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Doing business France relocation support British companies

Posted Dec 16, 2025
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What are the most frequent challenges for British companies when it comes to relocation?

For many British companies, France represents a natural next step — a large, dynamic market just across the Channel.
Yet, since Brexit, relocating a business or employees to France has become a complex puzzle.

  • Work permits
  • residence authorisations
  • social security registration
  • visa procedures

They now fall under a different set of rules.
What was once routine business travel may now require formal steps, often with legal nuances.

Expanding or developing a business in France as a British company involves navigating both regulatory and cultural differences. The key aspects every British company should consider goes from legal and tax issues to HR and cultural integration and of course taking into consideration long delays that may occur during the process.”  – Vincent De Graauw – Immigration Manager France at Santa Fe Relocation

Even for experienced companies, the process can drain time, energy, and morale.
A single misstep — an expired permit, a missing registration, or a misinterpreted rule — can delay projects and affect employee wellbeing.

🔎 Access our guide for British investors looking to do business in France.

Brexit

The role of Santa Fe Relocation in helping British companies with relocation

Presentation of Santa Fe Relocation

Santa Fe Relocation is a global leader in international mobility, specialising in seamless relocation for companies expanding abroad.

With 1,300 employees in 120 locations worldwide, the company helps businesses of all sizes manage the entire relocation process — from visas to cultural adaptation.

Their approach is built on five pillars designed to guide clients through every stage of their journey:
Moving
Moving
Immigration
Immigration
Destination services
Destination services
Compensation and expense management
Compensation and expense management
Full assignment management solutions
Full assignment management solutions

I am convinced that companies who succeed in international mobility do not simply ‘immigrate’ talent: they integrate, value and orchestrate it as an asset. I am here to help you transform
– Vincent De Graauw

Discover Vincent De Graauw's interview

How does Santa Fe Relocation supports British companies with their relocating needs?

Santa Fe’s expertise extends beyond logistics, it’s about making each relocation compliant, human, and efficient.
Their support covers every key step of the process:

  • obtaining work permits and residence permits for non-European talent
  • ensuring compliance with intra-group secondments and internal transfers
  • integrating issues related to French labour law, immigration law and social security
  • monitoring major legislative changes
  • upstream planning (which legal structure to use, which location to choose?),
  • operational coordination (visas, permits, social security registration, taxation)
  • and human support (expatriate guidance, understanding of cultural issues, local adaptation).

Concrete case of a British company supported by Santa Fe Relocation

We recently assisted a British company that needed to send 25 employees to work in France as part of an international service provision: even though British nationals are exempt from short-stay visas for stays not exceeding 90 days per 180-day period, this does not exempt them from work permits! We therefore provided the UK company with guidance on the legal requirements for assignments in France and offered practical solutions based on these requirements.

Vincent De Graauw

Your ideal partner to expand into the French market

When Santa Fe Relocation joined the UK Business Centre Lille network, the partnership created a new level of synergy for British investors.

Through the UKBC Lille, British companies gain direct access to local experts and institutions such as Santa Fe.

By combining local insight and global experience, the partnership ensures that expanding to France feels more like a guided journey.

🔎 No need to look for the right partners, the UKBC Lille has selected them for you, discover them.

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Want to find the right partners for your EU expansion?

The UK Business Centre Lille has already selected them for you.
We create tailored support to give you concrete solution to access the EU market and fast-track your development.
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