France (FR)
France is a unitary semi-presidential republic and the EU's most visited country, renowned for its world-class cuisine and wine, the iconic City of Light that is Paris, the French Riviera, iconic Alpine ski resorts, and a generous social state offering universal healthcare, extensive family benefits, and strong worker protections.
Education & Schools
Schools, universities, and language courses in France.
👶 Childcare & Kindergarten
Subsidised by CAF via the PSU (Prestation de service unique). Cost calculated on family income; low earners pay as little as €0.34/hour. CAF also reimburses a portion via CMG (Complément de libre choix du Mode de Garde) for private/assistante maternelle.
Pre-inscription at the mairie (Commission d'attribution des places) during pregnancy, then confirmation after birth. Bring livret de famille, justificatif de domicile, attestation CAF, and derniers avis d'imposition.
CAF pays CMG directly to you if you declare via Pajemploi (URSSAF) — reduces cost drastically. Tax credit (crédit d'impôt 50%) on the remainder.
Find an agréée (licensed) via your Relais Petite Enfance (RPE). You sign the contrat de travail directly; the assmat is your employee.
Canteen fees in most communes are means-tested via quotient familial.
Since 2019, schooling is compulsory from age 3. Enrol at your mairie (service scolaire) in the spring preceding the rentrée (start of school year in September). Carte nationale d'identité of parents, livret de famille, justificatif de domicile, and carnet de santé with vaccinations up to date.
🏫 Schools
Mandatory. Enrol at the mairie for your carte scolaire (school catchment) school, then present the certificat d'inscription at the school. Bring livret de famille, justificatif de domicile, carnet de santé with vaccinations, and previous school records if transferring.
Allocated automatically based on sectorisation (catchment area) — verify at the mairie. Dérogation possible for specific language/sport/music options. Lycée choice (général, technologique, professionnel) follows a Parcoursup-style orientation in 3ème.
🌍 International Schools
Paris and major cities have a wide range: Lycée International de Saint-Germain-en-Laye, École Jeannine Manuel, British School of Paris, American School of Paris, Lycée International de Londres (for returning expats), Ermitage International. Fees: €15,000–30,000/year. Sections internationales exist in many public lycées (free) offering bilingual teaching in English, German, Spanish, Chinese, Portuguese, Arabic.
🎓 University
EU students apply via Parcoursup.fr (deadline ~mid-March). Non-EU apply via Études en France on Campus France (campusfrance.org) in their home country. Grandes écoles have their own concours (competitive exams) or admissions parallèles for international candidates.
🗣️ Language Courses
Mandatory for non-EU first-time residents. Signed at OFII on arrival. Failure to attend can result in refusal to renew your titre de séjour. The DELF A2 or TCF IRN certificate is issued at completion.
Gold standard — widely recognised. Preparation for DELF, DALF and TEF certificates. Offers in-person and online classes.
Fund via Mon Compte Formation (moncompteformation.gouv.fr). Excellent for professional French, FLE (Français Langue Étrangère), and preparation for nationality interviews.
Often run by volunteers (bénévoles) — quality varies but excellent for newcomers on a budget. Check with your mairie or CCAS (Centre Communal d'Action Sociale).
Education & Schools
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