Getting There — Visa

Talent Passport (Passeport Talent) — multiple categories for skilled workers, entrepreneurs, and researchers. Qualified employee route requires min €39,582/yr salary. Valid up to 4 years, family included. Visitor Visa (Visa Long Séjour) suits retirees with passive income — no work allowed, must prove €1,600+/mo resources.

Cost of Living

Paris is comparable to NYC; elsewhere 30-40% less than US major cities. Lyon, Bordeaux, or Toulouse run €1,500-2,200/mo comfortably.

Key Fact

France has famously complex bureaucracy (the préfecture experience is legendary) but offers world-class universal healthcare, 5 weeks mandatory vacation, and excellent public infrastructure once you are in the system.