If you鈥檙e planning to relocate to France, the chances are the admin and to do list you鈥檙e faced with seems daunting and even overwhelming. For starters you need to find a French home, then you will need to make sure that you have all the necessary documentation prepared so that you can live and maybe work legally. And the move itself involves an enormous amount of planning, paperwork and logistics. On arrival, you鈥檒l need to integrate into the healthcare and French tax system and, if you drive, ensure you have the correct paperwork maybe buy a suitable vehicle or correctly registering one that you鈥檙e importing. You鈥檒l need bank accounts and a number of other services to set you up for a seamless transition. You may also be moving an existing business or starting a new one. Or need to decide which school to enrol your children in and complete the paperwork for that too. The list is long!
LBS in France
LBS in France offers a number of services that can help, whatever your location prior to your move. They offer a personalised approach that can help you to find your perfect home by visiting potential properties with you or visiting them on your behalf. They can help find suitable schools, set up utilities and complete registrations for healthcare. LBS also help with business setup, including integrating into the relevant organisations and organising tax and social charge payments. Services offered by LBS in France range from clarifying the process for you via a consultation right through to a full relocation package. Practical guides to living and working in France are available to help you through the various processes necessary to fully integrate into your new French life.
LBS Serenity Club
Once you鈥檝e decided to relocate to France, or after you have arrived, you may find it beneficial to join the LBS serenity club. With a range of options, membership gives you access to expert support, a wealth of online information and a supportive Facebook group, which includes reminders about important upcoming deadlines and updates. All three levels of the Serenity Club offer online support sessions with relocation expert, Tracy Leonetti. You can also contact LBS by email at any time with particular issues you need resolving. Tracy says, 鈥渨e have levels of Serenity Club membership suitable for everyone. Prestige membership is aimed at those planning to relocate to France, Serenity Living is for those who are in France and need some peace of mind with the processes necessary to settle in and Serenity Entrepreneur is our business club for those needing support in establishing and running a business in France.
Serenity Entrepreneur
This membership is aimed at those moving a business or setting up a new business here in France. You can upload documents for help with understanding and managing your business. There is support with regular declarations of social charges, management of CFE (professional) tax forms and declarations, as well as guidance for income tax declarations. You鈥檒l also have access to easy-to-use templates, how-to guides and videos via the dedicated Serenity Club intranet site. Club member Jonas Uddman from Sweden says: “What exceeded my expectations was when things got wrong due to my mistakes. . The help from LBS at those two occasions alone saved me more money than the total fee for the LBS service for two years! I want to thank LBS for great customer service!”
Serenity Living
This is for those who live in France and need help with administration. You can scan and upload your documents so the LBS team can understand your situation and advise you on what needs to be done. They offer support in obtaining your carte vitale to speed up access to the French healthcare system, and quarterly 鈥榗heck-ups鈥� to chat with a team member and troubleshoot in detail any issues you are having with things like tax and immigration. Your membership also offers reduced pricing for any other services and meetings offered by LBS in France including Serenity Club webinars and events.
Serenity Prestige
If you just want everything taken care of and you鈥檙e looking for dedicated support and a seamless transition to your new life in France, Serenity Prestige allows you to speak directly to relocation expert, Tracy Leonetti, whenever you need to. It also gives you access to a dedicated relocation agent who will be by your side, every step of the way and regular face-to-face or online meetings whenever you need them. Club members Sue and Niall Shepherd say “We moved permanently from the UK to France in December 2022. It wasn鈥檛 the best journey with rail strikes etc but our overriding memory coming off the TGV from Paris to the Var is one of our LBS agent, Annelyse, coming down the platform with arms open wide, a big smile, big hugs and the words 鈥淲elcome to your new home!鈥�
Managing your immigration and residency applications, assisting with logistics and customs requirements. They will also set up online utilities and accounts with local tax authorities and complete your application for a French social security number and the all-important carte vitale that gives you access to the healthcare system. Getting you into the French tax system is an important step, ready for your renewal of any residency cards. They can help with driving licence exchange, whether you鈥檙e already European or not, and help you register your car in France. For those with children, accessing the child benefits system could be a potential need.聽 As this is a bespoke prestige service, if there are other administrative assistance you need help with during the move, these can also often be included in the service package.
Client feedback
Michelle Roberts moved to the Dordogne seven years ago. She says, 鈥淛oining the Serenity Club for our first year in France was the best decision we ever made. Tracy helped us with so many questions and we received our carte vitale after only six months, which was incredible.鈥�
May-Britt Lorenzen, who runs Provence Interiors, agrees. She says, 鈥淢oving to south of France from abroad, getting settled, starting a small business and dealing with healthcare is a lot to handle. However, with Tracy just a phone call away, it has been almost a walk in the park. I was lucky to have an LBS brochure handed to me at one of the schools I visited for my kids. Fortunately, I kept it, as a year later I found myself with daunting tasks related to my social security application along with business-related questions. I am currently a member of the LBS Serenity Club, and I can highly recommend Tracy and LBS in France.鈥�
Find out more
To find out about the Serenity Club or to sign up to become a member, visit . To find out more about how LBS in France can help with your relocation or your new life in France, visit
