Life in France through the eyes of Russian emigrants: reviews, pros and cons of moving to the EU, requirements

If you look at the life of Russian emigrants in France, you can understand that Paris is a city of opportunities. Migrants are pouring into this country, trying to build a new life. However, local provinces have a number of both advantages and disadvantages. It is necessary to analyze all aspects of the local mentality in order to make a final decision.

Moving to France

What are the chances of emigrating from Russia?

The easiest option to become a resident of the country of fine wines and delicate interiors is to get married.
The French often look for a wife in Russia, seduced by the mentality of our compatriots. However, for men this scenario is unlikely: local girls prefer to marry their own. The second option is to get a job. However, everything is not so simple here either. Local laws greatly restrict business owners. In order to cooperate with a foreigner, the manager must prove that none of the local residents are suitable for this position. Therefore, this option is available only to people with a very narrow and rare specialization.

You can also open your own business. If you make significant investments into it over the course of 5 years and regularly pay taxes, the government will not be against obtaining a residence permit.

Another simple option: restore family ties. You can get here even if your great-grandmother last lived in France.

Brief description of visa options for entering France

As in all countries that have signed the so-called Schengen agreement, there are several visa options. A person who has received permission to enter Italy, for example, can travel throughout France. But it is more difficult for Russian citizens in this regard: the Schengen principle does not apply to them.

Is there a problem with illegal migration?

Not so long ago, residents of European countries knew practically nothing about illegal migration. Our compatriots moved here periodically, trying to survive in difficult conditions and hiding from the authorities. Therefore, the deportation system was not developed, and migrants managed to live in the country.

But the intensification of conflict in the east of the continent forced residents to flee away from the horrors of war. A stream of Syrians rushed to European countries, trying to obtain refugee status. Some people wait patiently for their turn at the border and leave after being refused.

But thousands of people are fleeing into the country without warning anyone. Most often they travel by sea, choosing uncharted paths. And the government is merciless towards such residents. Every year the rate of deportation increases by 20%. Therefore, it became almost impossible to hide from the police.

Visas and residence permits

My husband and I signed at the local French city hall. I came to the country on a regular Schengen visa. According to the rules, you must request a special fiancé visa and enter using it. But it's difficult, and the French don't really find fault with it.

After registering the marriage, I returned to St. Petersburg and applied for a wife’s visa.
You must submit marriage documents and undergo an interview to test your language skills. The interview was simple: I hardly knew the language and prepared in three weeks. The wife's visa is valid for a year. Immigrants in France are offered to learn the language for free in special courses. €216
visa fee for my residence permit which is valid for 10 years

I currently live in France on a resident card, which is valid for 10 years. My residence permit is called “Private and Family Life”. With this residence permit I can work in France. The visa fee that must be paid for such a document is 216 € (15,231 RUR).

Language courses for visitors

Having read reviews about life in France through the eyes of Russians, our compatriots are trying to get here. However, they do not take into account the main feature of a European country - despite an international agreement, local residents do not speak English.

Important

If you contact them in a language other than your native one, at best they will simply ignore you - the French mentality is filled with a little snobbery towards residents of other countries. Therefore, you will have to take language courses. Since only the best migrate here, the government provides free schools.

In them you can learn both the general language and its spoken dialect. The courses also explain how to behave, what is considered indecent, and what traditions must be followed. After this training you will emerge as a real local.

3. Banks from the last century

French banks also do not suffer from excessive customer focus. Opening an account is a real quest: to do this, you need to present a contract for renting an apartment, and in order to rent a house, you will have to provide bank details. Only some financial institutions allow you to confirm your stay after the lease has been issued. It is also unrealistic to receive a card immediately after opening an account - at best, it will be sent in half a month. There are mobile applications, but all transactions are displayed in them only after 2-3 days. There are practically no cashbacks, miles or other bonuses, but banks may well set spending limits on debit cards and block transfers until the circumstances are clarified.

6 dishes that can only be tasted in France (for example, snail caviar and the stinkiest cheese).

Read also:

Employment for migrants

Who gets paid the most?

As in many rapidly developing countries, IT-related jobs are the most popular here. In first place in terms of the overall level of salaries in the country is a programmer. He receives from one and a half to two thousand euros per month with minimal employment.

