Landing a job transfer, a new position, or simply deciding to start over under the tropics: leaving mainland France to settle in Martinique, Guadeloupe or French Guiana is an exciting adventure, but one that needs preparation. Unlike expatriation, you stay in France: same currency, same social security, same rights. But the distance (over 7,000 km, 8 to 9 hours of flying), the tropical climate, the cost of living and the logistical quirks of each territory call for rigorous organisation. Many newcomers underestimate how long it takes to find permanent housing, open the right accounts or ship their belongings by container. This checklist, designed for all three departments, helps you forget nothing in the weeks before the big departure, and approach your arrival with peace of mind.
Planning ahead: the 3-month countdown
The golden rule: start early. A move to the overseas departments is best prepared over 2 to 3 months, mainly because of shipping times and pressure on the housing market.
What to launch first
- Book your flight (prices climb sharply in high season, from December to March and over the summer).
- Contact a shipping company if you are sending a container or groupage freight.
- Cancel or transfer your mainland subscriptions (electricity, internet, insurance, gym).
- Give notice to your landlord, or put your mainland home up for sale or rent.
- Look for temporary accommodation on arrival (permanent housing is almost always found locally, once you are there).
Countdown checklist
- Flights booked (outbound, and return if it is a fixed-term assignment)
- Shipping quotes requested (at least 2 or 3)
- Notice given on your mainland home
- Temporary accommodation booked on site
- Employment contract or transfer letter in hand
- Schools / nurseries contacted if you are moving with family
As a rough guide, sea freight between mainland France and the French Caribbean or Guiana takes between 3 and 6 weeks depending on the port and the carrier: your belongings will not arrive at the same time as you. Plan a “survival” suitcase covering several weeks.
Paperwork and administrative formalities
Good news: Martinique, Guadeloupe and French Guiana are French departments. You need no passport, no visa and no change of status. Your national ID card is enough to travel, and your rights (social security, family allowances, unemployment benefits, pension) are maintained.
What still needs updating
- Vehicle registration: if you ship your car, the change of address is mandatory within the month following your arrival.
- Social security: your file is transferred to the local CGSS (Caisse Générale de Sécurité Sociale), which replaces the CPAM overseas.
- Taxes: you come under the public finance office of your new department. A specific income tax allowance applies in the overseas departments (capped) — check it against your own situation.
- Banking: keep your mainland account if you wish, but opening a local account makes certain formalities easier (utility direct debits, rent, etc.).
- Family doctor: must be re-registered locally to keep your coordinated care pathway.
Documents to carry in paper form
- ID documents (including the children’s)
- Family record book
- Employment contract / employer’s letter
- Bank account details
- Health and vaccination records
- Diplomas and school reports
- Recent proof of address (useful for opening contracts)
One important special case: French Guiana. The yellow fever vaccine is compulsory there for all residents from 12 months of age (unlike the French Caribbean, where it is not required). Plan this vaccination before departure, at an approved centre.
Finding somewhere to live: the most strategic step
This is the biggest source of stress. The rental market is tight in sought-after areas, remote viewings are risky, and listings do not always match the photos. The safest strategy remains: arrive with temporary accommodation, then look for permanent housing on site, once you know the neighbourhoods.
Where to look in each territory
In Martinique, the sought-after residential areas are around Fort-de-France, Le Lamentin (close to the airport and employment hubs), Schoelcher (university and coastal) and Les Trois-Îlets (leisure side). The north (Saint-Pierre, Le Carbet) is greener and more authentic, the south (Sainte-Anne, Le Marin) more touristy.
In Guadeloupe, the archipelago splits between Grande-Terre (Pointe-à-Pitre, Le Gosier, Sainte-Anne, more urban and seaside) and Basse-Terre (more mountainous and green, with the prefecture of Basse-Terre plus Petit-Bourg and Baie-Mahault, home to the Jarry business zone, the leading economic hub).
In French Guiana, most of daily life is concentrated around Cayenne and its neighbourhoods (Montabo, Cabassou, Zéphir), Rémire-Montjoly (residential, close to the beaches) and Matoury (near Cayenne-Félix Éboué airport). Kourou attracts profiles linked to the Guiana Space Centre.
Housing budget benchmarks
Purely as a guide, and depending on the season, the town and the condition of the property, a monthly rent may fall within these ranges:
- Studio or one-bedroom: often in a range of several hundred euros.
- Family three-room flat: significantly higher in sought-after towns close to the coast.
- Prices vary widely between city centres and outlying communes.
These benchmarks are orders of magnitude only: check several local sources and beware of listings that look too good to be true (deposit scams are common at a distance).
Housing checklist
- Temporary accommodation booked for your arrival
- Rent + charges budget defined
- Target neighbourhoods identified based on your workplace
- Security deposit and first month’s rent set aside
- No transfer sent before viewing the property (or having a trusted third party view it)
To avoid committing too quickly, a stay of a few weeks in furnished accommodation lets you search calmly, meet agencies and get to grips with the local geography. That is exactly the kind of solution offered by our concierge service through our properties.
Budget and cost of living
The cost of living overseas is noticeably higher than in mainland France, especially on imported goods. A large share of food, household appliances and building materials arrives by boat, which pushes prices up.
Expenses to anticipate
- Food: imported products (yoghurts, cured meats, dry goods) cost more; conversely, local fruit and vegetables, fish and market spices are affordable and excellent.
- Fuel and vehicle: owning a car is close to essential (public transport is limited outside urban areas). Fuel prices are regulated but remain a significant expense.
- Energy: air conditioning drives up the electricity bill, especially in French Guiana where the climate is equatorial (hot and humid all year round).
- Leisure and services: generally more expensive.
Indicative benchmarks
According to regular INSEE studies, the overall price gap with mainland France runs to several percentage points, with far wider gaps on food. These figures shift over time: take them as an order of magnitude, not a fixed value. Plan a cash cushion to cover setting up: first rents, deposit, equipment, vehicle, for as long as it takes your situation to stabilise.
Budget checklist
- Emergency savings covering 2 to 3 months of expenses
- “Setting-up” budget (furniture, appliances, car)
- Sea freight costs factored in
- Simulation of your new income (including any cost-of-living bonus if you are a civil servant)
