Retire French Riviera

The French climate is a retirement paradise, especially on its Riviera!


The climate is friendly, possibly a little hot in the height of summer and a little bit cool in the depths of winter, but not too extreme.


France has a mostly temperate climate, though there are many regional variations. Average winter temperatures range from 32° F to 46° F and average summer temperatures from 61° F to 75° F.


For the most warmth and sunshine, look to the Midi, we use this term for the deep south of the country: The French Riviera once again!


Retire French Riviera is for me the best option, not only because this where I was born and because it is my beloved area in France. I have so many examples of happy foreigners retirees here!


The Provence and Languedoc regions are characterized by mild winters and blisteringly hot summers.


Along with the north and central regions, Paris has cool and fairly rainy winters, though summers here are usually hot.

Winters are a lot colder in the eastern regions of Alsace-Lorraine and in the mountainous regions of the Alps, the Pyrénées, and the Massif Central.


Be aware that in France we use the Celsius temperature scale (° C), so don’t expect to see temperatures given in Fahrenheit once you’re there.


According to reality, life is very laid back, mostly outdoors with civilised, two-hour lunch breaks, washed down with wine produced locally.


As you can see Retire French Riviera stays THE Best Option.

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Inland is the vastness of the Alps, with its gentle climbs. Do not miss Inland it is beautiful as the Parc du Mercantour.

Liz (English lady) and her Welsh husband Mel live there; have a look at their site which is full of information regarding inland beauties.


Within easy reach of Nice is also some very good skiing, which is not so crowded (please keep this our little secret!).


The rich History: castles, Roman remains and picturesque villages dot the landscape with plenty of places to eat. It is also a short trip south to Italy.

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Other factors that will draw you towards the area are that the medical services are extremely good, air connections through Nice Côte d'Azur International Airport (the second in France) are good and cheap and there are others nearby airports as in Mandelieu (close to Cannes).


The French Riviera is served by and has a railway network (French version only).


The smaller Gare du Sud in Nice is not used any longer. There is a new train station close by where the Chemins de Fer de Provence (French version only) - a small rail company - provides a daily train service between Nice and Digne-les-Bains.


The ferry companies SNCM and Corsica Ferries operate from the Nice harbour and sail to several towns on Corsica, Sardaigna, Tunisia and other places in the Mediterrarnean.


Public transport on the French Riviera within the cities and to neighbouring areas is provided by the Ligne d'Azur bus company.


A tramway in Nice (Tramway de Nice - French version only) is currently under construction and is expected to begin operation very soon.


Road and rail links to Italy and the rest of France are excellent and the area offers a good range of French courses.

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Other Factor That Will Draw You Tow = Property Prices

If you are planning to Retire French Riviera, even if that retirement is some years off, you may be better off buying your ultimate home now.


Although prices are rising rapidly in the area, there is still a wide variety of housing available if you look (from around 150,000€ for a flat). For a good quality, three-bedroom older house, suitable for a permanent home and close to Nice, prices start at around 600,000 €.


In the country prices are much cheaper and if you are into renovating, there are still some bargains to be had.


Time to start looking...


So for the next few months I will advise you to visit the region frequently to learn about the life of the area and narrow down your search for a house or apartment. |


For further information on properties on the French Riviera and France, please visit the Real estate Guide in this website.


You may also have a look to this website about the best places to retire. It is full of information and it definitely worth the visit!

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Paperwork - Visas

Your retirement in France will be unlike retiring anywhere else.


While France does not have a special incentive visa for retirees, the process of retiring in France is quite simple.


For persons who wish to retire in France or otherwise reside in France without working, the administrative steps include the following: submit an application to the appropriate French Embassy or Consulate in the country where you reside.


You have to apply for a long-term visa or in French ‘visa de long séjour’.


You have to prove that you have the financial means; statements from your pension plan should be enough to satisfy the authorities. Be sure that your health plan covers you in France, or obtain a suitable French plan.


Applications should normally be prepared with the advice of French legal counsel as there are a number of traps for the unwary.


I still recommend a three-month trial in France to find your home base and to network with other retirees.


Once and if the visa is granted, upon arrival in France, it is necessary to promptly go to the ‘Prefecture’ of the city in which one plans to reside to obtain a temporary visitor's identification card or in French ‘Carte de séjour temporaire Visiteur’.


You will also be required to take a local medical examination.


This card will be valid for one year and can be renewed provided means and proof of medical insurance requirements are met as well as compliance with French tax laws.


Naturally, as a French resident, for some countries (as Americans citizens) it will be necessary to file tax returns in both France and your country.  