In second place is the administrator-secretary - they receive more than 40 thousand euros per year. But to qualify for such a place, you must speak three languages at once. You will have to constantly be at your workplace and answer calls, organize work and do paperwork.

Third place - accountants. If you manage to get a job at a promising international company, the salary level will skyrocket. But even a beginner worker in a small company can earn about 1,000 euros per month.

In-demand professions for immigrants

As throughout the world, technical specialists are highly valued here. If you are a software developer or system administrator, you won't have any problems finding a job. Education workers are also needed. However, teachers and nannies cannot count on much work.

Since people often come to France for delicious food, the restaurant business is well developed here. Restaurants that are constantly opening need gourmet chefs and well-trained waiters. But you will have to work a lot. Doctors of all kinds are needed, including dentists and pediatricians.

If you agree to a low salary, you can do physical labor. Cleaners and loaders are needed here. Workers in the service sector are popular, especially in the tourism industry - travel is very common here.

The state's attitude towards entrepreneurship

In many highly developed countries, including Italy and the USA, there is a certain cult of small business. There it is believed that you cannot become a successful and rich person if you do not start your own business. However, in France there are no such judgments - most people prefer to work “for their uncle.”

In addition, the principle of centralization reigns here. The disadvantages of living in France include the fact that small companies are not very popular. Most private companies strive to become part of a large holding company. Huge corporations here are not the exception, but the most common occurrence.

However, the state is trying to get private enterprise back on its feet. For them there is a simplified taxation system and many government programs. Therefore, the situation may change in the next 10 years.

New in blogs

"Oh, bet..."

HOW ORDINARY PEOPLE LIVE IN FRANCE

How do ordinary people live in France today? We are used to seeing the French as elegant, luxurious, sophisticated people, surrounded by exquisite scents. As a rule, the French were well dressed, talkative, smiling and loving.

Today the French are not like themselves. They are absolutely no different from Russians. They have the same closed and mournful faces. They are also concerned about their own debts and taxes.

Let’s imagine an ordinary wealthy family with two children. They live in a modest two-room apartment in the center of Bordeaux. The wife is finishing her education, and the husband works in a prestigious company and drives his car to work in Paris every day.

What does “high salary” mean? This is a salary of approximately 2 thousand euros. 85% of this money goes to paying taxes. Today, the average non-poor family lives almost from hand to mouth, eating only pasta and not allowing themselves anything not only superfluous, but also necessary. Of all the money after taxes, this family has only 500 euros left to spend on food and pay for TV, telephone, parking and road transport. Of course, not counting my own education and the education of my children. For all this you need to take out loans.

Due to the unbearable tax burden, family relationships are quite cool. As soon as the student receives his “certificate,” the parents remove their sanction from him. He receives a loan from the state and then must arrange his life himself. First of all, he must get a job to pay for his studies.

All French citizens pay double income tax, which goes partly to pay off the national debt and partly to support unemployed citizens. It is 40% of your salary every month.

In addition, once a year, each employee must submit two of his full salaries to the tax office. To pay this tax, many French people take out a loan.

Almost no one has their own home. Apartments are being rented. There is no cheap housing, and most people cannot afford expensive housing. If someone buys a home, the loan is repaid over 30-40 years. But having your own home is inconvenient, since with high unemployment, many are forced to frequently move and change apartments.

Unemployment in France is 40%.

Housing tax is 500-600 euros per month.

The pride of France is its roads, but you have to pay for them. If the average citizen goes to Paris every day to work, then he pays about 500 euros per month for gasoline.

Parking is paid everywhere (including near the house). Parking costs 100 euros per month.

For speeding while driving in a car, the offender pays a large fine. For exceeding the speed limit by 2 km/h, the fine is 2 thousand euros. In addition, the car will be confiscated and the driver’s license will be deprived for 2 months.

The family pays 10 euros every month for television. Moreover, if the TV is broken or a person does not want to watch it anymore, it will not be possible to disconnect the line and in any case you will have to pay for the TV.

Telephone (wired) costs 25 euros per month. You will be charged for a minimum of 4 hours of calls.

40% of the salary per month is subscription service for mobile phones (for two).

For the Internet you have to pay 20% of your salary (for a salary of 2 thousand euros).

Electricity is very expensive. The heating in the houses is adjustable, boiler. You have to pay extra for higher temperatures. A family with children paid for electricity (with terrible savings) 2 thousand euros every 3 months. But now the tariff has increased by another 30%.

