Ask the Expat Girls

Ask the Expat Girls Informations de contact, plan et itinéraire, formulaire de contact, heures d'ouverture, services, évaluations, photos, vidéos et annonces de Ask the Expat Girls, Bayonne.

12/11/2025

🇫🇷 How long does a French citizenship application take? 🕰️

You’ve submitted your application… now comes the waiting game!

📬 Average processing time (naturalisation by residency):
- Around 18 to 36 months, sometimes longer depending on your préfecture.

⚙️ What happens during that time:
- File completeness check
- Background + residence verification
- Interview
- Final decision & decree publication

💡 Pro tip: Keep documents (proof of address, payslips, tax returns) updated — authorities often ask for recent copies before final approval.

✨ Other paths can be faster:
💍 By marriage — usually 12 to 18 months after applying (as long as you’ve been married for at least 4 years).
👶 By descent — can be much quicker, often a few months, since it’s a recognition of existing nationality, not a new naturalisation.

🎉 Once approved, you’ll receive your décret de naturalisation and can apply for your French passport and national ID card. Bienvenue dans la famille française! 🥐🇫🇷

How long have you been waiting (or planning to apply)? Share your experience below 👇

10/11/2025

🇫🇷 Changing long term visas - can it be done? 🇫🇷

❓ A lot of clients ask us if it’s possible to change a long term Visitor visa to a working visa.

💡 The short answer is: Yes.
It is possible to change a long term visitor visa to a working visa, however it is not a simple process! It is basically like applying for a brand new visa.

You would have to prove one of the following:

1️⃣ You have a job offer with a fixed contract (a CDI) and that the hours will lead to you being paid at least the French minimum wage per annum.

2️⃣ You have a business plan demonstrating the potential of job creation in France, and proof of prospective clients that are committed to engage in your services. You will also need a minimum investment amount (which varies from sector to sector).

3️⃣ You are a well known artist or creative professional, with evidence of your creative work, and proof of your public recognition (such as awards or exhibitions).

4️⃣ You have been invited by a French recognised institution or university to conduct research. You will need to have a doctorate or equivalent expertise in the relevant field.

In sum, YES it is possible to change visas to a working visa but NO it isn’t easy! However if you think you have the proof required to change then go for it. We are here to help you with this process!

09/11/2025

🇫🇷🇫🇷 Once you’ve made the big move to France, there is so much that needs to get done once you’re here.

You’ll need to open a bank account, set up utility bills, learn the language, help the kids settle in, it’s a lot to think about! However there’s one thing you mustn’t forget to do…

🇫🇷VALIDATE YOUR VISA!!🇫🇷

This is the first thing you should do once arriving here, as it secures your - and your family’s- stay in France. This should be number one on your to-do list!

If it’s all too overwhelming, we can happily help you with this! You can always - Ask the Expat Girls! ⚜️👯‍♀️

08/11/2025

🇫🇷✨ What’s the OFII Medical Exam?

If you have a long-stay French visa (VLS-TS), you might need to complete the OFII medical exam — it’s what officially validates your visa as a residence permit! 🇫🇷

🩺 What is it?
The exam usually includes:
• Chest X-ray (to check for tuberculosis)
• Basic health questions
• Possible check of vaccines or other documents

📅 When?
Within 3 months of arriving — after validating your visa online.

📧 Important:
Not everyone gets an email from OFII to attend. If you don’t receive an email, don’t panic, not all long term visa holders do. But do double check your spam and junk email to make sure!

For any help or advice, send us a DM or email is at asktheexpatgirls@gmail.com

04/11/2025

🌎 Are you planning to move to France but are receiving a lot conflicting information in your home country about the different regulations in France?

🇫🇷 This could be for your visa, or changing car registration, or even bringing animals over! If you’re relying on sources from your own country, well, chances are that you are receiving incorrect or not up to date information! Information gets a bit lost or misunderstood when it is communicated by people are not currently living in France.

💡 Our advice? Ask people in France! If you have any connections in France, ask them! If you know where you’re moving to, contact the local Mairie (town hall) or Prefecture to find out up to date information on the regulations. Don’t risk making errors that are avoidable and potentially expensive!

Get your information from France! Or even better, Ask the Expat Girls! 👯‍♀️🇫🇷

02/11/2025

🇫🇷 What is a ‘mutuelle’ in France and do I need one? 🤔

If you’re an expat in France, you’ve probably heard the term mutuelle thrown around when talking about healthcare… but what does it really mean?

Here’s the deal 👇
France’s public health system covers most of your medical costs, but not everything. A mutuelle is a complementary health insurance that steps in to cover the rest.

So… do you need one?
A mutuelle is not a legal requirement but essential! Most residents have a mutuelle because it saves big money on medical bills, especially for dentistry and optical care.

