mclean_h

Hi All.
Mew to this forum but after some/any advice you can give us. we are a family of 3 just about to complete on an old hotel about 40mins outside limoges. there appears to have been a new decree pasted in France this week and wondered if anyone has any views on how it will affect UK citizens?
We are buying an old hotel and plan to reformulate it into 5 bed B&B with living accommodation for us. does anyone know how we would go about applying for a work permit as we need to be employed even though we intend to be self employed and run the business as a family company. We intend to live locally while the majority of the work is completed but understand we are possibly limited to 3 months without a permit and visas.
Any advice would be very gratefully received.

Heather

dmu

Hi again and thanks for the extra details!
Others will come along with advice about being self-employed before the business can be operational, but, before you sign on the dotted line for the hotel, go along to the Mairie to make sure that your plans to change it into a private residence with B&B, are feasible..
How old is your child? Take a look in the "Schooling" thread in the Read-Me: Moving to France FAQs above, which is fairly up-to-date except for info on the new BAC. Does your child speak French? Children under about 9-10 can quickly pick up the language and French Culture in Primaire, but 10 and over, they'd be thrown in at the deep end in Collège without being able to follow the classes. Over 15, Lycée and preparation for the Bac would be impossible. If a child over 10 doesn't speak French, an International School should be considered.
Have enough savings available to live on for the time needed to convert your hotel and get it up and running, and budget for private healthcare insurance for you all, since you won't be earning during that time and will be "inactifs". At the present time, such insurance from Day 1 is one of the conditions to be eligible for French Social Security coverage (PUMa).
Finally, the consequences of Brexit are as yet unknown, but the general consensus has been that it's best to be settled here before B-Day, with proof of your date of arrival.
HTH

graham.miln

While no-one knows with certainty how Brexit will affect us, the French government have published a dedicated web site: https://www.brexit.gouv.fr The section for individuals provides guidance in both no-deal and deal outcomes: https://www.brexit.gouv.fr/sites/bre...rticulier.html

Be sure to keep proof of your activity in France and any paperwork such as tickets for flights proving your entry on a particular date. Boarding passes can be useful in years to come!

This week, our local prefecture told us Brexit is complicated and that we would be kept informed. Unfortunately, that seems to be the best official line anyone can offer right now.

Good luck with your new adventure!

Tweedpipe

That comment from Graham about retaining any details about the date you arrived in France (air tickets, boarding passes or the like) is important. It's one of the documents required when applying for the titre de sejour.
As it was long ago I'd not retained any flight arrival document, but was able to present alternative proof (dated work contract and dated Carte Vitale issue letter) that was acceptable at the Prefecture.