Water heating is cheaper, but this is rare in France.

Water is also expensive, so the French save it. The dishes are washed in a unique way. First, they wet all the dishes, then rub them with cleaner, rub them for a long time, and only then rinse them off. They try to flush toilets only in extreme cases. They try to wash less often.

It’s also difficult for individual entrepreneurs. 85% of the profit goes to taxes. There is not much left to live on - in fact, only to survive.

Pensions are small and almost entirely go to taxes. Pensioners have no benefits.

The majority of French citizens are so oppressed by taxes that their lives lose all meaning.

Due to the low purchasing power of consumers, cafes and shops are closing. The windows are covered with beautiful pictures - so everything looks very elegant.

Since the population (even highly paid ones) is very poor, many cannot afford dishwashers, washing machines or any other appliances. In addition, dishwashers waste a lot of energy and water.

Sometimes there is not enough money even for clothes. If a small child needs to update their wardrobe, the parents write an application for a subsidy, indicating the item that is needed. Thus, parents can buy a schoolchild, for example, a scarf.

If the entire salary is spent on taxes, a citizen can order a meager social ration.

Salaries in France are generally low and people work little. At the same time, the schedule is drawn up in such a way that the employee in his free time cannot get a part-time job somewhere.

Working hours are determined by the contract when hiring the employee. This could be 18 or 35 hours a week. Part-time work is allowed, but not more than 5 hours, regardless of how much time a person is busy at his main job.

Working time is distributed in a unique way. A salesperson or cashier, for example, may work 2 hours in the morning, half an hour in the afternoon and 2 hours in the evening. Since many live far from work, they do not go anywhere, but sit at their workplace completely free of charge.

The paradoxical situation with the unemployed. If a person loses his job and is declared unemployed, he moves into a state apartment and is exempt from all taxes. He is paid 1,500 euros and this is a much higher income than working French people who pay huge taxes. Therefore, unemployed ladies can afford to buy a fashionable handbag and scarf.

In Russia there are huge problems with this. In our country, if a person does not have a job and at the same time left his place of work “of his own free will” (under pressure from the employer), then he receives a meager benefit. In Moscow it is 1,500 rubles, in the provinces it is 850 rubles (and this despite the fact that the prices for goods are the same). The Russian unemployed can only stretch their legs.

Transport is very expensive in France. Girls there are not given rides on trams and they don’t have “dinner” in restaurants. Therefore, Roza Syabitova, communicating with the French, in this sense, should have behaved more decently. One day I heard how cheekily she was talking to an American, trying to get him some money, and literally extorting a promise to pay the chosen lady in a restaurant. Obviously, she is completely unaware of the current situation.

France is gradually emptying out. Many go to China, Australia, Brazil and... to Russia. There are already many French migrant workers in Russia who come here with their families. After defending their diplomas, young specialists rarely stay in their homeland.

France remains a beautiful country with beautiful cities, but the soul of France has shrunk. People understand that they have no future here. The situation has changed over the past 15 years. Before this, life was wonderful, but today's national debt, scattered on taxpayers (40 thousand a year for each soul), weighs down on everyone like a tombstone.

The criminal situation in France is monstrous. Cases of theft have increased. On the beautiful Champs Elysees, anyone can have their bag snatched, and no policeman will help find the thief. Especially if the thief is colored.

Gangster groups control entire neighborhoods, streets, and even suburbs (they live compactly along national lines in ghettos, and the French authorities are trying to resettle them, interspersing them in fashionable neighborhoods, which horrifies ordinary people). In some neighborhoods the police do not show up at all and there they sell drugs completely openly on the streets.

The French police are loyal to drugs. The police pretend not to notice anything. No one is fighting banditry.

The police work in very cramped conditions. She has no right to use weapons, while the bandits are armed to the teeth.

A massacre or fight in the street is a common occurrence. The police are terribly afraid if someone accidentally kills a bandit. An armed riot immediately begins. Criminal elements begin to destroy everything and burn cars.

Gangster groups walk the streets armed, with chained dogs, and passers-by, seeing them, hide in all suitable cracks. And they are doing the right thing, because bandit elements will definitely pester you and demand money. If a policeman is nearby during a dispute, he will blame the victim for everything. Blaming a person of color (and it is mostly people of color who commit gangsters) is dangerous, as it is called “racism.” The accusation of racism is one of the worst.

