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PENSION

Reader Question: How long do I have to work to qualify for a French pension?

If you have worked both in France and in another country, you might be curious at what point you become eligible for a French pension. Here is what you need to know.

Published: 20 January 2023 16:16 CET
Updated: 12 June 2023 17:02 CEST
Reader Question: How long do I have to work to qualify for a French pension?
Letters form the word "retirement" around numbers in relation to the pension reform sought out by French government (Photo by Lionel BONAVENTURE / AFP)

Many foreigners living in France have had blended careers – meaning they have worked in both France and at least one other country. This can make it complicated for navigating where you fit into the French state pension system, as well as the one for your home country. 

The key question most foreigners who have worked in France tend to ask is “How long do I have to work to qualify for a French state pension?” It is difficult to find a direct answer to this question online, and many websites indicate a minimum of ten to 15 years. 

Ask the experts: What foreigners living in France need to know about French pensions

In reality, the answer is that you need a minimum of just one trimestre (quarter) of working and paying taxes in France to qualify for a French pension.

The catch is that French pensions are based on contributions, so although you are eligible after just one trimestre, your pension will be pretty small. The below example is for someone who has worked in France for one year – their French pension is the princely sum of €4 a month.

This simulation is based on a person retiring at the (current) legal age of 62, or the maximum age of 67.

In an interview with The Local, French pensioners expert Denis Guertault, who works for the organisation France Retraite, explained that after one quarter of working in France (on a French contract), you will be entered into the state pension system – however, your pension is based on contributions, so although you will be entitled to a pension, it may not be very large.

You can find out what pension you are currently eligible for by using the French government pension calculator website info-retraite.fr

With the passing of the pension reform (after months of strikes and protests) the info-retraite website has now been updated to include the new retirement ages – gradually increasing from 62 to 64 between September 2023 and 2030, with a maximum age of 67 for people who do not have a ‘complete’ career (ie people who had career breaks such as stay-at-home mums, people who started work late after prolonged study or people who worked in a non-EU country).

READ MORE: EXPLAINED: The website to help you calculate your French pension

“France works on a system of droit acquis (acquired rights),” the Guertault explained. Essentially, this means that the system is set up to be ‘pay-as-you-go.’

If you are an employee in France you will already be paying into your pension, since this is compulsory. If you take a look at your French payslip, among the deductions for social charges is the ‘retraites‘ section and this shows your pension contributions. These can be quite high – OECD data shows that the average French worker pays 11 percent of their monthly (gross) salary into their pension. 

For self-employed workers, this is part of the deductions set up via URSSAF. 

READ MORE: How to understand your French payslip

There are, of course, some exceptions, and the primary one is for people who have ‘posted worker’ status.

The Local also spoke with Tax Partner Jonathan Hadida, who works for Hadida Tax Advisors, a company specialised in tax consulting and helping Americans living in France to be tax compliant in both countries.

“This does not apply to people on a ‘seconded’ contract, who can request to stay on US social security for the first five years,” Hadida said,

“Generally what happens in a lot of these cases, is that the worker would continue to be paid by the US company, though different companies have different rules,” Hadida explained. The tax expert clarified that this is only available for the first five years for American posted workers, however. After five years, they will begin contributing to the French pension system.

When am I eligible for a full French pension?

Prior to September 2023, the minimum retirement age is 62, and to qualify for a full pension (at the maximum rate of 50 percent), you must have worked a certain number of trimestres (quarters). The exact number of trimestres depends on the year you were born. Those born between 1961 and 1963 need 168 trimestres, or 42 years. Those born in 1973 or after currently need 172 trimestres, or 43 years.

The minimum retirement age will gradually increase from September 2023 until 2030, when it will reach 64.

Importantly for foreigners who might be lacking a ‘full’ career in France, the maximum age remains at 67.

Periods of unemployment, maternity leave or absence because of long-term illness or accidents at work are taken into account and these credits count towards determining your total number of trimestres.

For the average French worker, the calculation for how much one’s pension will come out to be will be based on average annual income for the best 25 years of your earning career, and the amount to which you are entitled is based on how long you have paid into the system.

However, for foreigners who have worked in both France and another country, the calculation for the total amount of your pension will depend on whether the other country you worked in is part of the EU/EEA or whether it has an existing social security agreement with France. 

READ MORE: Pensions: What should I expect if I worked in both France and a non-EU country?

If the other country you worked in does have an agreement with France (or is part of the EU), then the two will work together to determine how much your pension will be from France, and how much it will be from the other country. This formula will depend on the nature of the social security agreement between the two nations, however.

Once calculated, you will receive one sum from France, and another from the other country you worked in. Keep in mind, that this may mean you will need access to a bank account in the other country to receive your pension payout.

READ MORE: Ask the Expert: How Brexit has changed the rules on pensions, investments and bank accounts for Brits in France

If you have been in France for more than 10 years, you may also be eligible for ‘top up benefits’ when you retire, if your total pension is below a certain amount. 

This article is a general view of the pension system and does not constitute individual financial advice. If you are are unsure about your pension rights, seek independent financial advice.

