Moving Away From France

Why people leave

Moving abroad is a well-established pattern for French nationals: 1,754,688 were formally registered with a French consulate at the end of 2024, up 3.6% on the year, according to the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs' annual report on French citizens abroad — and that figure only counts people who opted to register, so the real total living overseas is higher. Switzerland, the United States, the United Kingdom, Belgium, and Canada are the top five destinations, together hosting roughly half of the registered community, with career opportunities, cross-border commuting (especially into Switzerland), family ties, and, for some higher earners, France's comparatively high tax burden all cited as drivers.

Departure checklist

1. Update your address on impots.gouv.fr and declare your change to non-resident tax status; you'll typically file two returns for your departure year — Form 2042 (income up to your move) and Form 2042-NR (French-source income after)
2. If you hold significant securities or shareholdings (broadly €800,000+ in value, or a 50%+ stake in a company's profits) and have been tax-resident in France for at least 6 of the last 10 years, ask about France's 'exit tax' (Article 167 bis CGI) on unrealised capital gains — a payment-deferral request for non-EU/EEA destinations (Form 2074-ETD) must be filed no later than 90 days before you leave
3. Register with the French consulate covering your new address in the registre des Français établis hors de France — not mandatory, but free, valid for 5 years, and needed for passport renewal, voting, and consular assistance abroad
4. If moving household goods outside the EU, prepare a detailed, dated, paginated, signed inventory in duplicate plus proof of your change of residence for French customs; a formal declaration generally isn't required for ordinary personal effects, and exports can be spread over up to a year across multiple shipments
5. If bringing a pet, arrange ISO-compliant microchipping and rabies vaccination at least 21 days before travel (minimum age 12 weeks), and get an EU pet passport for EU destinations or an official health certificate for non-EU ones
6. Cancel or transfer your French health insurance (Assurance Maladie/CPAM) registration, and request medical records if you'll need continuity of care abroad
7. Close or arrange international access to French bank accounts, redirect mail via La Poste, and give notice on your rental lease and utility contracts
8. If exporting a vehicle, keep a photocopy of the carte grise (registration certificate) on hand for customs
9. If you have school-age children, plan around the French academic year (roughly September to July) and request a certificat de radiation from their school

Container shipping corridors from here

Country-to-country container guides from France will appear here as they are published. Destination country guides and the quote form are available now.

Exit tax and customs

France is one of the few countries with a real, named exit tax: Article 167 bis of the Code général des impôts applies to unrealised gains on substantial securities holdings (broadly €800,000+, or a 50%+ stake) for anyone who's been French-tax-resident for 6 of the past 10 years, with payment deferral available automatically within the EU/EEA or on request (Form 2074-ETD, filed 90 days ahead) elsewhere. For household goods, France generally doesn't require a formal customs declaration when moving outside the EU, but does require a detailed signed inventory and proof of your change of residence. This is general information, not tax advice.

This is general orientation, not tax, legal, or immigration advice.