France is full of gangster teenagers of 14-15 years old who harass adults and women. The police try not to interfere. When one day a girl student was besieged by drunken colored teenagers and she turned for help to a group of police officers standing at a bus stop, they told her: “These are children!” The girl was accused of provoking teenagers into a “dispute” with her “bourgeois appearance” (robbery on the streets in France is called a “dispute”).

In France today the law does not protect French citizens. They feel like outcasts in their own country.

In the evenings, bandit groups come under the windows of houses, turn on music, shout, turn on sirens and drive residents crazy. The police usually do not respond to calls. “Are you being harassed? - they ask at the other end of the telephone line, - are they just making noise? Well, let them make noise. They have the right to this."

In the end, exhausted residents go out late at night to negotiate with hooligans who demand money from them “for silence.” And the tenants pay, and the next day everything repeats. This extortion has become commonplace. It has become dangerous to walk around the courtyards also because gangster dogs are running around there. All this is called LIBERALISM, which is getting worse every day, forcing the French to leave their homeland.

Due to monstrous liberal laws, all rights today belong to minorities, not to the majority. The average white Frenchman today can only remain silent and pay.

What can we say about the trial? The same thing is happening there as everywhere else now. Bandits always get away with it. Why? But it doesn’t matter. It’s just the way things are structured today, that an ordinary person has only one right left – the right to die.

Salary levels in France

Minimum salary

The government of the country, famous for its social guarantees, closely monitors the level of wages. On January 1 of each year they set a new minimum wage for residents of the country. However, this figure is growing very slowly - literally by a couple of percent every year.

Important

If we are talking about a monthly rate, the employer is obliged to pay approximately 1,500 euros. If he works more than 35 hours a week, then the head of the company is obliged to pay the difference. There are also restrictions for workers who receive their money for hours worked. They are entitled to receive $8 per hour.

However, the rules apply to all official employees, even if they are not French citizens. Even a resident of Russia who has moved to the country and received a visa can qualify for such a rate.

Net average income per capita after taxes

France is one of the countries with a fairly high standard of living. If we summarize global statistics, we can find that the indicator of housing affordability, income level, safety and health of local residents is much higher than in other countries. But finding a high-paying job is not so easy.

On average, residents receive about 26 thousand euros per year. However, there is a considerable gap between the poor and rich segments of the population. Wealthy families receive almost 5 times more than beggars.

Not everyone works - among adults and able-bodied citizens, only 65% have a place. A large percentage of people working overtime - more than 8%. Among them are mostly men, but there are also women.

Obtaining a visa to enter the country

To travel, a resident of another country can obtain a French visa of one of the following types:

category A – transit;
category C – short-term for a tourist trip, business trip, meeting with friends or relatives;
category D – national.

Foreigners who plan to work, study, conduct business and reside in the country for more than three months receive a national visa. To obtain it, you must submit the following documents to visa centers or diplomatic missions of the country:

a valid passport and its copy;
invalid passports and copies of pages with Schengen, American, Canadian and Australian visas;
copies of all pages of the Russian passport;
application form (filled out in French or English);
2 color photos 35x45 mm;
consent to the processing of personal data;
invitation from the French side;
documents confirming relationship with a French citizen;
health insurance;
certificate from the place of work;
a document from the bank confirming the financial solvency of the applicant.

Entrepreneurs, pensioners, students, schoolchildren attach documents confirming their status.

At the consulate or visa center, the applicant is photographed and his fingerprints are scanned. When submitting documents, a consular fee of 35 euros is paid. The maximum period for reviewing papers is 10 days. A long-term visa is issued for a period of more than three months - it depends on the purpose of the trip. If the applicant had long-term Schengen visas, he may be issued a French one for two, three or five years. It can be renewed at the local migration office or at the French diplomatic mission abroad.

French education

Educational system of general, secondary and higher education

Local residents send their children to school from the age of 6 - the primary education system here is free. At the same time, 1 year is spent in adaptation: children are told how their education will proceed and are prepared to study general education subjects. After this, primary school lasts 3 years.

First, children go to 6th grade, then move to 5th grade, and so on, in descending order. They teach mathematics, language, physics, chemistry, geography, biology. Doing physical exercise. Evaluated on a system from 0 to 20 points. The stage lasts 3 years.

