Move to France from the US, without learning the hard way.

The 90-day wall

How long can an American stay in France?

90 days in any rolling 180-day period, visa-free. That covers scouting trips and a long summer, not a life. Staying longer requires a long-stay visa, applied for from the US before you leave, then validated as a residence permit after arrival.

For most retirees and financially independent families the route is the long-stay visitor visa (VLS-TS “visiteur”): proof of stable resources, full health cover, and a commitment not to take French employment. Families who still run businesses or invest often fit other routes. Choosing the wrong one costs a year; the Blueprint settles it before you apply.

The property wall

How does buying property in France actually work?

Americans can buy freely in France, with no residence requirement. But the process is built on different rails than a US closing, and the differences are exactly where money gets lost.

• A state-appointed notaire secures the transaction and the title. There is no US-style title insurance because the notaire system replaces it.
• The compromis de vente binds you far earlier than a US contract. After a 10-day cooling-off period, walking away usually costs your deposit, typically 5 to 10 percent.
• Transaction costs on an existing home run around 7 to 8 percent. Budget them from day one, not at signing.
• There is no national MLS. The best properties in prime areas often trade before they are publicly listed, through local networks.

The tax wall

What does the US-France tax treaty change?

More than most Americans expect, in their favor. Under the treaty, US-source retirement income such as Social Security, IRA and 401(k) distributions generally remains taxed by the US, not France, which is why France is widely considered one of the most favorable European countries for American retirees.

The costly mistakes happen around timing: becoming a French tax resident before the plan is set, or selling assets in the wrong year. We give no tax advice. We bring licensed cross-border tax specialists into your file early, before any irreversible step, and coordinate them with the property and visa timeline.

The practical wall

Banking, healthcare and the daily machine

Some French banks decline American clients because of FATCA reporting duties; the ones that welcome them expect a complete file on the first visit. Healthcare is the good surprise: after about three months of stable residence you can register with the public system, and private cover before that typically costs a few hundred euros per month for a couple, not thousands. Utilities, insurance and contractors work in French, on French logic. That layer is what a private office carries for you.