In about 4 years I would be very interested in moving to Paris, France. And Im wondering what needs to be done

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rosbif

If you're American, 18, with no life experience and no special qualifcations, then a work permit is beyond you. A tourist visa is the best you can hope for.
If you're EU, then the following applies. Turn up. Have somewhere to stay planned in advance (someone's floor is the standard solution), as the accomodation situation is critical and landlords are very choosy (especially about foreigners without anyone French to act as their guarantor).
Go to the prefecture and get all the paperwork you need to become "official". This can take several weeks. I spent four whole days of my life queueing when I did it. Don't forget anything, or you have to start all over again. Once you're official, go find a job (hehehehe). When you have found the silver dragon (sorry....got my fairy stories mixed up...when you have found your job) then you can start looking for somewhere to live permanently. A tiny room under a roof somewhere with Polish labourers is the most likely, given your probable bugdet. Freezing in Winter, boiling hot in summer and 20 people sharing a shower and a toilet. Do you really REALLY want that that badly?

This is what needs to happen:

The French economy needs some Thatcher-style reform, otherwise you aren't going to have any jobs waiting for you.

The French University system needs to be completely reformed, otherwise it will be quite pointless to "study" there.

The French need to get their collective head out of their collective a*se and start giving equal chances to foreigners in the workplace and the housing market.

What you can do to help:

Go and do an International Baccalaureate instead of your country's university entrance exam...at least the frogs can relate that to their education system.

Learn French perfectly....it still won't be good enough for the frogs, but at least they won't be able to pull the wool over your eyes so easily.

Forget about Paris, go to a more friendly and less expensive city (Montpellier or Bordeaux for example).

brownieleslie

Are you an EU member state citizen? If yes, you have no problem, just learn French. If not, it will be impossible I think. French immigration laws are very strict, and there is high unemployment throughout the country, so if you are not independently wealthy you must be able to show that you can do something a French person cannot (and no, unfortunately being a native speaker of English isn't enough!). So I would recommend that you study French, but also study a high-demand field such as IT so that you have a chance of finding a job and being allowed to live in France.

sotires

You didn't mention where you live now, but I'll assume USA from the general style of the question.

Like pretty well everyone else here, I'd advise you to start learning French now.
Then look for a French pen-friend. Or e-mail friend nowadays. Preferably a girl about the same age as you are. Not as a future partner, but as a way of getting to know the country, the customs and the attitudes. Don't mention your long-term project just yet, as that might be a bit off-putting.
When you do make it over here, he/she will be an invaluable source of contacts and it's always nicer if you know someone on the spot.
What are you planning to do here? Work, study, or both? If you enrol to study you are allowed to work a few hours a week (I think it's up to 20) on a student visa. But no one knows what the rules will be in four years time. It's easy to enrol at university. All you need is the "bac" (school-leaving certificate) but your American qualification may be accepted if you're lucky. Some establishments (e.g. Paris 8) accept all comers on a first come first served basis.
If you want to come here to work, the answer from the previous guy sums it all up quite well.

Peter

first thing is to learn french...... than apply for a visa....

SalKnows

You traitor. Nobody likes you here anyways. Why don't you start swimming now.

John S2005

Visit the country and make some contacts and friends. Try to learn the language and the culture.

sup?

first of all save lots and lots of money then you have to find a job and oh also learn french! hope i helped!

scottkenobi

Learn how to surrender to any invading force would be the first thing I think. :)

life_and_ashleyxoxo

Its a awesome Idea if u start finding places to live at and saving up money. U should do research online to find out the cost of living. Buy a french ditionary and start studying. BEFOR YOU MOVE take a 2 week trip just to see how u like it. Look for hotels or anything place that you can stay in.

Wanna work there? Thats why u should now start working to save up money. That the way when u move u will have money and be able to look for and apply for jobs of ur own.

Dont forget pass port

PS... When u visit try memorizing certain parts of town... so you can get around alot easier when u move

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