At the age of 14, students can either go to school or receive a complete secondary education by going to a lyceum.

Higher education can be either full or shortened. With a shortened study of 3 years, you get a technical specialist diploma. Suitable for low paid positions. The full course is obtained both at universities (free) and at higher schools (for a fee). The training cycle lasts 5 years.

What are the types of scholarships and grants?

Many universities establish the so-called Bourse d'études - a scholarship fund for foreigners and local residents. You will not receive a large amount of money, but you will be able to fully cover the cost of training. Sometimes you can even get compensation for housing costs.

If you study for less than 3 months, you will receive about 300 euros under the Bourse partielle d'études scholarship. This will cover the costs, but only partially; the rest of the money will have to be earned independently.

There is also the opportunity to simply get free insurance - Bourse de couverture sociale.

Russian students have the opportunity to write a scientific dissertation under the guidance of both their own and a French supervisor. The costs of this will be covered by the Bourse de thèse en cotutelle. Finally, the last opportunity is to receive a scholarship for an internship, Bourses de stages.

Education system

The educational system in the state is quite complex and includes:

preschool (from 3 to 6 years);
primary up to 11 years;
secondary to adulthood;
higher.

A bachelor's degree confirms completion of secondary education.

After graduation, a diploma is issued and students can continue further education at the lyceum in the following areas:

general;
professional;
technical

If you plan to obtain higher education, you must have a bachelor's degree, which is issued at a general lyceum.

In general, the period of education, including the preschool stage, is 15 years - from 3 years to 18 (excluding higher education).

French food basket

Food prices

To analyze all the advantages of living in France and calculate the approximate standard of living, you need to know how much it will cost to live in the local area. It is necessary to calculate an approximate food basket and estimate what the average salary will be enough for.

In shops and markets there are such prices (in euros and kilograms, unless otherwise indicated):

1 liter of milk - 0.95.
500 grams of white bread - 1.33.
Rice - 1.63.
12 chicken eggs - 2.55.
Local rice - 15.01.
Chicken - 10.01.
Beef - 16.02.
Apples - 2.28.
Bananas - 1.88.
Oranges - 2.09.
Tomatoes - 2.35.
Potatoes - 1.49.
Onion - 1.68.
Lettuce - 1.05.
1.5 liters of clean drinking water - 0.57.
Bottle of wine - 6.00.
0.5 liters of local beer - 1.71.
0.33 liters of imported beer - 1.86.
20 pieces of cigarettes - 7.40.

The basic diet of the average Frenchman

Residents of France also have other expenses. Every average French person spends 30 euros per month on internet of acceptable quality. The speed is not too high, but line breaks are quite rare.

Phone service - internet and unlimited communication - costs 20 euros.

You can purchase a subscription: 200 satellite TV channels, home phone and Internet. This pleasure will cost you about 40 euros.

Here it is customary to constantly play sports. Each visit to the pool will cost 2 euros, a monthly gym membership will cost 30 euros.

Clothes are bought at discounts - at the end of the season, stores often have huge sales. On average, a minimum set of clothes for one season will cost you 50 euros. For one meal in a middle-class restaurant you need to pay about 60 euros.

Average prices

The average salary of a working Frenchman allows him to easily cover the costs of food, cigarettes and utilities. At the same time, part of the money remains to satisfy other needs, for example, to visit entertainment venues. Food prices in France are moderate, although in the provinces they are lower than in Paris and other large cities.

Comparison of prices in Russia and France (in US dollars).

Product or service	Russia	France
Chicken (1 kg)	5,50	From 10
Bread (loaf)	0,7	1.4
Milk (liter)	1 and higher	From 0.9 and above
Cheese (1 kg)	8 and above	12 and above
Apples (1 kg)	1.50	2
Potatoes (1 kg)	0,9	2
Beer/wine (liter)	1,30/8,60	2,4/2
Rental housing on the outskirts and in the center	From 750/1000	From 550/660
Salary	730-740	2500
Utilities	150	From 70 to 160
Pension	118	1030

Features of purchasing housing

Who can buy real estate

This is interesting

As in all European countries, in France both a foreigner and an official citizen of the country can purchase real estate. However, in order to be able to make any financial impact, you must obtain a category D visa. Otherwise, you will not be able to sign the contract.

