Departure checklist · Partir un jour sans retour

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6 to 12 months before

Choose your destination and check your right of residenceFree movement within the EU and Switzerland; a visa or permit everywhere else.
Renew your passport and identity cardA passport valid for at least 6 months after your arrival date is often required.
Request civil status certificates, a criminal record extract and your diplomas, with an apostille if needed
Review your tax residence and the exit taxEssential if your unrealised capital gains exceed €800,000 or if you hold at least 50% of a company.
Draw up a budget: removal, deposit, 6 months of living costs in advance
Plan your children's schoolingSchools in the AEFE network (French schools abroad), local schools or CNED (the French state distance-learning centre).

Give notice on your home, or arrange to sell or let it
Resign, or negotiate a secondment or a local contract
Choose your health coverCaisse des Français de l'étranger (CFE, the voluntary French health scheme for people abroad), international insurance, or the local scheme. Form S1 for pensioners settling in the EU.
Collect your medical records, prescriptions and vaccination record
Download your career statement from info-retraite.fr
Prepare your pets: microchip, rabies vaccination, European pet passport or health certificate

Report your change of address abroad in your impots.gouv.fr accountThe tax office for non-resident individuals (service des impôts des particuliers non-résidents) will take over your file.
Tell your bank and open an account in your new countrySome banks close non-residents' accounts: keep at least one account in France.
Cancel energy, internet, phone and home insurance contracts
Set up international mail forwarding
If you are looking for work in the EU: ask France Travail (the French employment agency) for form U2 to take your benefits with you

Register with the registre des Français établis hors de France (the register of French nationals living abroad)It makes consular formalities easier and puts you on the consular electoral roll.
Register your residence with the local authorities
Register your vehicle and exchange your driving licence if the country requires it
The following year: declare to France the income received up to departure, then your French-source income after itAccounts opened abroad in the year of departure: form 3916.