Destination · France
Discover programmes available in France, from local opportunities to international schemes.
Key arrival formalities, timelines and the authorities to contact.
As an EU citizen, you have the right to live and work in France without a visa or residence permit. You do not need to register at the town hall. Your two administrative priorities are securing a numéro fiscal (tax number) at your local Centre des Finances Publiques and registering with CPAM (L'Assurance Maladie) for public healthcare. Once established, set up FranceConnect (via La Poste Digital ID or Ameli), the mandatory single sign-on system for online public services.
Income tax is deducted at source (prélèvement à la source), but filing an annual declaration online every spring remains mandatory. The standard tax scale ranges from 0% to 45% based on your household quotient (part fiscale). A French IBAN is strongly recommended: while EU law bans IBAN discrimination, local utility providers and mobile carriers often refuse non-French accounts for direct debits (prélèvement automatique).
Register with CPAM to get your health card (Carte Vitale). A standard GP (médecin traitant) appointment costs the official regulated rate of €30; public insurance refunds ~70% (leaving ~€11 out-of-pocket). To cover the remainder, employees are automatically offered a company-subsidized Mutuelle (complementary insurance), with employers required to pay at least 50% of the premium.
Renting requires a solid dossier (proof of income equal to 3x the rent, and often a French guarantor or Visale deposit scheme). Home insurance (Assurance Habitation) is legally mandatory for tenants before getting the keys. A monthly all-zone Navigo pass in Île-de-France (Paris region) costs €90.80/month (50% covered by your employer by law). EU driving licenses are valid indefinitely until expiration and do not need to be exchanged.
VOLUNTEERING Adult Association Volunteering | Volontariat Associatif Public-interest missions hosted by approved non-profits or foundations, specifically tailored for adults aged 25 and over. Offers a legal framework with…
View programme →A destination-specific cultural exchange combining childcare, accommodation, meals and pocket money.
View programme →VOLUNTEERING Austrian Abroad Service | Gedenkdienst, Friedens- & Sozialdienst Specialized international service pathways focusing on Holocaust remembrance (Gedenkdienst), peace-building, or social development work across the globe. Serves as…
View programme →VOLUNTEERING Civic Service Luxembourg | Service Volontaire Multi-track service for young adults under 30, spanning local community projects, cross-border exchanges in neighboring regions, or global development missions. Requires…
View programme →Council of Europe – traineeship offers paid five-month placements for nationals of Council of Europe member states who meet the degree and language requirements.
View programme →Reduce the cost of a first independent holiday through a means-tested French youth scheme.
View programme →Develop a business project alongside an experienced entrepreneur abroad.
View programme →European company mobility organised through a participating French CFA for apprentices and eligible recent graduates.
View programme →Learning mobility through an eligible adult-education provider, with formats from 2 days to 12 months.
View programme →DiscoverEU awards travel passes to eligible 18-year-olds so they can explore Europe during a defined travel window.
View programme →Vocational group or individual mobility organised through an eligible VET sending organisation.
View programme →Two-to-six-month supported placement abroad through a participating French employment or mobility operator.
View programme →Five-to-21-day non-formal learning exchange through a youth organisation or eligible informal group.
View programme →Choose Eurail if you live outside Europe or Interrail if you live in Europe, then plan travel days and mandatory reservations separately.
View programme →Paid traineeships for eligible 18–35-year-olds living in a participating European region. Country-level residence alone does not establish eligibility.
View programme →Volunteer for two weeks to twelve months through a funded European Solidarity Corps project.
View programme →Take part in a shorter funded solidarity project with an international team.
View programme →Join a recognised social, ecological, cultural, educational or peace-building placement abroad with structured preparation and support.
View programme →Short international group volunteering arranged through a sending organisation and a live host project.
View programme →Complete an independent internship in France or Germany outside formal studies.
View programme →Complete a recognised public-interest mission abroad with a monthly allowance.
View programme →Choose one named project and site in an official annual call, then apply through the Italian public-service platform.
View programme →Build advanced trade skills through the Compagnons du Devoir training journey.
View programme →Tremplin Langues – BIJ combines language immersion with volunteering in a non-profit host organisation for eligible French-speaking residents of Wallonia or Brussels.
View programme →International UN Volunteer assignments selected against a live Description of Assignment.
View programme →Annual UNESCO-selected heritage action camps with applications handled by each implementing organisation.
View programme →Complete a structured professional assignment abroad with French public support.
View programme →Apply to an approved German sending organisation for a defined partner project, with preparation, support and public funding.
View programme →Arrange a defined exchange of help for accommodation and agreed meals; this is not employment or a funded programme.
View programme →Participate in organic farming and ecological life in exchange for meals and accommodation; no money is exchanged.
View programme →No programmes in this category are currently listed for France. Select the category again to see all programmes.
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