How To Move To France In 2026 — Visas, Money And Picking Your Region

Richard Hammond, founder of French Connections HCB, joins the Expat Focus Podcast to talk about what it really takes to move to France. Born in France to British parents and raised between two cultures, Richard has spent nearly a decade helping English-speaking families relocate, and his team now handles 30 to 40 visa applications a month. He explains why the visa process is more straightforward than most people fear, especially for retirees, and why the real difficulty has shifted from filling in forms to knowing where in France you should actually live – because a move can succeed on paper while quietly failing on everything that matters.

Carlie and Richard also dig into the truth behind the viral remote work stories, what's really happening with early retirees and the French healthcare system, and the financial proof you need for a visa application: the 1,400 euros a month figure, why it's more complicated than a single number, and why Richard tells clients to approach it like a mortgage application. If you're weighing up a move to France – whether you're two years out or already deep in the admin – this one will save you from the mistakes that are hardest to undo.

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00:00 Introducing Richard Hammond

02:57 Living Between Cultures

08:06 Building The Relocation Business

15:00 Moving To France In 2026

21:33 Choosing The Right Region

29:43 Region Matcher And Scouting

36:10 Remote Work And Healthcare Myths

45:11 Visa Financial Proof Explained