✨ Tip: Shop around! Mutuelle policies vary widely depending on your age, coverage, and provider:
- Basic plan: €20–40/month
- Good coverage: €60–100/month
- Comprehensive plan: €100+/month

For more information, help or advice on any of the above, send us a DM or email us at asktheexpatgirls@gmail.com

31/10/2025

🇫🇷 What is the difference between the VLS-T and the VLS-TS visas?

⚜️The VLS-T is the Visa de Long Séjour- Temporaire, which is temporary long term visa. This is a visa for people who are looking visit for a fixed amount of time - between 4 to 12 months maximum. The VLS-T CANNOT be renewed. Once the visa is up you have to leave France!

⚜️The VLS-TS is the Visa de Long Séjour - Titre de Séjour, and is a visa for people who are looking to eventually become residents of France. It is a 12 month RENEWABLE visa, that will eventually lead to your eligibility to apply for French residency (in most cases after 5 years). This visa is for people who are looking to permanently relocate to France.

The difference between the two is quite important so don’t get them mixed up! 😊

And of course if you need any help applying for either of these long term visas, get in contact!

28/10/2025

🇫🇷When should you renew your long term visa?

It may seem tempting to leave it until the very last minute but we highly recommend not doing that! The earlier you can submit your application, the more at ease you will be and the more likely that the visa renewal will be approved before it expires!

The earliest you can apply for the visa renewal is 4 months before the expiry date, but we’d recommend starting getting prepared 5 months before. That way you have enough time to get all your documentation together and can still submit the application as early as possible.

Good luck, and if you need any help you know where to reach us!

🇫🇷

26/10/2025

If you’re living in France (or planning to), you’ve probably heard these three terms — visa, titre de séjour and carte de séjour. They’re often used interchangeably, but they actually refer to different stages and types of legal residence. Let’s clear up the confusion 👇

🇫🇷 A visa is an authorisation to enter France (or the Schengen area).
- It is issued by the French consulate or embassy abroad and it allows you to enter and stay in France for a limited period

🇫🇷 A titre de séjour (residence permit) allows a foreigner to reside legally in France beyond the validity of a visa.
- It is issued by the local préfecture and can be categorised depending on your specific situation, such as: Visiteur/Etudiant/Vie privée et familiale/Salarié etc

🇫🇷 A carte de séjour is the physical residence card you receive allowing you to stay in France for a specific purpose and period.
- Make sure to always carry it with you and renew it before it expires to maintain your legal status.

For more information, help or advice, send us a DM or email us at asktheexpatgirls@gmail.com

24/10/2025

Yes of course we are French Citizens! 🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷

We both successfully applied for our French citizenship, and more than this we’ve helped many others get theirs!

And we’ll happily help you also!

Drop us an email at asktheexpatgirls@gmail.com, or send us a PM, to find out more about the expat services that we provide. ⚜️🌭

22/10/2025

🇫🇷 Every expat we speak to is panicking about the change of language level requirements for the French citizenship application.

It is true! In January 2026, the language level requirement is due to change from B1 to B2 level. 🧑‍🎓

However, if you’ve already started your application and you’ve got a B1 level certificate, as long as you submit your application before the change has been put into place then you’re fine! There will be no need to redo your exam, what you have already done is enough.

Also, no official date has been set so no need to panic! Even if you do have to apply after the language level has been changed to B2, don’t worry! It’s not so much harder than B1, and you’ve got this. 💪🏻

For help with applying for your French citizenship, contact us via email at asktheexpatgirls@gmail.com or send us a PM.

Bonne chance ! 🤞🏻🍀

20/10/2025

“Justificatif de Domicile” — The Holy Grail of French Paperwork 🧾🇫🇷🇫🇷

But what is it exactly?

A justificatif de domicile is basically your proof of address. It is one of the most commonly requested documents by administrative services in France, as almost every procedure in France is tied to your place of residence.

🏠 What counts as a justificatif de domicile?

➡️ A utility bill (such as an electricity, gas, water, or landline/internet bill) in your name, that is dated within the last 3 or 6 months.
➡️ A rental agreement or rent receipt (quittance de loyer)
➡️ Your property tax or housing tax notice (taxe d’habitation / taxe foncière)
➡️ Your tax return statement (Avis d’imposition)
➡️ A home insurance certificate
➡️ If you’re living with someone else; a signed Accommodation certificate (Attestation d’hébergement) from them and a copy of their ID.

👉 In short, a justificatif de domicile is the golden ticket when it comes to moving forward with any administrative process in France! 🇫🇷 🐌

For more information, help, or advice on anything expat in France related, please send us a PM or email us at asktheexpatgirls@gmail.com

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