Moving to France from South Africa

Rand-to-euro maths, a long-stay visa to validate, and a licence exchange window that closes fast.

Visa required before you travelLicence exchange window appliesCurrency: ZAR

What you get

Tell us when you arrive and we build the timeline: visa validation, carte de séjour, health cover, driving licence.

Every step of French admin explained in short, checked articles with links back to the official source.

Shops, guest houses, tradespeople and professionals from home — wherever you land in France.

Convert a ZAR salary into euros and see how rent, groceries and transport compare city to city.

The deadlines that apply to you, in order, counted from the day you arrive.

3 mo
Validate your visa on ANEF
A VLS-TS visa must be validated online within three months of entering France.
3 mo
PUMA healthcare waiting period ends
After three months of residence you can usually apply for state health cover.
8–10 mo
Request your first multi-year carte de séjour
Apply on ANEF between 4 and 2 months before your visa or card expires (about months 8–10 on a one-year visa); start gathering documents earlier.
12 mo
Exchange your driving licence
The exchange request must be lodged on ANTS within 12 months of your residence permit starting.

We only ask for what your stage actually needs.

Banking & money

What banks ask for, and what to do if you are refused.

CAF & benefits

Who can claim, and why the file takes so long.

Driving licence

Insurance, priority rules and the paperwork you must carry in the car.

List it free. Every submission is reviewed by a human before it appears in the directory, so the people finding you know it's real.