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LIVING IN FRANCE

Squatters to sweet nothings: 6 essential articles for life in France

From dealing with squatters or working remotely, to terms of endearment and how to have a chat at the supermarket, here are 6 essential articles for life in France.

Published: 20 February 2022 09:56 CET
Squatters to sweet nothings: 6 essential articles for life in France
What are the tax implications of working from a beach on the French Riviera? Photo by OLIVIER MORIN / AFP

The wonders of modern technology mean that a lot of jobs can now be done remotely, opening up a whole new world of work opportunities for foreigners in France who have not yet perfected their French.

Unfortunately, the visa and tax systems haven’t had an update in some time, so it can be hard to find information about the residency and tax implications of living or visiting one country while simultaneously working for a company in a different country.

We have spoke to an immigration lawyer and an international tax expert to get the full detail on what you need to know.

Working remotely from France – what are the rules for foreigners?

Explained: Tax rules for remote workers in France

If you have property in France you obviously want to enjoy it yourself rather than have it taken over by squatters.

French law has made it difficult in the past for property owners to evict squatters – with second-home owners having particular problems due to time limits in notifying authorities.

However the process has become a little easier recently, with changes to the rules to make the system slightly more user-friendly.

How to get rid of squatters from your French property

If owning property in France is a bit out of your price bracket then you will probably be looking to enter the rental market.

But when searching through property listings it’s important to know exactly what you’re looking at, what all those confusing acronyms mean and whether a place has one bedroom or just one room.

We’ve therefore put together a guide to renting vocabulary to help you find what you’re looking for.

The vital French vocab for renting property

The city of Paris has big plans to make the historic central areas more pedestrian and cycle-friendly by limiting access to motorised vehicles.

Sometimes reported as a total ‘car ban’, the plans are in fact not that simple and allow plenty of exemptions for certain vehicle types. They will also only affect certain parts of the capital.

Still, City Hall reckons that their plans will cut around 250,000 journeys a day.

MAP When and where is Paris banning cars?

And finally we’re looking at one the best known – but in fact frequently misunderstood – French words.

Chérie is widely used as a term of affection even by non French speakers, but over the past decades it has undergone something of a transformation in France, leaving foreigners red-faced as they apply it in inappropriate circumstances.

We asked French language expert Camille Chevalier-Karfis to give us the rundown on when to use chérie and also chère.

How the French really use cher and chéri

And if all this isn’t enough, did you know that The Local France now has a podcast? Click here to listen to our pilot episode on the French presidential elections. 

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LIVING IN FRANCE

What is France’s ‘citizen service’ and who has to do it?

Although France no longer has compulsory military service, there is still a requirement for a 'citizen service' known as the JDC - and for most younger people this is compulsory, including young foreigners who take French citizenship.

Published: 24 May 2024 17:11 CEST
What is France's 'citizen service' and who has to do it?

France scrapped compulsory military service in 1997 so its teenagers are no longer required to do 10 months of square-bashing, boot polishing and cross country runs.

They are, however, required to do the Journée défense et citoyenneté (JDC) in most cases – although this at least has the benefit of being just a single day.

What is it? 

The JDC is basically a one-day course or learning exercise about your rights and responsibilities as a citizen of France.

You will receive teaching on three main areas;

  • The general issues and objectives of national defence, and on the different forms of commitment required from citizens. This part of the course is usually taught by members of the French military
  • Civics lessons – similar to those given in French schools – based on the Charte des droits et devoirs du citoyen français (Charter of rights and duties of French citizens)
  • Information on equality between men and women, on the fight against sexist prejudice and on the fight against physical, psychological or sexual violence committed within the couple

You will also be given a brief test on your knowledge of the French language. This is for everyone, not just foreigners, and language learners can feel comforted by the fact that plenty of native French people also struggle with the intricacies of their language.

You do not have to pass any kind of exam on the contents of the citizenship course – more on the curriculum here.

The course usually lasts seven and a half hours – basically a standard working day.

Who has to do it?

There are two things that young people in France must do – the recensement citoyen (citizen census) and then, in most cases, the JDC.

The recensement citoyen is compulsory for;

  • Any French citizens who are turning 16 – they must complete the registration within three months of their 16th birthday.
  • Anyone who gains French nationality between the ages of 16 and 25 – they must sign up within a month of getting their citizenship.

It is not required for people older than 25 who gain French citizenship, neither is it required for non-French citizens – even if they are long-term residents in France.

People who fail to complete the recensement citoyen when required cannot be inscribed onto the electoral rolls (and therefore cannot vote), while the certificate of completion is also usually required to enrol for French public exams or administrative exams (eg professional qualifications).

Once you have completed the census, you will then receive notice for the one-day citizenship course (JDC). This is compulsory for most people, although there are exceptions for people who have a disability or a long-term illness.

How do you do it?

First off, the recensement citoyen can be done either online or in person, if you choose the online option it is done at the local mairie.

It’s a relatively simple sign-up process and then you receive the attestation de recensement, which will be required for registering for exams. Once you have completed this, you will automatically be added to the electoral roll once you reach the age of 18.

Once this is completed, you will then receive a convocation (summons) to your one-day JDC. The letter will provide details of how and where to do the course, as well as the options to appeal if you believe you are exempt on the grounds of illness or disability.

It also gives you an autorisation d’absence exceptionnelle – authorisation of absence, which you present to your employer if you are working or an apprentice. They are then legally obliged to give you the day off to attend.

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