Investing from France as a foreign national
Where you invest in France matters as much as what you invest in: the tax you pay depends on the type of account or contract holding the investment. Your nationality, the country you came from and any plan to move again can also put some of them out of reach.
Begin with what the money is for: a home, regular income, retirement or a longer-term investment. Then compare the assets and the account or insurance policy through which you would hold them. The same investment can have different tax, costs and withdrawal conditions depending on that choice.
Your existing portfolio belongs in this review. Before opening another account, establish what you can keep, how France will treat it and whether it still suits your plans.
- Your tax obligations. US citizenship or green-card status can bring US reporting and fund-taxation rules into the analysis, as well as restrictions imposed by providers.
- Your next move. A French or Luxembourg policy needs to be checked against the next country’s rules and the insurer’s ability to service it there. Neither label guarantees portability.
- Your access to the money. Keep planned expenditure separate from investments that may take time to sell, and compare the costs of changing an existing arrangement.
French assurance-vie explained for foreign residents and Luxembourg life assurance for a resident of France describe insurance-based ways of holding investments. French SCPI property funds: taxation and risks for foreigners and Private equity and private assets for residents of France explain the assets, their risks and the ways of investing in them.
References cited
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep my home-country investment accounts after moving to France?
Sometimes, subject to the provider’s rules for French residents. Keeping an account does not preserve its home-country tax advantages in France. Foreign accounts and insurance contracts also have reporting requirements, notably under articles 1649 A and 1649 AA of the French tax code, with exceptions to check for the account concerned.
Why does everyone in France talk about assurance-vie?
In the savings context, assurance-vie combines investments with an insurance contract and a beneficiary clause. Its French tax treatment depends partly on how long the policy has been open. It is different from pure life cover, although contracts can also include death benefits. Compare the investments, fees and withdrawal conditions before choosing one.
Does being American really change what I can invest in?
Yes. US tax and reporting rules can apply alongside the French rules. Some funds fall within the PFIC regime, and some providers restrict accounts for US persons. Confirm the treatment and the provider’s acceptance before choosing an investment, with a US tax professional where needed.
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Also worth reading: the White paper — Private Equity 2026 published by Private Equity Valley — Unlisted assets: selection, risks, access.
Written by Stéphane Molère, President of Éthique et Patrimoine — page last reviewed on 2026-09-15 — reference date for the rules: 2026-09-07.