Living in Burgundy
Retiring to Burgundy, the practical side.
Wine, food, calm and culture, with Paris at an hour and a half: Burgundy is a fine place to retire. Here is how to prepare it.
Contents
Retiring abroad is a project of several years. Three questions come first: your right to stay, your healthcare, and a home you can live in comfortably for the next twenty years.
Your right to stay
Citizens of the European Union, the EEA and Switzerland can settle freely. Others, including British and American citizens, need a long-stay visa for stays over 90 days, often the « visitor » visa for retirees, which requires proof of resources and health insurance. Owning a home does not give a right to stay. Details on France-Visas.
Healthcare
Once resident, you can join the French system; some pensioners are covered through the S1 form from their country. Healthcare in Dijon.
A home for the next twenty years
- A bedroom and a bathroom on the ground floor, or a lift.
- Shops, a pharmacy and a doctor within reach, without depending on the car.
- A garden you can maintain, or someone to help.
- Reasonable heating costs: check the energy rating and the real bills.
Dijon or a village?
A village of the Côte has the charm, but services are further. Dijon, Beaune and the larger villages offer both. Many retirees choose an apartment in Dijon or Beaune, or a house in a village with a pharmacy and a doctor.
Plan your estate too
Retiring in France changes your tax residence and the law of your succession. See a notaire and a tax adviser before moving. Inheritance rules. I work in English and French every day. I also speak Hindi, Urdu and Punjabi fluently, Persian (Farsi) very well, and good Greek and Arabic.
Frequently asked questions
Can I retire to France if I am not European?
Yes, with a long-stay visa, often the visitor visa, which requires proof of resources and health insurance.
Does buying a house give me a right to live in France?
No. Your right to stay depends on your nationality and your visa, not on owning a home.
Is healthcare available for retirees?
Yes, once resident; some pensioners are covered through the S1 form from their country.
Which homes suit retirement?
A home with a bedroom on the ground floor or a lift, close to shops and a doctor, with reasonable heating costs.