Making a living in France as an expat while enjoying the French way of life is a common objective for many when considering a move abroad. Some people get the chance to do so for a few years while working for a large international company.
Many are exploring ways to successfully work in France so that they can make enough money to relocate their family. Others have retired to France but either need to supplement their pension or are finding that retirement is not as enjoyable as the challenges of working.
If you are wondering how to make a living in France, there are two main types of work to consider: a job or a business. Since the pandemic, there are many more remote jobs available globally and these can be successfully done anywhere in France.
The second type of jobs in France are those that support the local economy and can be done without speaking fluent French. Alternatively, you can open a business and work for yourself.
So, to answer the question “can I work in France without speaking French?”, the response is “yes”. While there are quite a few good options to make a living in France as an expat, it should be added that you really do need to speak good conversational French just to make everyday life easier, especially in rural areas.
Can I work in France as a foreigner?
It is important to check well in advance what the legal requirements will be for your chosen job. Both Americans and British people moving to France for more than three months need to apply for a long-term residency visa. It is essential that this is done before your arrival and before applying for a work permit.
It can be difficult to secure long-term employment in France as your application for the job must be approved by the Ministry of Labor. Certain professions, such as teaching, are only open to French Nationals. If you hope to secure a job with a French company as someone from a non-EU country, this is difficult and you must be bi-lingual.
How to make a living in France as an expat
1. Run a gîte (French vacation home)
Managing a vacation home commonly known in France as a gite is one of the most popular ways to earn money in France and is certainly a good way to supplement your income. The main gîte season is May – September, but the only months that your gite will be 100% full is likely to be only July and August.
You may decide to keep your gîte open all year round and offer chambre d’hôte (Bed and Breakfast) for one or two nights, which will attract business people. This certainly boosts your income. The downside is that cleaning a whole gîte after a short booking is a great deal of work, and in the winter months, heating bills can dig into your profits.
If you decide that you would like to run a gîte business, you must first apply to your local Mairie (Town Hall) for guidance about the procedure on how to register your business and declaring income, insurance etc. Be aware that it can be time-consuming to register a new business in France.
2. Work as a Tour Guide
In 2022, France was the most popular European destination for tourists and welcomed 66.6 million people who were eager to enjoy French history, culture and wine. If your new home in France is in Paris or near one of the main towns or cities, or an important wine area such as Burgundy or Bordeaux, you may consider the job of Tour Guide.
Tour guides are very carefully regulated by the Federation Nationale de Guides Interpretes et Conferenciers, which is the organization that represents licensed tourist guides. In order to become licensed, guides must complete a one-year diploma course. English-speaking guides are always in demand, but if you speak several different languages, even better.
3. Work for a real estate agency
A popular job wherever you live in France is to work for one of the larger real estate agencies (immobiliers) that specialize in the overseas market and regularly recruit English speakers. Leggett Immobiliers is an international company that employs a large number of independent agents who speak native English and also good French.
As an agent, you will be covering the area where you live with one or two other agents and there is a strong supportive staff network when needed. As an agent, you can choose hours and days to suit you and you are paid a commission on house sales.
4. Pet and house sitting
Many expats have found that this is a good way to make some money and get to see some of France too! There is always a need for people to stay in someone’s house while they are on holiday and/or to take care of their animals and garden. This type of work is available in all parts of France for varying durations, with one and two weeks being the most popular.
To ensure a continuous flow of business, it is well worth joining a highly regarded company such as Trusted Housesitters, which is an international company with a firm footing in France!
5. Teach English
English is the first foreign language taught to French schoolchildren, so there is always a demand for private tutors to help children struggling with the language. Lessons can be held face-to-face, but if you are happy to coach children over the internet, it will definitely widen your scope.
If you decide that this is what you would like to do, the first step is to get trained. TEFL (Teach English as a Foreign Language) offers a variety of in-person and online courses and is credited as offering top-quality courses which will teach you the skills and knowledge needed and give you the confidence to teach English well. Following a course online has the added bonus that you can progress at your own speed.