Housing prices differ depending on the region in which you want to buy your corner. It’s better for young people not to even go to Paris. The price per square meter of an ordinary apartment starts from 7 and ends with 11 thousand euros. It's a little cheaper in the provinces.

If you take the Cote d'Azur - one of the most popular places for migrants to live - you already need to have an amount of 100 thousand euros. For this money you can get a cozy studio.

Rent expenses

Renting is more affordable. Often people who have not yet found their feet and are just beginning to settle into a new country choose the option of a deal with a landlord. Often the main clients of rented apartments are students - they periodically live in one apartment with several rooms.

Rates for a day and for a long period vary greatly. In Paris, for example, you can rent a small one-room apartment for 100 euros per night. If you rent for a month, you will need to pay about 700. In ski resorts and on the Cote d'Azur, apartment owners charge 500 per month or 50 per day.

If you rent an apartment for a long time, you will be charged an insurance premium equal to one month's rent. Otherwise, you must make an advance payment - 50% every month.

Public utilities

A considerable part of the average Frenchman’s income goes to paying utility bills. Part of the costs - maintenance of the local area and water - is paid in accordance with the general procedure. Electricity and the rest are metered or based on square meters.

It is customary to save money in this world, since it is very expensive.

You need to pay 270 euros per month to maintain the house. Water (cold and hot) will cost 40 euros, and for light you need to pay another 120. For elevator maintenance, installation and regular checking of meters - 20. Internet, TV, etc. can be turned off, but usually they pay about 30 euros.

Property tax - 1000 euros per year. Mandatory home insurance - from 100 to 2000, depending on the area and region.

About features

In France it is not customary to make any loud speeches or toasts. Perhaps at the wedding you will hear a couple of warm words addressed to the newlyweds, but nothing more. If a Frenchman wishes you a happy birthday via SMS, it will be very laconic: “Joyeux anniversaire!” "Happy birthday!". And during the holiday itself, no one will wish you love, happiness, health, etc. All those invited will drink, have fun, eat and leave. I try to educate the French people in my circle in this sense, and they willingly respond.

Use of transport

Need for a car

If you are here for a few months, there is no need to buy or rent. It will be much cheaper to travel by taxi. A car is also not needed for people moving mainly around the city - in this case it is better to give preference to public transport.

On average, a middle-class car (both new and used) will cost you about 20-25 thousand. A liter of gasoline costs 1.7 euros. When purchasing, you will need to pay a tax of about 500 euros. Therefore, it is most often profitable to turn to a car sharing service.

Car rental costs about 250 euros per week. When using for a day, you will need to pay about 40. When renting for a long time, they drive the car not to where they picked it up, but to any point where there is a necessary company.

Development of public transport

The metro network in France is one of the most innovative in the world. Here you can either pay for the trip one-time or take a subscription for 10 trips. One trip will cost 1.9 euros, and a subscription for 10 times will cost 14.5. It is also possible to purchase a travel pass that is valid only in certain areas.

Buses and trams operate in small towns. They have a clear schedule and, as a rule, drivers are never late. For one trip on one route you need to pay 1.5. A monthly pass - if you plan to constantly travel around the city - costs 40 euros.

For urgent trips, you can hail a taxi on the street. On average, they will charge you 4 euros to get into the car. 1 kilometer of road will cost a maximum of 2 dollars.

General condition of roads and sidewalks

Unfortunately, the stereotype about ideal European roads, different from Russian potholes, is just a beautiful lie for migrants. Only highways are in perfect condition. They are clean and licked, the coating is regularly replaced with a new one. But the journey is paid and quite expensive.

According to public organizations, the state allocates less and less money every year to maintain roads in good condition. There are occasional potholes and cracked road surfaces. The road signs are also not in the best condition. Reflective surfaces do not work in some places, and signs in the regions have not been updated for a long time.

Sidewalks vary depending on the city. Paris is regularly cleaned up for tourists, but in the regions litter and potholes are common.

The best cities and regions of France

The top 15 best French cities for Parisians, residents and tourists alike include the following:

Paris.
Strasbourg.
Dinan.
Avignon.
Nice.
Colmar.
Lyon.
Bonifacio.
Bordeaux.
Troyes.
Annecy.
Dijon.
Aix-en-Provence.
Toulouse.
Lille.