The paperwork necessary for retiring in France

Generally, it is not difficult for North Americans to gain long-term residency and retire in France, but you should check out your particular situation before making plans. Plenty of documentation will be needed and current requirements are as follows:

• A passport, signed and valid for three months after the last day of stay.
• Eight separate application forms signed and legibly filled out.
• Eight passport-size photos per individual glued to the forms.
• Non-U.S./Canadian citizens will also need evidence of current legal residency status.
• One long-term application annex, which must be completed, dated, signed and notarised.

Non-Working Over 90 Day Staying in France

For many retirees, the availability of healthcare and the quality of that healthcare factor into their decision of where they will eventually retire.


Fortunately, in France this matter need not concern you. According to a recent study by the World Health Organization (WHO), France provides the best overall health care system in the world.


North American retirees will have to buy private medical insurance when they retire in France. Once you retire to France, you may be able to transfer your health care plan to a French provider, or even to one of the many British companies that specialize in providing coverage for individual expatriates.


This may prove cheaper: Costs depend on age and medical history, but if you’re in good health, monthly premiums average 100 €. 


If you are staying in France for a year or more, one cost-effective option is to buy into a group plan.


You’ll need to become a member of an association that offers this benefit.  One is the Americans Resident Overseas (AARO). To join the association costs 60 US$ annually per individual and 70 US$ for couples and families.


They offer a plan that is very popular with expatriates in France and throughout Europe.

OK, you have made up your mind that someday you are going to stop the 9 to 5 grind and kick back and enjoy yourself. If you are like most, you have some idea of what the ideal retirement should be. If you are serious about your retirement goals, you must start to prepare right now, not tomorrow.


Start with these 12 tips:

1. Review your finances
If you know where you are, you can prepare for where you are going. If you are deep in debt, chances are you are not prepared for your eventual retirement.

No matter what your age, you should be putting something back for your retirement. It is estimated you will need between 70% and 90% of your current income to maintain the same standard of living after retirement.


2. Review your retirement needs or goals
What is your idea of retirement? For some, it is sitting on the porch and watching the grandchildren play.

For others it is travelling. For still others, it is somewhere in between. What are your retirement needs or goals? Knowing what you plan to do can give you some idea of what you will need in the way of money and health.

3. Develop a healthy lifestyle
When you retire, you no doubt want to be healthy so you can enjoy every minute. Now might be the time to lose the extra fat, start an exercise program, or quit smoking.

Frugal saving and living habits to prepare for retirement would not mean a thing if you do not feel like getting out of bed once you retire.


4. Talk to your HR representative about your employer’s retirement plan
If your employer provides a pension or other retirement plan, ask for a summary plan description and ask for an explanation of the plan. Find out what you can contribute and if your employer provides matching funds. Also ask about vesting.


5. Talk to your spouse about his/her retirement plan
If you are married, you should discuss your spouse’s retirement plan to find out what benefits you might be entitled to receive.

You should thoroughly understand any consent forms or waivers that you might be asked to sign for your spouse’s retirement plan distributions.


6. Review your benefit statement
Your employer should provide an Individual Benefit Statement periodically. This benefit statement shows your total plan benefits along with the amount that is owned by you.

You should thoroughly review this statement and if there are areas that you do not understand or disagree with, you should talk to your benefits administrator immediately.


7. Open an IRA (for Us citizens)
Almost all Americans can open an IRA if they or their spouse has earned income. An IRA can be either a traditional IRA or a Roth.

You bank or other financial institution can tell you whether you are eligible to open an IRA and help you with the process. Once you open an IRA, you should contribute the maximum allowed each year.


8. Review your Social Security Statement
Each year, you should receive a Social Security Statement about three months before your birthday. This is a record of your earnings that have had Social Security taxes paid. It also has an estimate of the benefits you or your family might receive from those earnings.


9. Discuss your retirement goals with your spouse and family
This is especially important if you are near retirement age. Your spouse might have different retirement goals and you will need to come to some sort of compromise. Your family should be aware of long-range plans that might affect them.


10. Think about how you will spend your time
Nothing is more frustrating than to have time on your hands and nothing to do. Once you retire, you might want to take another job, volunteer, travel, enjoy a hobby, and so on.

Take some time to think about what you might want to do before you wake up that first morning and don’t have to go to work.


11. Evaluate your life insurance
You may or may not need life insurance but it’s a good idea to do your homework to determine its benefits. This is especially true if you have a family who would be left with no means of income or huge debts if you were to die. A life insurance policy can also be used to pay the taxes on inherited IRAs or other retirement funds in your estate.


12. Determine if you need long-term care insurance
No one likes to think about being in a nursing home or needing special care but as we get older, this is a possibility. A major illness could wipe out your retirement savings.


While these 12 suggestions on how to prepare for retirement won’t guarantee that you will be ready for the big “R”, they will give you some ideas on how you can prepare. By planning for your retirement, you will at least be ready for this time of your life.