How to Get Paid to Move to France in (2023)

Moving to France seems straight out of a movie, but you can easily make this dream come true.

In fact, you can get paid to relocate, whether you’re looking for an exciting job opportunity or want to buy a house in the French countryside.

France offers exceptional social benefits to both citizens and expats who have residence permits. You’ll also have an ideal work-life balance due to the country’s flexible working hours.

In this article, we’ll tell you everything you need to get paid to move to France and what to expect once you relocate. Let’s dive in!

Can You Get Paid to Move to France?

Many jobs in France offer a competitive relocation package. The country rarely pays new residents, but it’s still exceptionally welcome to immigrants and expats.

Only one area in France can pay you 1,000 euros per year for five years. You need to be willing to buy a home in Aisne and relocate permanently.

While you might not get paid to move to France, you’ll quickly get settled if you’re an EU citizen. If you’re a non-EU citizen, you can still move to the country if you have a worker’s permit.

After living there for a while, you’ll be able to apply for a residence permit, or a long-stay visa, and social security.

Are There Tax Benefits to Moving to France?

While the French social security system is generous, it comes with high tax rates. Unfortunately, there aren’t any substantial tax benefits to moving to France.

There are three types of taxes in France:

• Income tax, ranging from 0 to 45%
• Social security contribution
• Tax on goods and services (VAT)

Still, taxes are pretty hassle-free in France. That’s because the country utilizes the PAYE (Pay As You Earn) system. Instead of calculating and filing your taxes annually, the taxes get deducted from your monthly salary.

Places in France That Pay You to Move

Here are some French cities that might pay you to relocate:

1. Aisne

The historic Aisne department lies in the Haute-de-France region. The area, formerly known as Picardie, has a relatively low population. Accordingly, new residents can get paid a hefty sum by relocating to the North of France.

How Much You Can Make

Aisne is willing to pay up to 5,000 euros for new residents of one of its 40 municipalities. Obtaining this relocation grant isn’t easy.

You need to purchase a home in this sparsely populated region. You must also be a first-time property owner in France.

It’s best to consult a real estate agent, as there are eligibility requirements for your new home in Haute-de-France, including:

• The home must have been on sale for at least three years.
• Your new Aisne home must be your primary residence for at least five years.
• If the prospective owner moves out before the five years, they must pay €1,000 for every year the house remains unoccupied.

What Makes This Option Great

You might think the relocation fees aren’t a lot, considering you need to buy a property to even be eligible. However, you’ll get to live in the beautiful French countryside, own a beautiful home, and get a relocation incentive.

That’s not all. To encourage families to settle in the area, Aisne provides everything you might need, including fiber optic internet.

2. Paris

When you think of France, the first city that comes to mind is Paris. The capital is home to over one million expats. There are also various job opportunities for non-french speakers. So, you’ll find your place there.

How Much You Can Make

Paris might be one of the most expensive cities, considering it’s a tourist hub. Still, salaries and job opportunities are much higher than in other European cities.

The average annual salary in Paris is 54,100 euros. You’ll find open positions in high-paying industries such as tech, finance, and insurance.

As if that wasn’t enough, Paris is a great city for creative expats, as you’ll find open positions in luxury goods, fashion, and cosmetics.

What Makes This Option Great

Paris is one of the best cities to live in, especially if you’re a fan of arts and culture. The City of Love is the global center for history, fashion, and gastronomy.

The nightlife in Paris is incredibly lively. That’s why the French capital makes for a perfect home for everyone, regardless of their interests.

3. Lyon

Lyon is one of the best locations for expats. The attractive French city is a popular spot for retirees due to its accessible living, vibrant activities, and stunning nature.

How Much You Can Make

Lyon doesn’t pay you to move, but the living costs are more affordable than in other French cities, and the salaries are high. The average annual salary in Lyon is 50,600 euros.

Lyon is an economically strong city. It’s a hub for numerous industries such as banking, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and biotechnology. Naturally, the jobs there are well-paying.

Though Lyon isn’t the cheapest city in France, it’s 20% cheaper than Paris, while still being as culturally and economically significant as the French capital.

What Makes This Option Great

Despite Lyon being a small city, it’s full of life, culture, and delicious food, making it one of the best French cities for expats. It’s home to many underrated historical landmarks, as well as an energetic nightlife.

Simply put, Lyon is comparable to Paris, only it’s less densely populated and has a relatively cheaper price tag.

