SimMan

Hi all

As per many people, my job has now shifted to fully working from home. I can now do my job from anywhere in the world. We had plans to retire to France early but couldn’t get that organised before the Dec date so appreciate we have some difficulties to get through if we want to maintain our dream. My question at this stage is what long term visa do I require if I move to France and continue working but for a UK company? My job means I’m providing support to a global Salesforce.

Overall I’m trying to work out how I can get to France, while still working, so I can then work on getting French residency etc.

Also, does anyone have any good contacts for people who can help us navigate all of this.....not looking for just free advice.......happy to pay for a useful service

Thanks

Simon

dmu

Hi!
For info, before Brexit, you would have had to set up a French business structure and bill your UK company, as well as at least one other company, since a single-client micro-entreprise would be operating illegally ("travail dissimulé").
The status of "posted" worker wouldn't work before or after Brexit, since by definition the posted worker wouldn't be permanently resident in France.
Since 1st January 2021, the applicant for a Visa must normally have a job lined up, validated by the employer at the Consulat. For a future micro-entrepreneur,
https://www.guichet-entreprises.fr/f...ntreprise.html
says that a British citizen arriving after 1st January 2021 must acquire a "Titre de Séjour" from the Préfecture before being able to create a business structure. Maybe you can apply for a tourist visa and find out at the Consulat what's required to get the Titre de Séjour with a view to setting up a business structure...
The concept of Visas is new, but some one more in-the-know (ET?) will come along with advice...
How is your French?
HTH

BuckinghamshireBoy

Howdy and welcome, popping in from BeNeLux.

Just to clarify, do you wish to set up a business on your own, or do you wish to remain an employee of a UK based outfit? If the latter, would your employer consider the idea of a 'posted worker' / frontalier kind of thing?

I'm not sure if France is open for this kind of cross border thing for Brits now, dmu or ET will likely know, but here in BE it's recognised as a valid 'foot in the door' path to residency status, post Brexit.

dmu

As said, the "posted worker" status is a temporary situation and can't be a basis for residency in France.
"Cross-border" doesn't work any more since Brexit.
And there endeth my knowledge. Where's ET?

SimMan

Not looking at setting up any form of business, just carry on doing what I am doing now for a British company but from France. I can do my job from anywhere in the world just via a lap top and internet.

And yes, the plan is to do it to allow me to get settled properly in France and then retire early. Just think I’m going to need an income for bit longer as this is going to cost more than when we were pre Brexit. Happy to pay tax to whatever country is entitled to it.

Just trying to work out what visa I should be looking at to give me more than 90 days in France so I have time to plan everything else

dmu

Sorry, but you can't....
It's not just tax, but "côtisations" to the URSSAF (social contributions). As it's quaintly called, it's the Law of the Bum, i.e. where you're physically sitting and working, there you pay all your dues. You need to be registered to pay into the S.S. System and be legal.
The French Consulat might be better placed to give you post-Brexit info, but you need to research further....
HTH

Listen Very Carefully

To be frank in your current situation what you are thinking about is going to be virtually impossible basically due to Brexit I assume that you do not have a house in France and that you will need to buy somewhere so bear in mind that you can only stay for 90 days in 180 without a visa You cannot work if you get a tourist visa it is just not allowed and then you cannot set up a business which you will be required to do without a visa and a Carte de Sejour There are some french companies that are specialising in helping to set up french businesses or you could try one of the chambres de commerce www.cci.fr

cyrian

In France, you can't just be self-employed as you can in the UK.
You have three options if you continue to work.
1. Set up a french business structure - which you don't want to do.
2. Find out if you can work - post Brexit -as a cross-border worker.
3. Find out if your company would be prepared to pay french employer's social contributions.
From your previous posts, have you managed to sort out post-Brexit healthcare arrangements for your OH?
Be advised that french social charges continue after you reach retirement age.

I agree with LVC that what you propose will be very difficult / virtually impossible and you could pay someone for advice that confirms what you have been told above.

EuroTrash

The elephant in the room seems to me to be, does the OP even have the right to work in France? If not, I don't see how any of these routes would work. It's not possible for an employer to register a new employee with URSSAF who doesn't have the right to work in France. If they wanted to, they would have to start by asking for for permission to employ that person, which involves explaining why it hasn't been possible for them to recruit a French or EU candidate to do that job. Then if permission is granted, which isn't automatic, there is a fee to pay. Likewise unless you have an EU passport you need to prove you have authorisation to work in France before you can register an entreprise individuelle. I believe it's possible to set up a business in France without a visa but that would just mean you have business and you can employ French residents, you would still need a visa if you want to live in France, plus a work permit if you want to work in France.

So yes you need a visa but I don't know of a visa that let you do what you're proposing. Basically, countries aim to attract immigrants who will either fill a gap in their labour market or who will make a significant contribution to the economy (think Priti Patel). If you're going to be working for a UK company, what's in it for France and why should they give you preference over all the other would-be immigrants from all over the world who want to live in France? You can look at the "passeport talent" visa (you'll find details on the service public website, sorry can't post an url cos I'm a newbie LOL) but I think you would need to have an employment contract from a French business, or at least be involved in a project that will benefit France in some way

dmu

Welcome to the forum!!
And thanks for the specifics which confirm our generalities above.

Listen Very Carefully

Second that a good comprehensive post ET

EuroTrash

SimMan You seem to be thinking that it would be easier to make the move ahead of retiring so that you can be already settled in France when you retire, whereas in fact it would be far simpler to finish working in the UK, and then move to France as retirees. All you need for a non lucrative visa is a decent pension, somewhere to live, and health insurance for the initial period, until you can join the French heathcare system which you can apply for after 3 months' residence.
It's the fact that you're wanting to work in France that makes it so tricky.
Plus, by that time the UK will have had time to familiarise itself with the visa process for France and other EU countries. People will be able to share experience of the visa application process, and insurance companies will likely have come up with products tailored to the needs of visa applicants.
Retire first, and then make the move, would seem to be the best solution.

cyrian

+1

Tweedpipe

I'm just wondering what 'our ET' will do when she reads ETwenthome...........

EuroTrash

Fear not Tweedie, 'tis your very own, one and only ET that has went 'ome...
Don't ask - got banned for having an off topic barnie with a poster whose name I have mercifully forgotten, so didn't visit for a while, then when I did try to look in my browser had forgotten my password. My phone seemed to remember it, so I tried to reset a password but it didn't work - I think I may have still had my alice.adsl emal address registered, which hasn't existed for many years - and somehow I ended up locked out good and proper. So I re-joined. Which is probably illegal, and now I'm off topic again so will no doubt get banned again on the spot hey ho.