Latest version (31 May 2026)
2026
February
- Get house valued
- Get financial advice
- Get removals quotes
- Decorate middle bedroom
March
- Rachel applies for Oxfordshire pension
- Strasbourg holiday/location scouting
- Electrical work/certification on house
April
- New EPC for house
- Replace garage door
- Sign up to Ibanista, get Smart Garant certificate and create dossier
- Start looking for properties
- Open French bank account
- Lawrence puts in resignation
- Lawrence applies for Dorset pension
- Rachel visits France solo to see properties
May
- Sign lease for French property
- Pay deposit and 1st month’s rent
- Get insurance for health, house and car
- Start electricity contract
- Get French phone numbers
- Lawrence finishes work
- Apply for visas and interview appointments
- Get rabies shot for the cat
June
- Get (more) financial advice
- Lawrence starts Dorset pension
- Rachel starts Oxfordshire pension
- French holiday to see the new property
- Attend visa interviews in London
- Change our wills to deal with French Law
- Get Apostille stamps for birth/marriage certificates
- Get French licence plate for the car
- Get packing!
July
- Both draw down 25% of private pensions
- Liquidate UK savings and close accounts
- Open Assurance Vie account with savings
- Transfer funds to French bank accounts
- Receive visas
- Move to France
- Complete French car import process
August
- House sale completion
- Update Assurance Vie with house sale proceeds
- Convert visa into residency permit
- Process import of car to France
September
October
- Apply for French healthcare