Moving House in France - Essentials

Moving house always requires planning and preparation; here are some tips and points about what must be done when moving in France. If renting, be aware of the rental notice period in the agreement made with the landlord - the notice period is generally three months in France.

• Adèle, French administration online, has a comprehensive guide on how to change an address with various organisations when moving house in France: Click here (in French)

Utilities and Services

• For contact information of local French utility companies, see the INFOrmation Page, French Utilities - Service Numbers

Electricity (EDF)

Notify the local EDF agency at least 10 days before the move. This can be done at an EDF Blue Sky shop or via an online client number. 

Within five days of the move EDF will take a meter reading at the leaving address (if access to the property is needed, remember to arrange a time with EDF). An invoice stating the balance due on the old address will be sent to either address.

At this time EDF will take a metre reading at the new address (if the move is not to be immediate, the start up date can be delayed). 

EDF will require the following to process the request:

• Client reference number (printed on the top left hand corner of an EDF bill) 
• Full name of the previous tenant at the new address (to ascertain the exact location)

For a simplified move in, send EDF a notice of change of address, signed by the new and leaving tenant and include:

• Meter reading at the new address at the point of arrival
• Name and address of the leaving tenant
• Date of handover

For further information online from EDF:

• For clear details on how to move: Click here (in French, with graphics to help)
• Further information from EDF in English: Click here
• To contact EDF by telephone see the number at the top of the bill, or 
  Tel: 0810 333 776

Gas (Gaz de France)

 At least 15 days before the move, notify Gaz de France of a change of address by supplying the following:

• Client reference number (nine digits at the top left corner of an invoice)
• Mobile telephone number (or land line if no mobile available)

Gaz de France will confirm the date of the move.

• An address can be changed online: Click here (in French)
• To contact Gaz de France by telephone 
  Tel: 0810 800 801 

Telephone & Internet

Contact the local France Télécom office about 10 days before the move, giving them notice of termination of contract (unless the move is within the same exchange area, in which case the number may be transferred to the new address; France Telecom requires a notice of change of address). 

It is possible to have a recorded message placed on the old line informing callers of the new number.

• For information about contacting France Telecom, see the INFOrmation Page, Telephone & Internet in France

Contact mobile phone and Internet service providers before the move to inform them of the new address.

Post

At least five days before the move, request a change-of-address form (faire-suivre) from La Poste to forward mail to the new address. Or, subscribe online to the Pack Ma Nouvelle Adresse, this service will notify individuals and businesses of the change of address via postcard, text message or e-mail. 

Mail can be forwarded to a new address in France for up to six months and to an address outside of France for three or six months. It can also be forwarded on a temporary basis. To request mail forwarding it is necessary to provide:

• proof of identity
• proof of the old address and details of the new address

There is a charge for the mail-forwarding service.

• For further information regarding the French Postal System, see the INFOrmation Page, French Postal Codes & Addresses

Personal Administration

Identity documents

Arrange at the Préfecture or Sous-Préfecture for a change of address to the Carte de Séjour. Provide the following documents:

• Passport
• Carte de Séjour
• Proof of address (utility bill - gas, water or electricity, or a rent receipt)
• 3 photographs may be required
• For contact information of the area's prefectures: Click here

It is not necessary to notify passport issuing authorities of a change of address. Pencil in the change of address on the appropriate page in the passport.

Driving licence 

A change of address can be hand written on the back of a French driver's licence; it is not necessary to notify the Préfecture.

Motor vehicle registration (Carte Grise):

Notification of change of address for the Carte Grise must be made to the Préfecture or Sous-Préfecture (or Préfecture de Police in Paris) within one month of moving. If the move is to a new département, vehicles must be re-registered.

• For more information on changing an address on a Carte Grise, see the INFOrmation Page, Buying a Car in France: The Carte Grise French Vehicle Registration Document

Insurance

Notify vehicle, property, health and life insurance companies of the change of address. Home insurance can be transferred to a new property, but if the new home is a dramatically different size, the property should be re-assessed.

• More information about car insurance policies can be found on the INFOrmation Page, Insurance & Insuring a Vehicle in France

Bank

Notify banks in writing of the new address, include account holder's names, account numbers, old and new address. Allow enough time to print new cheque books.

Tax & Social Security

The French government has provided an online system for registering a change of address. All social security and tax details are updated. Have tax numbers and French social security numbers to hand when using this service:

• For the French government change of address service: Click here 

Social security

Unless a change of address has been submitted at the government's website, it will be necessary for residents to contact the social security office (caisse d'assurance maladie/CPAM), so CPAM may transfer files to a new office if necessary.

• When communicating with CPAM always have the relevant social security number handy (found on the Carte Vitale and on salary slips - bulletins de salaire)
• After a change of address or status, update the Carte Vitale by inserting it into a Carte Vitale terminal (the green box in pharmacies, CPAM offices and some mairies)

When changing address to a different département, complete and return the déclaration de changement de situation form available from CPAM.

• To download the form: Click here (PDF in French)

• Further information is available from the French social security website, Amelie (l'Assurance Maladie), in French. 

Municipal Schools

Crèche: Contact the Mairie of the new area as soon as possible in order to enrol children. Give notice at the current creche; be aware there is usually a one-month notice period at crèches.

Primary school: Contact the Mairie in the new area to find out which schools are in the mayoral area and arrange for enrolment. Request a certificat de radiation from the current school in order to remove a child from the school register.

Collège/Lycée: Request a certificat de sortie. The necessary documents will be transferred to the new school.

Pets

Easily overlooked is the need to update address information with the animal registry. To file a change of address for tattooed or microchipped animals, contact:

• The National Dog Register (Fichier National Canin) 
  Tel: 01 49 37 54 54
• The National Cat Register (Fichier National Félin) 
  Tel: 01 44 93 30 30
  Website

Other Contacts

• Shops with which a credit or frequent customer/loyalty account is held
• Accountants

Further Information

• AngloINFO INFOrmation Page, Essential Animal Information for France
• AngloINFO INFOrmation Page, Banking & Opening a Bank Account in France
• AngloINFO INFOrmation Page, French Schooling & Education in France