Expat France News

Latest 10 news items tagged France

9 Jul at 6 PM 2020

Accidental Americans take French banks to court over FATCA

An ‘Accidental American’ group at present living and working in France are now taking legal action based on the claim that FATCA is being used by French banks as an excuse to turn away USA expats’ bank account applications. The group’s complaint isn’t the first time certain worldwide banks have been accused of using FATCA as a basis for expat account refusals. The FATCA legislation includes swingeing penalties for foreign banks which refuse to comply with the new American regulations, and has caused refusals ever since FATCA...
6 Jul at 6 PM 2020

Brit would-be expats urged to tread carefully on property purchase

European properties are now in high demand by British buyers hoping to become expats before Brexit hits the already damaged UK economy. According to online property agents, searches for both remote, waterfront and beachfront properties have soared since the UK’s coronavirus shutdown, focusing mainly on Greece, Italy, France, Spain and Portugal. Unsurprisingly, Spain is the most popular destination, with over a million hits on favourite website Rightmove. Inquiries totalled 49 per cent over last year’s totals and are now at...
16 Apr at 6 PM 2020

Getting away from it all in a one euro European property

Escaping the coronavirus pandemic in a stunning location via one-euro renovation properties. Renovation of deserted properties purchased for just one euro is old news, but the trend is growing fast as would-be expats disenchanted with the modern world are moving in. New communities veering towards creativity, green living, craftsmanship and re-establishment of supportive community living are now seeing the opportunities available as a way to reject today’s greed and chaos and build their own lifestyles. Expats who’ve already...
15 Apr at 6 PM 2020

Expats and citizens urged to help Phuket’s famous Soi Dog Foundation

Phuket’s Soi Dog Foundation is hoping to avoid the devastating effects of the holiday island’s coronavirus lockdown by bringing in huge quantities of dog and cat food. Dog and cat lovers both in Thailand and in many other world countries including the USA all admire the dedicated efforts of the Soi Dog Foundation to rescue, care for and re-home as many as possible of the country’s stray and abandoned dogs and cats. As with the many other pet rescue charities across the country, its much-needed revenues mostly come from the...
1 Apr at 6 PM 2020

Expats in lockdowns can use spare time to learn local languages

Making the most of your unwelcome lockdowns by learning the local language. For expats going stir-crazy as lockdowns drag on, turning an essential imposition into an advantage by learning the local language is the best idea. New arrivals in the vast majority of favourite expat locations worldwide usually place learning the local language high on their priority lists, but a good number give up after a few months of lessons. For some, it’s because there are so many other fun things to do, and for others it’s simply too much like...
13 Mar at 6 PM 2020

Brit expats in Spain angry over suspension of UK/EU negotiations

The temporary closure of UK/EU post Brexit negotiations due to the pandemic has caused concern for British expats in southern Spain. Post-Brexit talks between Britain and the EU have just been suspended until further notice due to the coronavirus pandemic, leaving UK expats living in Spain bitterly disappointed. All across the popular retirement destination, older British expats have been awaiting desperately needed clarification of their ultimate positions as Spanish residents, with yet another delay causing a combination of anger,...
11 Mar at 6 PM 2020

Brit expats in France left without elected representatives due to Brexit

Elected British town councillors in France are now forced to step down as they’re no longer European citizens. Some 760 British expats in towns all over France are now banned from continuing as elected councillors as they’re no longer European citizens due to Brexit. Many have been living in France for many years and served as representatives for local expat communities on a long-term basis. Standing for election or voting in local polls is restricted to EU citizens, thus leaving expat communities all over the popular British...
3 Mar at 6 PM 2020

Expats and locals stocking up on necessities as virus victim numbers increase

Locals and expats in Europe are stocking up due to fears of forced lockdowns or voluntary quarantines. As coronavirus cases continue to increase across Europe and the risk of contracting the disease is officially raised to ‘high’, expats and locals are raiding local malls and stores. Panic shopping is increasing across the continent, with stockpiling of necessities causing empty supermarket shelves. In Italy and France, governments have announced strict rules against public events, with get-togethers of over 5,000 in enclosed...
28 Feb at 6 PM 2020

Potential British expats queuing to purchase overseas property before it’s too late

Although Brexit is now as close as is possible to a done deal, would-be British expatriates are rushing to purchase property in Europe before the door finally closes. In spite of the continuing risk of a no-deal exit at the end of this year and the uncertainty of future rights, Brits are rushing to buy bolt holes in mainland European Union member states. Unsteady or unfavourable exchange rates notwithstanding, the importance of getting out from under a disaster in the making is causing an unexpected exodus. European realtors and...
6 Feb at 6 PM 2020

Courageous expat doctor staying in Wuhan for his patients

An expat doctor in Wuhan has refused evacuation and is staying to care for his patients. Almost a week after the final evacuation airlift from Wuhan to France took place, French doctor Philippe Klein is still in the stricken city caring for his patients. The decision to stay took him just 15 minutes to make. Dr. Klein is the senior practitioner at a Wuhan international clinic, and is fully aware of the speed at which the virus is spreading as well as the fact that, due to containment measures, it’s movements are now linear rather...