How to Manage Paperwork from Abroad

16 July 2025

How to Manage Paperwork from Abroad: Practical Tips

Living abroad means discovering new cultures, inspiring landscapes, opportunities… but also a less glamorous reality: paperwork.
When you’re a non-resident, managing your administrative documents can quickly become a headache—caught between two countries, two systems, and sometimes no clear guidance.

Here are some simple and practical tips to lighten your mental load and stay calm—even from afar.

Why Managing Documents Can Become a Challenge Abroad

Being a Non-Resident: What It Means Administratively

When you leave France to live abroad, your administrative status changes.
You become what’s called a non-resident: this involves specific procedures (tax, banking, social security…) and, above all, obligations to fulfill both in your host country and with the French administration.

Between two countries, two systems, two ways of doing things…

Every country has its own way of handling paperwork. What’s simple and digital in France might still be 100% paper-based elsewhere—or vice versa.
You need to learn to juggle, anticipate, and above all, stay organized to avoid feeling overwhelmed.

Essential Documents to Keep Under Control as a Non-Resident

Identity, Taxes, Health: Your Essentials

Here’s a non-exhaustive list of important documents to always keep within reach—both physical AND digital:

Valid passport & ID card
Proof of residence (both local and French, if possible)
Certificate of registration in the French register of citizens living abroad
Bank statements & insurance contracts
Tax documents (tax assessments, certificates of tax residence)
Medical records, European Health Insurance Card (if you’re still affiliated)

Scan, Organize, Secure: The Right Habits to Adopt

Each important document should be:

Scanned as a PDF
Stored in a secure cloud (Google Drive, Dropbox, iCloud…)
Organized into clear folders: “identity,” “banking,” “health,” etc.
Protected by a password if necessary

Tip: Create a summary file with all your important numbers (social security, health insurance, passport, etc.) in one place.

Tools and Tips to Simplify Your Administrative Management

Apps, cloud storage, digital organizers: your new toolbox

Here are a few simple tools that can transform your daily life:

Mobile scanner apps: Adobe Scan or Genius Scan
Password managers: Dashlane, Bitwarden
Smart to-do lists: Notion, Todoist
Google Drive or Dropbox to centralize your documents

Set up routines: just 30 minutes a week is enough

Instead of putting everything off (and panicking before each deadline), block out 30 minutes per week to:

Check your deadlines
Scan new documents
Respond to administrative emails
Update your files

This small ritual changes everything.

Maintain a connection with both French and local institutions

The Role of Consulates and Embassies

Registering with the French Abroad Register allows you to:

Be easily contacted in case of emergency
Vote from abroad
Access certain benefits or simplified administrative procedures

Register, notify, request: essential administrative steps not to forget

Report any change in your situation (address, birth, marriage, etc.)
Check your consulate’s website regularly
Start your procedures well in advance (as some processing times abroad can be very long)

Women on the Move: Finding Your Anchor Despite Constraints

Managing paperwork—even from afar—should never hold you back from moving forward, creating, and breathing.
At Wellness Voyages, we believe that women on the move can combine freedom, structure, and grounding.

Our “Women on the Move” program supports you through body work, breath, awareness, and alignment, helping you navigate every transition with strength and gentleness.