France, with its love of beautiful life, magnificent architecture, history and seemingly stable economy, seems to many to be the promised land. However, is it worth moving there permanently, is it possible to confuse tourism with emigration?
Bureaucracy
Yeah, no kidding! A certificate to get another certificate, taking the queue from 6 am (when your reception is at 15:30), lost documents, semi-annual registration of a residence permit and writing off money from the account for a whole week - all these are French realities. State institutions in their total mass do not work every day and not all day: it may well be that the prefecture department you need accepts only on Mondays and Thursdays strictly from 10 to 15 hours. The rest of the time the hut on the stick.
Life is not for working
The point is closely related to the first - as well as state institutions and "places with documents", household services in France are also unhurried. Offices, banks, post offices, shops, car services, repair shops - everything does not work on Sundays, during the week it usually closes at 17-18 hours. If you need a master, say, for the repair of household appliances - he will come only when it will be convenient for him: forget about the preferred day and window in time! Connecting a washing machine or the Internet will be delayed for a week how to drink give, restoration of a driver's license - for a month, car registration - plan weeks 2-3.
Leisurely banking service
And again related to the past point: customer focus is not quite about French banks. If you have issued a card - it can be sent to you in 2-3 weeks, operations are displayed in the mobile application after 2-3 days (and then if there is such an application!), bonus programs - cashback, bonus miles, discounts - are not provided. But to set a limit on your usual debit, not a credit card - for a sweet soul, as well as block a money transfer if it seems suspicious.
High taxes
In total, French citizens pay up to 45% income tax + VAT 20%, housing taxes (about 1500 euros); there is an inheritance tax of as much as 45%.
Where does this tax money go? For example:
- Medicine: France spends the most on the health of its citizens in the EU - 11.5% of GDP
- Long holidays of the French
- Equally long sick leave to be sure to recover well
- Various social benefits.
Tiny apartments at exorbitant prices
- In Paris, studios of 9-10 sq.m are popular. (!) — studette = 700-800 euros/month.
- One-bedroom "decent" apartment - as much as 35 sq.m. = already 1500 euros/month.
Remember that you will also need to pay for utilities: for example, electricity with economical consumption will "stand" you in a hundred euros per month.
Do you want a day off? Let's go on strike!
The French are very active in their civic position and are indignant, on strike, at every opportunity. On the one hand, such social responsibility is very good, but in a practical, everyday sense, it is terribly inconvenient: hospitals, taxis, buses, metro, airports, schools, etc. In December 2019, Paris resisted raising the retirement age for 30 days - and the French capital was literally paralyzed for almost a month: for both tourists and local citizens.
Of course, it is good where we are not, and even in the most heavenly place you can find your fly in the ointment. We are not saying that France is definitely a bad option if you decide to leave Russia: we only urge you to consider all the subtleties, all sides – both good and bad – and make a balanced objective choice.
