Generally, it isn't difficult for North Americans to gain long-term residency and retire in France, but you should check out your particular situation before making plans. Plenty of documentation will be needed and current requirements are as follows:

- A passport, signed and valid for three months after the last day of stay.

- Eight separate application forms, signed and legibly filled out.

- Eight passport-size photos per individual glued to the forms.

- Non-U.S./Canadian citizens will also need evidence of current legal residency status.

- One long-term application annex, which must be completed, dated, signed, and notarized.

Please check with the French consulate nearest you for complete instructions.

France has a mostly temperate climate, though there are many regional variations. Average winter temperatures range from 32° F to 46° F and average summer temperatures from 61° F to 75° F. For the most warmth and sunshine, look to the Midi, the term the French themselves use for the deep south of the country. The Provence and Languedoc regions are characterized by mild winters and blisteringly hot summers. Along with the north and central regions, Paris has cool and fairly rainy winters, though summers here are usually hot. Winters are a lot colder in the eastern regions of Alsace-Lorraine and in the mountainous regions of the Alps, the Pyrénées, and the Massif Central. Be aware that the French use the Celsius temperature scale (° C), so don't expect to see temperatures given in Fahrenheit once you're there.

For many retirees, the availability of healthcare and the quality of that healthcare factor into their decision of where they will eventually retire. Fortunately, in France this matter need not concern you. According to a recent study by the World Health Organization (WHO), France provides the best overall health care system in the world. North American retirees will have to buy private medical insurance when they retire in France. Once you retire to France, you may be able to transfer your health care plan to a French provider, or even to one of the many British companies that specialize in providing coverage for individual expatriates. This may prove cheaper: Costs depend on age and medical history, but if you're in good health, monthly premiums average $125. If you are staying in France for a year or more, one cost-effective option is to buy into a group plan. You'll need to become a member of an association that offers this benefit. One is the Association of Americans Resident Overseas (AARO). To join the association costs $60 annually per individual and $70 for couples and families. They offer a plan that is very popular with expats in France and throughout Europe.