Living in France without speaking French is a brave move. However, if you've found yourself in such a situation, English-speaking services in France are your best option for accessing healthcare, banking, and relocation assistance.
Helplines
Healthcare
Banking
Transportation
Bureaucracy
Learning French
FAQ – English-speaking services in France
Helplines
When an emergency happens, or you’ve got questions regarding electricity, internet, etc, dial one of these numbers:
| Number | Services in English in France |
|---|---|
| 112 | This number is active in all European countries. Dial during emergencies to call for police, firefighters or ambulance. |
| 01 46 21 46 46 | SOS expat support service, which tries to ease the distress of callers. If you have no one here to talk to, call them and share your burden. |
| 09 69 36 39 00 | Orange/France Telecom customer support in English. You can ask them about issues, bills, or any other matters related to phone and internet services. |
| 05 62 16 49 08 | EDF (Electricité de France) support. Call to get help with tariffs, electricity services, bills and more. |
There are enough English-speaking services in France for an expat to survive. The list above can go on and on, but these are some of the most important numbers to keep in mind.
Healthcare
If body language can help buy groceries or ask for directions, it’s not the case with health-related concerns. So, finding an English-speaking doctor is among expats’ top priorities.
Where to search
The key sources for healthcare expat support are:
- Hello Santé
This expat support service offers comprehensive support for expats, including appointment bookings, document translation and explanation, paperwork assistance, Carte Vitale setup, and more – all in English. This service isn't free, but it may be worth using if you're too stressed about the healthcare system in France.
- Doctorlib
Doctorlib.fr is a website where you can book appointments with English-speaking doctors. The interface is intuitive: pick the city, speciality or name of the practitioner. To specify the language, go to ‘filters’ in the search section. Besides English, there are Italian, Chinese, Arabic and counting!
- Embassies
Australian and American embassies publish a list of English-speaking doctors in Paris and some other regions of France. They are not full, but often updated, so you can check this information with confidence.
More tips
The saying ‘work smarter, not harder’ applies to our situation, too. We've compiled some tips on how to navigate the French system more effectively as an expat.
- Explore WhatsApp and Facebook groups for advice.
- City centre pharmacies have more English-speaking staff.
- Not every doctor who speaks English does it well. Read reviews and clarify the language level before booking.
- Search for international hospitals. For example, the American Hospital of Paris.
- Learn key medical phrases. Even a small vocabulary helps a lot during appointments and at pharmacies.
Banking
Opening and managing a bank account can become a huge problem if you don’t know French. Once you enter a branch and hear ‘Sorry, we don’t speak English’, you know it’s all over for you.
Crédit Agricole
Crédit Agricole Group is the 9th largest bank in the world, and it offers a so-called 'Britline' – a separate service for English speakers. It goes way beyond banking: you can get assistance on retirement, property, and even support for relocation. It's one of the best English-speaking banks in France that you can currently find.
International banks
Branches of global banks are more likely to hire English-speaking staff, so you may be lucky to come across one:
- AXA Banque
- Barclays
- Citibank
- Deutsche Bank
- HSBC
- JP Morgan
Digital banks
Less limited in their offer, but much more flexible than traditional options, digital banks are becoming popular among expats. You can open Revolut, N26, or Wise accounts in France online. Apps support several languages, including English, so navigating them won't be a problem. However, some are concerned about the safety of digital banks, especially for businesses, so it's best not to put too much money in your account before testing it.
Compare: N26 vs Revolut vs Wise, which one is the best bank for expats in France.
Sending money home
Transfers are another integral part of an expat's life. In France, there are numerous services in English that facilitate sending money abroad. One that stands out with its transparency and security is Profee – trusted by over 800,000 customers worldwide. It transfers funds to over 90 destinations at high speed and competitive rates so that you can support your loved ones stress-free.
Transportation
Public transport
Navigating French transportation without French is easier than you might expect. Many transport apps and websites offer full English interfaces. For example, you can plan your routes and sometimes purchase tickets on:
- SNCF Connect – app for trains,
- RATP – app for Paris metro,
- Tisséo – app for the transportation system of Toulouse,
- TCL – app for the transportation system of Lyon
If digital is not your strongest skill, physical ticket machines at stations also have English menus.
Explore: Public transport in France, from schedules to strikes and delays.
Taxi and car sharing
Apps like Uber, Bolt, and FreeNow provide interfaces and receipts in English and operate in most major French cities. The only problem you may face is the driver who doesn’t know English, but it means you’ll have a quiet trip, which is also a win.
Long-distance travels
Ouibus, Flixbus, and BlaBlaCar are booking platforms with English interfaces. While staff at smaller stations may not speak English, transportation vocabulary is simple to learn and can go a long way.
Bureaucracy
The local bureaucracy is well-known for being…bad. After another round of paperwork, the realisation hits hard – living in France without speaking French is a bad idea. Don't get too scared, though; with the right tools, you'll hack the system.
Support services
First of all, you don’t have to handle it alone. English-speaking services in France, like Renestance, Relocation France, Expat Management and other relocation consultants, deal with this stuff every day. They know the prefectures, the forms, the random documents officials love to ask for, and they explain everything clearly in English. If you’re lost, they walk you through each step.
Officials
Some official websites are getting friendlier, too. Platforms like service-public.fr, Ameli (for health insurance) and ANTS (for driving-related admin) offer English pages or instructions. Not everything is translated, but even partial guidance makes a big difference when you’re trying to figure out what they actually want from you.
Utilities
And when it comes to utilities, don’t panic if you can’t explain yourself in French. Providers such as EDF, Engie and SFR all have customer support in English. They’re incredibly helpful when you’re setting up electricity, gas or internet in your new place, especially if you’ve already had one too many paperwork headaches for the day.
Lawyers
Honourable mentions go to the English-speaking lawyers. The U.S. Embassy & Consulate in France has a comprehensive list of such. It’s not full, you can find more options online, just make sure they can be trusted.
Tips: French payslip explained, understanding charges & deductions.
Learning French
Even though many expats are okay with living in France without speaking French, learning the basics improves everyday life. Thankfully, in the modern world, the only thing that can stop you from mastering a language is the lack of motivation – otherwise, opportunities are endless. For instance, Alliance Française with its structured courses or dozens of private language schools across the country: France Langue, Lyon Bleu, Accent Français.
If you don’t have an opportunity to visit schools, online learning platforms like Duolingo, Babbel, italki, and Lingoda are your perfect tools. However, don’t rely fully on them – go beyond and explore YouTube bloggers, stories for kids and beginners and online courses.
The fastest way to learn a language is to immerse yourself in it. Go out and speak. Many cities host language exchange meetups where you can practice French with locals and make new friends.
Even mastering basic phrases like greetings, common questions, and shopping vocabulary will help you communicate confidently.
FAQ – English-speaking services in France
Are there any English-speaking channels in France?
Yes, for example, BBC World News, CNN, France 24, Al Jazeera English, and Sky News.
Can I survive in France without speaking French?
Yes, as there are many services in English in France.
Can an English lawyer practice in France?
Yes, if you’re fully qualified in the EU or France.
What is the most accurate French-to-English app?
Google Translate works pretty well, especially with simple and common sentences.
What is the best free French language app?
No matter which app you use, one is not enough. Combine Duolingo, Drops, YouTube and other apps for faster results.
