it. Your consulate can put you in contact with Pôle Emploi if you meet the following conditions:
- You are an adult;
- You have the resources required to return to France;
- You are registered on the register of French people living abroad.
You can therefore consider a VAE (Validation of acquired experience) or even a diploma equivalence to help you if you wish to reorient yourself. To find work more easily, don’t hesitate to use your family and professional network.
Moving and tax and customs formalities
Just as for your departure abroad, you will need to get quotes from movers for the transport of all your belongings on your return to France. If you had taken the initiative to rent a storage unit in France during your stay abroad, do not hesitate to contact the center again in order to modify the necessary volume, extend your contract or not, etc.
Don't cancel it too quickly, especially if you need to store furniture and things purchased abroad that won't go with your new decor.
When you leave, the certificate of change of residence that we mentioned above is generally requested in order to authorize transit. A tax clearance or a status slip may also be requested.
Finally, if your vehicle follows you to France, you will have one month to register it with the French prefectural services.
