Changes to Pôle Emploi
From the start of 2024, Unemployment offices (previously known as ‘Pôle Emploi’) will gradually be phased out and replaced by the new public unemployment entity (‘France Travail’) in a bid to fulfil the full employment law which came into force on 18th December last year. The Pôle emploi website will become www.francetravail.fr in February 2024. […]
Changes to speeding fines
From 1st January 2024, points will no longer be deducted from your licence if you are caught speeding at less than 5 kms per hour over the speed limit. Previously this would have resulted in a fine and one point being deducted from your licence. In France, drivers begin with 12 points (new drivers start […]
Overseas voting for all British Citizens
Prior to 16th January this year British Citizens living abroad could only register to vote in elections to the UK parliament for up to 15 years after the left the UK. This rule has now been abolished and British citizens can now register to vote in the UK regardless of how long they have been […]
How to report internet problems
If you are having problems with your internet or telephone connection you can now report this online, get information on the issue and find out how it may be resolved.The quality of service is monitored by ARCEP, an independent authority for Electronic Communications and Press Distribution.The service is available to individuals, communities and companies alike […]
Pass your driving test from 17 years old
It is now possible to pass your driving test in France from the age of 17 years old. You first need to pass the theory test ; this can be done from the age of 15 for a standard driving licence (Permis B) if you decide to learn via accompanied driving or from 16 years […]
Obligatory composting in 2024
From the beginning of this year local communities are now obliged to have systems in place to recycle bio-waste, such as food waste or green waste such as grass clippings, leaves, and trimmings from shrubs, hedges etc. Each community has the authority to organise this as it sees fit, whether that be via door-to-door collections […]
Happy New Year from all at The FBN
Dear Readers, Amongst all the festivities I still manage to find time to reflect on the year gone by and look forward to the coming year. 2023 has been a notable year for the FBN but one touched with some sadness. Our much loved and admired board member and Editor of the newsletter ‘Keeping in Touch’, […]
The 2024 Census
The census concerns everyone who lives regularly in France but if your commune has less than 10,000 inhabitants this will only be carried out once every 5 years at every address.For communes having more than10,000 inhabitants the census is carried out every year but over a small sample of addresses which will be different every […]
An easier way to buy and sell your car
Simplimmat is an official government application which has been trialled over the last two years in Centre Val de Loire and Normandy and has now been rolled out throughout France.It is designed to simplify administrative procedures for private individuals buying or selling a used vehicle. Both the buyer and the seller complete the sale declaration […]
New Income Tax Bands for 2024
The income tax brackets for 2024 (relating to income earned in 2023) have now been published. The portal for declaring your 2023 income will open in April 2024 and the closing dates for different regions will be published on the official government websites in due course.The new income tax bands for 2024 are: Don’t forget […]