Expatriates & non-residents
You are moving to a new country What should you review in your French assets?
French and living abroad? Your assets in France deserve a joined-up strategy. Policies, property, tax, your business, retirement and inheritance: what seems simple before departure can become complex once abroad.
Before you close a policy, sell a property or move money, check what changes with your country of residence.
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Private advice · Your priorities first
What to do with your contracts and property in France?
- 01
Anticipating the financial consequences
Review your French policies, income and assets in light of the rules where you live.
- 02
Easier coordination
Identify the checks, documents and professionals you need, and in what order.
- 03
Preserving your options
Identify what to prepare before leaving, while abroad and before returning.
Have you set a departure or return date? Review your policies and planned transactions before the move.
Your expatriate journey
What stage are you at?
The checks you need depend on where you are in your move. Choose your situation to see what to check first.
01 Before departure I am preparing to leave - Institutions to be informed
- Policies to keep or review
- Accessible emergency cash
- Documents to prepare
Explore this situation
What changes
Before leaving, review your residence, policies, property, business, cash needs and inheritance plans.
Prepare for my departure 02 Already installed I already live abroad - Policies and investment accounts
- Income and tax treaties
- French real estate
- Family inheritance planning
Explore this situation
What changes
Arrangements kept in France may no longer fit your country of residence or your current plans.
Review my assets in France 03 Return to France I'm preparing my return to France - Order of transfers
- Bank supporting documents
- Foreign or French contracts
- Cash needed for a project in France
Explore this situation
What changes
Before returning, plan how to reorganise your finances, including any transfers, repatriation of funds or investment switches.
Prepare my return with GaryBefore you commit
What decisions should be checked before leaving?
They seem simple, yet a new residence can change their taxation, efficiency or the necessary proofs.
- 01
Close or cash in a policy
Life insurance, PER, capitalization or account: too fast a closure can remove a useful option or create a consequence that is difficult to correct.
- 02
Move a large amount
Poorly sequenced transfers can lead to tax, banking, reporting or justification difficulties.
- 03
Sell, rent or refinance property
Review how the property is used, its loan, income, tax treatment and inheritance implications before deciding.
- 04
Change your pay, pension or inheritance arrangements
Overly late reorganization may limit certain options or complicate coordination between several countries.
Before acting, check whether another step needs to come first.
The full picture
Living across more than one country: what should you plan for?
A move can affect several parts of your finances. Let's examine them together before making changes.
Discover our approachYour business Changes in residence, pay or dividends affect both the business and your personal finances.
Investments Check whether you can keep your French policies, make withdrawals and use them in your new country of residence.
Property If you own property in France while living abroad, review its income, loan, use, the relevant treaty and inheritance arrangements.
Retirement Before contributing, withdrawing or changing an arrangement, review your retirement, social protection and possible return date.
Family Family, habitual residence, beneficiaries and multi-country assets require careful coordination.
Estate planning Liquidity must be coordinated with currencies, banking restrictions and available collateral.
Six areas of your finances
What assets will you keep in France after moving?
Click on a topic to see the main points to check.
01 Policies and investment accountsLife insurance, capitalization, accounts
What changes
Check whether you can keep your French policies, make withdrawals and use them in your new country of residence.
Points to be clarified
- Can you still hold the policy under its terms?
- Does moving change the consequences of withdrawals or investment switches?
- Does the beneficiary clause need reviewing?
02 French real estateProperty held in France
What changes
If you own property in France while living abroad, review its income, loan, use, the relevant treaty and inheritance arrangements.
Points to be clarified
- Should the property be kept, rented, sold or refinanced?
- Do credit and insurance remain adequate?
- Have you reviewed the treatment of your French income?
03 Business and shareholdingsBusiness owner or shareholder
What changes
Changes in residence, pay or dividends affect both the business and your personal finances.
Points to be clarified
- Should the effective direction be analysed?
- Are pay, dividends or a business sale involved?
- Do the changes still fit your personal financial needs?
04 Liquidity and financingCash, currency, credit
What changes
Liquidity must be coordinated with currencies, banking restrictions and available collateral.
Points to be clarified
- What liquidity should be kept in each currency?
- Should a transfer wait until another step is complete?
- Is asset-backed financing possible?
05 Retirement and protectionPER retirement savings, pensions and protection
What changes
Before contributing, withdrawing or changing an arrangement, review your retirement, social protection and possible return date.
Points to be clarified
- Should you contribute to, keep or review your PER?
- Are the pensions coordinated?
- Does the return change the horizon?
06 Family and inheritanceBeneficiaries, heirs, property
What changes
Family, habitual residence, beneficiaries and multi-country assets require careful coordination.
Points to be clarified
- Where do beneficiaries and heirs live?
- Are your beneficiary clauses up to date?
- How do your properties affect your estate planning?
France–Spain expertise
Does your life connect France and Spain?
Review residence, policies, property and inheritance together to avoid conflicting arrangements between the two countries.
- 01Residence and taxationTax status, treaties, income and connecting factors.
- 02Contracts and investmentsLife insurance, capitalization, retirement, accounts and taxation.
- 03Property and inheritanceOwnership, rental income, capital gains, gifts and inheritance.
Our specialism: Living in or moving to Spain? Start my diagnostic
Expatriate wealth calendar
Decisions to be checked at the right time
Not ready to talk yet? Use the checklist for your stage: leaving, living abroad or returning.
- Departure, life abroad and return
- Six areas of your finances
- Documents and subjects to be coordinated
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Planning to move abroad or return? Let's talk before you move
In 40 minutes, we identify the urgent decisions, those that can wait and the necessary validations before acting.
Confidential · No obligation · No complex paperwork needed for this first conversation.