Checklist: Essential Administrative Steps Before Moving Abroad
Moving abroad is much more than just a change of location. It’s a major personal and professional adventure that deserves careful preparation. Before packing your bags, it’s essential to complete certain administrative steps to avoid unexpected issues and leave with peace of mind. Discover our checklist for a successful expatriation—one that respects your social protection and supports your personal alignment.
Why Properly Preparing for Expatriation Is Crucial
Plan Ahead to Avoid Unpleasant Surprises
Expatriation is not something you can improvise. Behind the dream of a new life abroad lie many formalities that are best anticipated several months in advance. By taking the time to prepare each step, you ensure a smooth departure and an easier transition into your new host country.
Security, Health, Taxes: Major Considerations
The administrative procedures involved in expatriation cover vital aspects: access to healthcare, taxation, legal security, retirement coverage… These are all key areas not to be overlooked in order to protect your rights and ensure your well-being—both now and in the future.
Key Administrative Procedures Before Departure
Notify Official Authorities
Before leaving France, it is essential to inform several institutions about your change in status:
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Tax office (to declare your departure and update your tax residency)
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CPAM (Primary Health Insurance Fund) – to report your departure and clarify your future healthcare coverage.
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CAF (Family Allowance Fund) – to inform them of your change of residence and update or terminate any benefits.
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Pôle emploi – if you are a job seeker or receiving unemployment benefits, to report your departure and manage your entitlements accordingly.
Update Your Identity Documents
Make sure your passport is up to date and valid for the entire duration of your stay. If you’re moving to a country outside the European Union, your driver’s license may need an official translation or an international driving permit.
Research the Entry Requirements of the Host Country
Each country has its own requirements: visa, residence permit, vaccinations, registration with local authorities… Contact the consulate or embassy of your future country to find out the procedures you need to follow.
Arrange Your Insurance and Social Protection
Expatriation often means losing coverage under the French Social Security system. Several options are available to you:
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Join the Caisse des Français de l’Étranger (CFE) – to maintain access to French-style health coverage while living abroad.
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Take out international health insurance – to ensure comprehensive medical coverage adapted to your needs and destination.
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Choose a health insurance plan tailored to expatriates – to complement basic coverage and cover additional healthcare expenses.
These steps are essential to continue receiving healthcare reimbursements and to ensure effective coverage in case of accident or illness.
Organize Your Banking and Finances
Open a bank account abroad, notify your French bank, choose a solution for international money transfers, check currency exchange fees, and declare any foreign accounts to the French tax authorities… Good financial organization will help you avoid many hassles.
Plan for Your Children's Schooling
If you’re moving abroad with your family, consider enrolling your children in a local or French school (such as a French lycée or international school), keeping in mind that registration deadlines can sometimes be long.
Managing Your Social Protection as an Expatriate
Maintain Your Rights with the Caisse des Français de l’Étranger (CFE)
The CFE allows expatriates to maintain social protection equivalent to that in France. It offers coverage for health, maternity, disability, workplace accidents, and retirement.
Choose the Right International Health Insurance
A good expatriate health insurance plan should cover:
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Routine medical care
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Hospitalization
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Medical repatriation
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Maternity care, if needed
Compare different plans and prioritize insurers who specialize in supporting French citizens living abroad.
Managing Your Retirement and Contributions from Abroad
Expatriation can impact your retirement rights. Find out about bilateral agreements between France and your host country, and consider making voluntary contributions to avoid gaps in your pension record.
Conscious Expatriation: An Act of Personal Alignment
What if this move was an opportunity for inner realignment?
Moving to a new country also means changing your rhythm, your reference points, and your priorities. It’s sometimes a chance to reset your habits, refocus on what truly matters, and redefine your place in the world and your personal mission. Expatriation can then become a transformative experience.
Woman on the move: What if it all started with grounding?
At Wellness Voyages, we believe that lasting external change can only flourish when accompanied by inner realignment. Your body, your professional aspirations, and your personal freedom form a whole. To succeed in this new chapter of life, it’s essential to harmonize these three dimensions.
? Discover our program "AMA: Alignment, Manifestation, and Grounding in the Future"
Are you ready to take an important step with your expatriation? What if you took this opportunity to realign your life as a whole?
The AMA program was designed for expatriate women who wish to:
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Reconnect with their body
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Define a professionally aligned project
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Regain clarity, stability, and inner freedom