I'm qualified but poor and (considered) old. Can I live in France?

by Jessi
(The Dalles, OR, U.S.A.)

Okay, so I'm 33, single, and I have a lower class background (i.e. no expendable income). I've long wanted to live in rural France, and last summer I was lucky enough to do a study abroad program on Romanesque architecture in northern and central France--and fell even further in love. I'm a visual artist and I recently completed my M.A. in English Literature. And I'm adventurous and not particularly spoiled, so I'm open to lots of possibilities. Is there any hope for me?

Answer:

From where I stand 33 is hardly old... But lets get to your question about France. There's good and bad news.

The good news is that as an American, you can live in France for up to three months with no paperwork. You're a tourist, and whether you choose to stay in an old farmhouse the entire time or travel around the country is your business.

Anything longer than that requires either a job, registration in an institution of higher learning, or an independent income. Basically the French state wants to make sure you can support yourself and won't become a public burden.

With the enlargement of the European Union, it is becoming increasingly difficult for non-Europeans to find jobs. Teaching English in France is pretty much the only option, and a difficult one at that. Difficult, but not absolutely impossible. Another option is the occasional agricultural work, but if you don't speak French you'll be vying with thousands of other job-seekers who will all have first swipe at jobs so at the very least you should try to learn a bit of the language.

I would suggest you spend a bit of time on expat forums, which are often the best way of finding out about local requirements and possible loopholes and options. Here are a few: Expat Forum, Living France, Expat France, the France Forum on Expat Blog, and Expat Exchange. They should be able to help!

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