Member comments

  1. Can anybody tell me how to get an answer from the CARSAT in Rouen that, apparently, deals with the dossiers for all French pensions paid to non-French nationals. I am receiving only approximately 30% of my predicted (by the French) pension and never get a reply, even to registered letters, asking for why the amount varies so considerably from their previous calculation
    I was self-employed, and paying tax, here for 20 years, although latterly discovered that I was credited with only one trimestre, for many years, for the ‘cotisations’ that I thought were going towards my pension, but this was taken into account in their original computation.
    I enjoy living in France, but hate the stonewalling administration as much as the French do themselves!

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PROPERTY

BBQs, plants and laundry: What are the rules in France around balconies?

If you want to grill some ribs, install heavy plants or even hang up your laundry to dry on your balcony in France, then there is one document you'll want to consult beforehand.

Published: 7 May 2024 10:43 CEST
BBQs, plants and laundry: What are the rules in France around balconies?

If you live in an apartment building in France, then you might be curious whether there are any rules regulating what you are allowed and not allowed to do on your French balcony.

The answer is relatively simple: it depends on your copropriété. In France, a copropriété is a type of building that is split up into several different apartments that are individually owned. It is also the name of the individuals who together make up the co-owners of that shared building, similar to a ‘homeowner’s association’.

READ MORE: PROPERTY: What you need to know about ‘copropriété’ fees in France

Most of the time your building will also hire a syndic, or managing agents for the building.

Every copropriété should have a règlement de copropriété, which is a written document outlining all of the operating rules of the building, as well as the rights and olbigations of the ‘co-owners’ and tenants.

This document governs the common areas of the building and the fees that go into the building’s maintenance (les charges), but it can also regulate the use of private areas under certain circumstances. For example, the règlement might have its own rules about the hours that you can do noisy renovation work, or a list of colours allowed for the shutters on your exterior windows.

So can I barbecue on my balcony?

As you may have guessed from above, the règlement de copropriété may outline the rules for balcony or terrace usage.

This means that the document can dictate anything from whether or not you can hang laundry outside to the weight of plants allowed and the rules on barbecues.

The gist is that the regulations governing balconies and what you can do on them vary widely from one apartment building to another.

Some apartment buildings allow for people to use small electric grills for barbecues, while others might ban grilling and barbecuing altogether.

When asking about your balcony, be sure to find out whether any parts of it are considered ‘shared space’.

Under some circumstances, the règlement may deem balcony railings to be part of the shared space, which would have consequences for the minimum amount of maintenance required by the owner. Though, this would be most likely to occur if the upkeep of your balcony’s railing has a direct impact on the structure of the building or other apartments.

Similarly, the document might consider the actual concrete slab of the balcony to be the responsibility of the copropriété for maintenance and upkeep. In this case, if you had a crack in your balcony then the repair costs would fall on the copropriété and not you individually.

How do I find out about the règlement for my building?

If you have a gardien (doorman) you can start by asking him/her. They would likely have a copy on-hand, or they might just know the answer to your question.

Otherwise, you can reach out to the building’s syndic, or you can even request a copy of the document from the land registration service. The latter option will cost €30, and you would need to file a formal request (you can find the form here).

How are these rules decided?

The règlement for the copropriété is voted on in a general meeting of co-owners, and it can be changed.

To do this, you would need to gather the ‘general assembly’ of co-owners in the building. Then you would need to vote. Depending on the nature of the change, French law can require that the co-owners in the building reach a simple majority (most owners present vote yes) or an absolute majority (out of all owners, including those not present, the majority vote yes).

You can find the voting rules on this government website.

In general, the items outlined in the règlement will be justified somehow. For example, the rules related to furniture and plant height/weight might have to do with concerns about safety and ensuring that the concrete slab of the balcony holds up.

But that does not mean that ‘aesthetic’ concerns are irrelevant – your copropriété might consider something like hanging laundry to dry from your balcony to be an ‘aesthetic harm’ (or hygienic concern) for your building.

The standard for all French copropriétés is that anything that changes the exterior appearance of the building is not allowed, and in order to do so, you must get special permission.

READ MORE: The rules for installing air conditioning in your French home

What about local laws and rules?

In certain situations, there might be additional local laws and rules that regulate activities you might want to do on your balcony.

For example, when it comes to BBQs, some areas – especially if there is a drought – will ban or restrict them to avoid the danger of starting wildfires.

Certain legal clauses might restrict charcoal BBQs and allow gas ones, while others could restrict barbecuing to certain times. Check with your local mairie to see if there are restrictions where you live.

READ MORE: What are the rules of having a BBQ in France?

Departmental health regulations may also contain rules that would apply to balconies and terraces.

For example, in Paris the health regulations prohibit the storing of flammable liquids, seeds, bread crumbs or food of any kind on windows, balconies and outside parts of buildings.

It also stipulates that anything hanging from a balcony or window should be done so in a safe manner so that it does not create a dangerous environment for passers-by or other building occupants.

Overall, you can do what you want with and on your balcony, as long as you comply with the copropriété rules and existing local or departmental health/safety regulations, you do not alter the external appearance of the building or carry out any large-scale, structural work that you’d need a permit for, and as long as whatever you do/install on your balcony does not create a safety risk.

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