Jobs in France That Pay You to Move

If you’re a qualified candidate, most job positions will offer you a relocation incentive.

Still, if you’re unsure where to start when it comes to moving to France, here are some of the best jobs that pay you to move:

1. Gîte Manager

Have you ever dreamt of having your business, with no particular job description? Are you considering purchasing a historical home in Aisne?

Well, becoming a gîte manager might be the job for you. All this entails is running a vacation home in one of the most popular tourist countries.

How Much You Can Make

Depending on the type and location of your gîte, you can make variable income. For example, if you’re transforming your home into a gîte, the costs will be negligible, and you’ll be able to make tons of money.

However, the costs of gîte management, maintenance, marketing, and business taxes can quickly stack up. So, this wouldn’t be the best business to start if you’re looking for quick cash. The income you’ll make by managing a gîte will only be enough to cover your basic living expenses.

What Makes This Option Great

Managing a vacation home gives you total flexibility. You’re basically managing yourself. You’ll also get to meet new people every day, learn about different cultures, and work from the comfort of your home.

Even if you already have a job, getting extra income is always welcome, especially due to the high living costs in France.

This doesn’t have to be your full-time job. Instead, you can rent out a room in your home during the busy tourism season, which is from June to August, or during the winter holidays.

2. Au Pair

Working as an au pair is essentially getting paid to move overseas. Fortunately, France has numerous au pair job opportunities. You’ll find a suitable position regardless of your background or experience level.

Au pair positions are exceptionally popular in Paris. So, the job will almost be like a paid trip.

How Much You Can Make

There are almost no relocation costs that come with working as an au pair since you’ll be residing in the home of a French family.

Typically, all your expenses will be paid, so you’ll get to enjoy the country and save a lot of money.

The French guidelines recommend an au pair salary of about 320 euros a month. Though this might seem like a minuscule figure, you’re not paying for lodging or food. The salary might also increase based on your experience and the agreement you reach with the family.

What Makes This Option Great

You don’t need any experience to work as an au pair. That’s because families are mostly interested in exposing their children to new cultures.

Becoming an au pair comes with plenty of benefits, from getting paid to travel to quickly obtaining a residence permit.

Here’s the kicker, you can go job hunting while working as an au pair, as you’ll have easier access to French companies once you’re already in the country!

3. Finance

Finance is a booming industry in France. With the right certificates and experience, you can land a job in the finance field.

Luckily, this field values foreigners and multilingual workers, so most positions come with a hefty relocation package.

How Much You Can Make

The average annual salary for finance occupations in France is about 55,000 euros. This should be sufficient to cover the relocation costs, as well as help you save and visit the most splendid locations across the remarkable country.

Numerous French companies will also pay expats relocation fees, so your move overseas will cost you nothing.

What Makes This Option Great

If you already have a finance position, you can easily find an occupation in France. There’s no shortage of finance occupations in Paris or Lyon.

Working in finance in France is quite different than in other countries. It’s far less stressful, considering the work week in France is only 35 hours.

4. Remote Work

France is exceptionally welcome to digital nomads. Though, you might need to get approved for a residence permit prior to moving.

Lyon, in particular, is a popular spot for digital nomads. It’s home to numerous startups and has plenty of lively activities to help remote workers socialize and unwind.

How Much You Can Make

If you’re a remote worker, your salary will be the same when you move to France. That said, you’ll get plenty of other advantages by living in this splendid country, such as social security, affordable healthcare, and plenty of leisure activities.

This way, you’ll get to save a hefty sum of your salary.

You don’t need to quit your job to relocate to France. While you won’t be making extra money to cover the relocation fees, you’ll also still be employed and getting paid, instead of spending months looking for a job.

What Makes This Option Great

France is an ideal country for remote workers. That’s because it has everything a digital nomad might need, from high-speed internet to internet cafes and working spaces.

Stats about remote work prove that it’s here to stay. So, why not work in one of the most beautiful locations on earth?

Why You Should Consider Moving to France

You might get paid an enormous relocation package to move to different countries. Still, none of them compare to France.

Whether you want a quiet atmosphere, busy nightlife, or an inspiring city, you’ll find it in France. Here are all the reasons why moving to France might be beneficial:

1. Rich History

If you love art and history, visiting France has probably been on your bucket list for years. However, a short tourism trip wouldn’t be enough to take in the romantic country.

Instead, moving to France will allow you to take in as much of the spectacular French culture as you can. Even if you’re not moving to tourism hubs like Paris, everywhere you go in France will have a distinct history.