A different type of job that is linked with teaching English is to give French students a holiday in your home during the summer as this has been proven to be a really effective way for them to improve their English. Besides completing several hours of English with them each day, you are required to take them out and about in the afternoon and to provide them with all their meals.
Although this is not a full-time job, many American and British families find this is fun to do, especially if they have children of a similar age. Families can host either individuals or several French students.
Payment ranges between 400€ and 600€ weekly per guest. To be a host family, you will need to produce your passport and Carte de Séjour (Residency permit) and obtain a police clearance certificate from the Casier judiclaire national, which can be done online.
6. Cleaning, gardening and pool maintenance
Many expats decide that offering one of these services to the expat market is the easiest way to find work. It is certainly popular because many expats do not speak really good French and find that communicating in French using technical jargon can be more than challenging.
These jobs tend to be seasonal – especially if you opt for a gîte cleaning job rather than working in a number of private homes. There is always work available for gardeners in rural locations because most French houses come with land. Other similar types of work include mobile hairdressing and babysitting.
It is important to remember that there are requirements for registering all types of business in France and to find out the current requirements. It is best to contact the Chamber of Commerce in your local town.
Can I open a business in France as an expat?
If you plan to start a business when you move to France, you will need to ensure that you get the correct paperwork. For instance, the normal visa, Carte de sejour ‘visiteur’, specifically states that holders cannot undertake any professional activity. The correct visa to obtain is the Carte de Séjour Temporaire ‘entrepreneur/profession libérale‘ and the cost for this is €225. If you apply for a visitor visa in the first instance, it is possible to change your visa status once you decide that you would like to start a business.
To set up a business in France can be a little difficult if you are from a non-EU country. If your idea requires professional qualifications, they need to be recognized by the French government. There are several different types of legal business classifications that will affect how you pay taxes. To this extent, it is important to have a meeting at your local Chamber of Commerce when you are at the planning stage for advice and guidance.
‘Micro-entreprise’ (sometimes called by its former name ‘auto-entrepreneur’) is a tax status and the simplest way to set up a business, as your professional and personal assets become one legal entity. The main advantage is that you do not have to include TVA (Value Added Tax) in your prices, so you can be more competitive. Social security payments are proportional to your earnings and paid every three months.
You will need to register your business before you start. This is done with your local CFE. You will also need to check whether it is a regulated business (such as architects, builders, hairdressers, wine businesses) or unregulated (including consultants, writers, musicians and interpreters). Once your business is registered you will be given your siren and siret numbers plus a APE or NAF code –Activite principale de l’entreprise – principal company activity.
If you are planning to work remotely from France and want to start an e-commerce business (boutique de vente en ligne), the registration process is very similar.
What are popular businesses started by expats?
Besides gîtes and chambres d’hôtes, which are the most popular businesses for working in France as an expat, there are many expats running bars and restaurants and mobile food vans.
Several companies have also been established to specialize in importing British and American foods for the expat market. It can prove to be much easier to buy into an established franchise rather than to start up a company on your own.
A number of successful not-for-profit and charity organizations have been established in France by non-French people seeking a rewarding project rather than a way to make money. These are known as associations and are usually helping to support those with particular medical conditions or animal welfare.
Working remotely from France
To work remotely from France, all you need is a decent PC and good internet. The choice of jobs available working online is impressive and includes writing, proofreading, graphic design, secretarial, translation and bookkeeping. Many of these freelance jobs are available on different websites including LinkedIn, Freelancer, Fivver and Upwork. Besides offering flexibility, another huge bonus is that you will be able to work in English.
With the new style of hybrid working, a number of Americans and Brits have found that they can successfully work from France and hold regular team meetings in London or other European and US cities, as France offers excellent international flight schedules from its regional airports.
There are certainly many ways to combine working in France as an expat with enjoying the local culture, weather, food and way of life.
Check out more practical guides about moving to France.