For good earnings, it is better for Russians, Ukrainians, and Belarusians to move to Paris from their native country. But the high wages here correspond to the cost of food and essential goods - prices here are higher than in the capital. There are a large number of migrants in Paris, so competition is high.

The capital is divided into 20 districts, the first six of which are considered the best - the main attractions are concentrated here. Only very wealthy people can afford to rent an apartment. Russian migrants more often find housing on the outskirts or suburbs. Migrants who come for seasonal work live in the provinces. Many immigrants choose seaside towns: there is a mild climate and there is an opportunity to find work in the tourism sector.

City of Colmar, France

Insurance, subsidies and benefits

Features of health insurance

In France, every officially employed citizen or migrant is required to pay approximately 14% monthly for medicine. However, a person does not pay all of this amount from his salary - only about a third. The rest is handled by employers and various trade unions.

Compulsory insurance is valid only in five cases: illness, accident at work, occupational disease, pregnancy and childbirth. If you were injured due to the fault of your employer, the insurance will cover 100% of all expenses. If you get sick yourself - about 75%. Socially vulnerable groups are also covered 100%.

You can take out insurance from private owners. In this case, the remaining 25% of the treatment will also be covered by the company, but a different one.

Social guarantees of the state in matters of insurance

The government allocates a huge share of the budget to support parents. A considerable amount is allocated to them every month. However, in order to count on benefits, the family must be prosperous. Often money is not given in person. Until the child reaches the age of 6, his parents receive a free nanny or governess.

There are various benefits for preschoolers from disadvantaged families. If the parents' income is below average, they can receive money until the child turns 3 years old. Distributions are regularly carried out at the beginning of the school year; the poor are given office supplies, clothes and backpacks.

Young families or citizens with very low incomes count on receiving subsidized housing. They don’t give out free apartments, but you can get a huge discount on the purchase of real estate.

How do pensioners earn income?

The pension system in France is very confusing. It is very difficult for an ordinary person to understand it. However, all these mechanisms, despite their non-obviousness, work - and very well. Many retirees are completely satisfied with their income, travel the world and eat in the best restaurants.

Both women and men retire at age 60. But if a person works in harmful or dangerous work, or in law enforcement agencies, this age is reduced significantly. Typically, wages are calculated for the entire period of work. 50% of it is paid to the pensioner monthly.

There is both a minimum and a maximum pension threshold. Any citizen has the right to receive at least 6 thousand euros per year. But the pension in any case should not exceed 12 thousand.

Pension system

One of the most complex pension systems in Europe was adopted in France. On average, a pension in France is granted after the age of 65.

But there are several categories that retire earlier. These are mainly miners and military personnel.

The pension system of this country is built on two principles:

Savings fund.
Payroll taxes. On average, for merchants, artisans and people of free activity, it is necessary to give 16.35% of the funds from their salary.

Most employees contribute the same amount of money from their salaries as businessmen, but their employer also contributes set amounts to the pension fund.

The entitlement pension for an ordinary Frenchman is fifty percent of the average salary for the last eleven working years. The smallest pension in France is about six thousand a year, and the largest does not exceed twelve thousand euros.

Medicine and sports in France

Level of medicine in the country

As already mentioned, treatment is available to any average citizen with an official job. But in order to count on service, you must have a special card with you, where the state insurance company credits funds.

The level of medicine is quite high. This country, like other European countries, is characterized by long queues. But in return, you will be cured of any disease, even partially covering the cost of medicine. If you have any complaints, you should first make an appointment with a therapist. The specialist will determine the need for this or that treatment and refer you to the right doctor.

All residents undergo free medical examinations twice a year. This allows you to catch even serious diseases in the first stages.

Attitude to sports

Local residents are actively involved in sports - and this desire to always keep their body in good shape is encouraged by the state in every possible way. Both large and small cities have swimming pools - it is believed that swimming strengthens the body. You can easily sign up at your local gym.

Big sport is no less widespread. Once upon a time, the French elite had a direct connection to the opening of the world's first Olympic Games. Since then, little has changed - their teams regularly participate in international competitions, periodically receiving first places.

The most popular sports in the country are football and rugby. In some regions, locals regularly play handball and basketball.

Taxes

The main difference between the taxation system in this country is that the majority of interest is withdrawn not from the individual, but from the so-called household, which includes all members of his family. Regular income taxes are calculated based on your total salary. Ranges from 5 to 45 percent.