France isn’t only home to some of the best art pieces in the world, but French culture has been inspiring to almost every artist. If you visit France, chances are your creativity will be at an all-time high.

2. Beautiful Location

There’s no denying that France is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. Not only is the country home to over 1,200 museums, but it also enjoys spectacular natural scenery.

To start, many people dream of visiting the French Riviera at least once in their lifetime. Well, living in France will give you access to both Southern and Northern beaches.

You can have both a quiet and lively atmosphere in France. If you’re looking for a serene location to live in, there’s nothing like the French countryside. In contrast, Paris is the place to be for energetic nights.

3. Exceptional Healthcare

France has one of the best healthcare systems in the world. French healthcare justifies all the taxes you need to pay. The country spends about 11% of its GDP on healthcare alone.

Visiting the hospital might be the last thing on your mind when deciding to move overseas, but this speedy healthcare offers much-needed peace of mind.

The best part is that the affordable healthcare is available for expats working in France and paying social security for at least three months.

Once you’re eligible for the French healthcare system, you can also apply for a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), allowing you to receive free or discounted treatment in any country in the EU.

4. Work-Life Balance

Compared to other European countries, France values workers’ free time. You’re probably used to working 40 to 45 hours per week. Yet, the weekly working hours in France are only 35.

This largely depends on your field of work and your contract. Still, companies must fairly compensate their workers for hours beyond this quota.

As for mandatory holidays, all employees have two and a half days per month of paid leave. That equals 30 days of annual paid leave, in addition to 11 days of national holidays.

For this reason, France is one of the best countries for traveling while getting paid. You won’t spend all your days cooped up in the office. There’s plenty of time to explore the romantic country.

5. Unique Culture

There’s no place like France. The country combines the Mediterranean climate with European history, and modern pop culture, resulting in a fascinating living experience.

No matter what you’re into, you’ll find your crowd in France. The country has fashion capitals, art hubs, and a big nightlife.

Foodies will particularly love French cuisine. French dishes might be available anywhere in the world, but nothing beats authentic French restaurants and patisseries. Once you try a real croissant, baguette, or coq au vin, you’ll never want to eat anything else.

Is It Cheap to Live in France?

Living in France is pretty expensive. French citizens are required to pay high taxes and social security. Property and rent costs are also exceptionally high.

Salaries in France might be higher than in other countries, but you probably won’t be able to save a lot due to the high living costs. French products and goods are subject to VAT, which is a whopping 20%.

In contrast, you won’t need to worry about various essential costs when living in France. For instance, healthcare and medicine costs are significantly lower than in the U.S. and other countries.

You won’t have to get a car in France, as public transportation is accessible everywhere. Public transportation is also becoming free in numerous cities in France.  

Still, this depends on the French area you’ll live in. Major cities, such as Paris and Lyon, are more costly. Yet, living in the countryside can be affordable, especially if you don’t work in an industrial business that requires commuting.

Even then, commuting would be an affordable option.

What Is a Livable Salary in France?

An annual salary of about 38,000 euros is sufficient for an individual to live comfortably in France. This figure is close to the average salary in France, which is about 39,000 euros.

That said, many factors can influence the two figures, including the following:

• City of residence
• Experience level
• Educational level
• Field of work

Frequently Asked Questions

Similar Locations to Consider

If you haven’t found a suitable job opportunity in France, or the living costs are too pricey for your liking, here are other countries that might pay you to move:

• Get Paid to Move to New Zealand: New Zealand is constantly looking for qualified professionals in various industries, particularly healthcare. The best part is that you don’t need to learn a new language.
• Get Paid to Move to Italy: If you’re set on moving to Europe, Italy is just as splendid as France. It has amazing food, culture, and history. You’ll feel like you’re on vacation for the rest of your life.
• Get Paid to Move to Africa: Plenty of countries in Africa are paying foreigners to relocate. You don’t need to have plenty of experience to move to Africa.

Wrapping Up

France is an exceptional country for expats. Though many people want to move there for the art, history, and cuisine, the country offers splendid healthcare and social security benefits.

Unfortunately, only one area in France might pay you to relocate, and you’ll need to purchase a relatively expensive property to earn this relocation grant. You might still find numerous job opportunities in lively areas, such as Paris and Lyon, that offer a relocation package.

Simply put, moving to France is beneficial for art lovers, people looking to advance their careers, and anyone who wants to live in a gorgeous location.