Throbster

When I worked in France in the early eighties, I had a Carte de Sejour which allowed me to work legally. Reading a few other posts,it seems that they aren't around any more, for Eu members at least. I was only there for about 6 months, but would that make it any easier for me to get " into the system " if I move next year?

EuroTrash

I don't see how, to be honest. France isn't that joined up. It's not like it's one system, it's lots of subsystems and you have to apply to each separately because each bit has its own criteria and makes its own decisions as to whether you meet them or not. If you apply for a carte de séjour (assuming the préfecture can even be bothered to process your application, usually they tell you you don't need one and send you packing) they will apply their critera and if you meet them, they'll issue it. If you go to CPAM, you have to fill in their forms, they're not interested in your carte de séjour if it's not on their list of documents to ask you for. If you apply to set up a business, ditto. They will all give you a form to fill in and they will all want their own copy of your passport and your birth certificate for starters, plus whatever else is on their list.