Relocating to Cannes

About the City

Located in the south of the country on the French Riviera, Cannes is a city in the Alpes-Maritimes department of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur in France. Although it only has a population of around 80,000 people, the total population increases dramatically during the summer months, as it is a popular tourist destination, and particularly during the Cannes Film Festival, which is held in May every year. The vast majority of the population is French, but due to the fame of the Film Festival, as well as its strong economy and beautiful landscape, the city is also home to many expatriates and foreigners from around the world. Although the official language is French, Cannes has its own native dialect called Maritim or Centrau, which is a sub-dialect of Provençal, the dialect spoken throughout the region; some people may also speak Occitan, but this is becoming less common. As it is an international city, expatriates moving to Cannes can expect many people to speak some English, although learning French is advisable.

The Climate in Cannes

Like most of France, Cannes has a Mediterranean climate. This means that expatriates moving to Cannes will need to adjust to mild weather all year round, though with slightly warmer temperatures in the summer, and very little rainfall throughout the year. In the summer months, the average temperature is around 25°C (77°F), but it often reaches 30°C (86°F) during the day. During the winter, the temperature drops to around 10°C (50°F), but this is only for three months of year between December and and February. Although Cannes experiences little precipitation, its wettest months are October and November, when 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain will fall on average.

Visas for France

France is a member of the European Union, and as a result, whether or not you will need a visa to move Cannes depends on your nationality. As an EU/EEA or Swiss citizen, you will not need a visa to move to Cannes or stay for an indefinite period of time. However, non-EU/EEA or Swiss citizens will need to apply for either a residence permit (carte de séjour) or a long stay work visa, as residence for the duration of your working contract is included in the granting of a long stay work visa. For more information on applying for a long stay work visa, see the section on Working in Cannes. Expatriates wanting to move to Cannes using a residence permit are able to apply for the permit either in their home country, or within two months of entering France. In order for the permit to be granted you will need to have an interview, and submit a number of official documents. These residence permits are usually temporary and normally last for a period of one year.