Receiving any dividends from shares has its own tax rate - about 21%, regardless of the amount. At the same time, another 15% is deducted for social insurance. There is a certain tax on interest received - about 14%.

If a person regularly rents out housing and has an income of about 15 thousand euros per month, then the state will require another 30% from him.

Attitude towards Russians

Naturally, maybe, as in any country, local residents do not like emigrants, but, nevertheless, no one talks about this to their face. And the authorities have created special institutions that provide assistance in finding employment for emigrants.

In addition, there are agencies that support visitors for their rapid integration into the cultural and social life of the country.

In France, the good attitude towards emigrants is noticeable on the part of the authorities. They have organized a fund to provide any assistance to emigrants and at the same time the fund is actively fighting discrimination. And it takes place in this country. Although it is impossible to say for sure. Most Russians are treated with respect, especially those who have a specialty and have found themselves in the work team.

Russian France

The Russian-speaking population of France has not united into a single community. Emigrants from previous years and new arrivals do not always communicate with each other. Although the country has the newspaper “Russian Thought”, and the website “Russian Paris”, and many forums where Russian-speaking people can discuss various problems among themselves. This makes it easier to settle in, find housing, and resolve employment issues.

In France there is a whole network of different associations and societies that spread the Russian language and culture and hold festivals.

Even the international literary prize “Rusophonia” was established. There are public organizations uniting Russians in Paris (Maxim and Co), Marseille (Perspectives), and other large cities. Many associations unite not only recent citizens of Russia, but also other countries of the former USSR - “Cheburashka”, “Dunno”, “Friends of Pushkin”, “Rainbow”. Children of migrants can attend Russian schools.

France vs Russia

Index	Russia	France
Corruption	The level of corruption is quite high, but they are constantly fighting it, government programs are being introduced.	The level of corruption is gradually increasing every year, but bribe-takers are eventually imprisoned.
Availability of education	There are both budget and paid places, but free education is available only to a small category of the population.	Most universities are free, and higher schools are for-profit; there is a large selection of scholarships and grants.
Income level	39 thousand rubles per month	171 thousand rubles per month
Social guarantees	There are a number of benefits, including for a child, but they are not enough for a full life.	There is a huge selection of different social benefits for the poor.

About bureaucracy

When I first arrived in France, I needed to complete various documents. And this, I must tell you, is a whole epic! Here you will have to collect papers for any reason. I remember once sitting in line for four hours, even though it was electronic. But that's not the worst thing. For example, one day I came with my husband to submit documents; his presence was a prerequisite. I collected all the necessary papers, strictly following the recommendations on the site. The husband took time off from work; no one paid him for that day. We stood in a long line and as a result we learned that one or two weeks ago all the conditions had changed and we were missing some piece of paper. Time was wasted, I had to go through the whole procedure again. I’m not saying that there is no such bureaucracy in Russia, it’s just that here I felt it on some other level.

Russian diaspora in France

Features of the Russian diaspora in France

According to statistics, about 100 thousand citizens who once arrived from Russia live in this country. Some of them have long lost their roots and received citizenship. Some are still wandering around the cities as migrants, trying to gain the necessary experience for a residence permit.

Therefore, it is not surprising that a community of our compatriots has formed in large cities. However, they do not hold huge gatherings in the square in honor of the national holiday, as people from Central Asia do. Local residents are ready to help their compatriots in need or gather for a themed evening. But not more.

Where do Russian immigrants live?

Like any migrants, Russians do not want to exchange money for money when moving from some provincial town to an ordinary French province. That's why a huge number of our compatriots are based in Paris, the city of amazing cuisine and elegant high-rises.

However, Russian speech can be heard not only there. Immigrants from Russia are also based in smaller areas. In Cannes and Nice you can easily meet oligarchs who have left their native lands.

But, despite all this, there are no Russian-speaking neighborhoods here; our compatriots live separately.

About taxes and marriage

It is beneficial to get married and have children here as it helps reduce taxes to a large extent. But let's not forget that the French are very freedom-loving. A woman needs to accomplish almost a feat in order to bring a man to the registry office, which is why not all couples register their relationship. But if a Frenchman gets married, he loves his family madly. In the park you can see a huge number of dads walking with their children. In Russia, I have rarely seen this; basically all issues of education fall on women’s shoulders. French women know how to delegate responsibilities to their husbands.