Moving to France from Jersey

Post date: Apr 22, 2011 9:52:13 AM

We decided sometime ago that we wanted to move to France, ostensibly to buy a house and to live long term but unlike a good many expats (it seems) we realised that we could not just give up everythign and move. Hence I spoke to the boss and to our surprise he agreed to me remaining an employee and working remotely, initially a week on week away basis in France but still doing my job albeit via email and internet.

So it was after much planning and trying to head off potential difficulties or problems that we finally moved from the Channel Island of Jersey to the village of Huelgoat in the Mont Arree national park in Finistere in Brittany at the beginning of April 2011.

Unsurprisingly you start to come across all manner of practical, adminstrative and cultural issues as soon as you start and at times it almost seems as if you have opened up a can of worms but nothing is without its price I suppose and (we hope) the benefits will outweigh the possible difficulties and any disadvantages. I was reasonably settled in Jersey albeit as an 'incomer' from the mainland but it can make you feel a little hemmed in on occasion and J never really settled here. Hopefully moving to nearby France but maintaining links insofar as still working for a Jersey company will prove to be a good means to fulfilling our future plans.

I am already finding out some of the pitfalls which can present themselves as straightaway it seems our approach is unconventional and certainly something that neither the Jersey tax office or social security departments had come across before and throws up all sorts of issues relating to double taxation, healthcare in UK, Jersey and France, car insurance, registration and roadworthiness requirements and even just simple matters like watching the TV. So I figured it could be a good idea to set some of this down in a blog just in case someone else may find it useful but also as an aide memoir of my own as I am notorious for doing something and then later forgetting how I managed it or got to the right conclusion.

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