France
Relocating to France.
After moving to France for work, the first weeks are a chain of registrations. In order: OFII (French Office for Immigration and Integration), CPAM (local health insurance office), numéro de sécurité sociale (social-security number), carte Vitale (health insurance card), mutuelle (complementary health plan). Each step unlocks the next, so the order matters. Settio builds this plan for every person you move, with deadlines and a portal in their language.
After arrival
The registrations, in order
- 1Attend the OFII appointment (medical visit, and the integration contract where it applies)OFII: French Office for Immigration and Integration
- 2Register with the Assurance Maladie (CPAM)CPAM: local health insurance office
- 3Social-security number received (numéro de sécurité sociale)numéro de sécurité sociale: social-security number
- 4Order the carte Vitalecarte Vitale: health insurance card
- 5Join the employer's complementary health plan (mutuelle)mutuelle: complementary health plan
- 6Open a bank account
- 7First income-tax return and the tax number (numéro fiscal)numéro fiscal: tax number
- 8Keep the ANEF receipt while the card is decidedattestation de prolongation d'instruction: attestation that the stay continues while the card is decided
- 9Collect the residence card at the préfecturecarte de séjour: residence card
Authorities
Who does what in France
préfecture (prefecture)
Issues and renews residence cards; applications are filed online on ANEF
Official websiteService des impôts des particuliers (tax office)
The local tax office of the DGFiP; impots.gouv.fr is the personal space
Official websiteAssurance Maladie (national health insurance)
The CPAM registers the person and issues the social-security number and the carte Vitale
Official websiteplateforme de main-d'œuvre étrangère (foreign-labour platform)
Decides the employer's work-authorisation applications filed on ANEF
Official websiteOther countries
Official sources
- ANEF : administration numérique des étrangers en France
- Service-public.fr: the multi-year « talent » card (qualified employee, employee on assignment, EU Blue Card)
- Arrêté du 21 août 2025: reference salary for the « talent - salarié qualifié » and « talent - carte bleue européenne » cards (JORF 31 August 2025)
- Service-public.fr: residence card « salarié » and the VLS-TS
- Service-public.fr: residence-permit fees from 1 May 2026 (art. 128, loi n° 2026-103 de finances pour 2026)
- France-Visas: visa fees
- Service-public.fr: the SMIC (minimum wage)
- Service-public.fr (Entreprendre): work authorisation for a foreign employee, the labour-market test and the employer tax
- Arrêté du 21 mai 2025: the occupations in shortage by region (métiers en tension)
- Service-public.fr (Entreprendre), hiring a foreign employee: checking the title with the préfecture
- Urssaf: the pre-hire declaration (DPAE)
- Service-public.fr: the multi-year card « salarié détaché ICT »
- Service-public.fr: the multi-year card « travailleur saisonnier »
- Service-public.fr: exchanging a non-European driving licence
- Service-public.fr: a foreign national's change of address
FAQ
Questions, answered.
What is the first thing to do after moving to France?
Attend the OFII appointment (medical visit, and the integration contract where it applies). It unlocks the steps after it.
How does Settio help with relocation in France?
Settio builds the step-by-step plan for each person moving to France, checks documents before filing, tracks deadlines and gives the person a portal in their own language.
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Informational only. This guide is not legal advice. Always verify requirements with official government sources before acting. Facts checked 3 October 2026. About this information