Plenty of people buy property on the Côte d’Azur without living in France. The process is workable from abroad, but it requires more planning than a local purchase and a few things that catch buyers off guard if they haven’t prepared.
What you can do remotely
Property search and viewings. Remote viewings via video call have become standard. Most agents working with international buyers will do WhatsApp or FaceTime walkthroughs, and some will send detailed video tours in advance. It’s not the same as being there, but it’s a reasonable way to filter down before you visit.
Signing the compromis. The preliminary contract can be signed by post or, increasingly, by electronic signature. You don’t have to be in France for this stage. Bear in mind the 10-day cooling-off period starts from the date you receive the signed document, so posting it adds a few days to that clock.
The final signing. This is where it gets more complicated. The acte authentique (the final deed) must be signed before a notaire — but it doesn’t have to be signed by you in person. You can authorise someone else to sign on your behalf using a power of attorney (procuration).
How the power of attorney works
A procuration is a legal document that grants someone else the authority to sign the acte authentique in your name. That person attends the signing at the notaire’s office and signs the deed on your behalf.
If you’re signing the procuration in France, a French notaire draws it up. If you’re outside France, you have two options. The simpler one: since a 2020 decree, a French notaire can take a procuration by video call. You appear on screen, the notaire authenticates the document, and no apostille is needed. Ask your notaire early whether they offer this — not all do, but it’s increasingly common and saves a lot of time.
The traditional route: have the procuration notarised by a local equivalent (a notary public in the UK or US) and then apostilled under the Hague Convention so it’s recognised in France. This works but takes longer — leave at least two weeks before the scheduled signing.
Give yourself time for this. Getting a document notarised, apostilled, and sent to France before a scheduled signing is manageable but not something to leave until the last week. Your French notaire can usually advise on the exact format required.
The person you give the procuration to can be your agent, your buyer’s advocate, a trusted friend based in France, or in some cases the notaire’s own clerk. Discuss this with your notaire early so there are no last-minute problems.
Opening a French bank account
This is the part buyers consistently underestimate. The purchase price has to pass through a French notaire’s escrow account, which means you need to be able to make a large SEPA transfer from a French account or, in some cases, directly from an international account if the notaire accepts it.
Getting a French bank account as a non-resident is possible but takes longer than most people expect. BNP Paribas, Société Générale, and HSBC France all open accounts for non-residents, though the process involves in-person appointments and document requirements that can stretch over weeks. Online banks like Boursobank are an option for residents but generally require a French address first.
Start this process early in your property search, not after you’ve found a property.
Currency and transfers
If you’re buying in euros from a non-euro currency (pounds, dollars), the exchange rate at the time of the final transfer matters considerably on a large sum. Currency specialists such as Wise or a dedicated FX broker can hold a rate in advance or set a rate alert. Using your regular bank’s international transfer rates tends to cost more.
What actually requires you to be in France
In practice, nothing in the legal process strictly requires your physical presence if you’ve arranged a procuration. But in practice, most buyers visit France at least once before the compromis to see properties in person, get a feel for the neighbourhood, and meet their agent and potentially their notaire. Buying something you’ve only seen on a screen is a significant financial risk, even with good video tours.
For the final signing, it’s a judgement call. If the procuration is properly prepared and you trust the person you’ve authorised, remote completion works. Some buyers prefer to be there for it regardless — it’s a significant moment — but it’s not legally required.
Useful things to have in place before you start
- A French bank account, or at least the process started
- A clear idea of how you’ll handle the currency transfer
- A property lawyer or buyer’s agent familiar with international purchases, if you want someone on your side through the process (the notaire represents the transaction, not you)
- A French phone number, or at least a way to receive calls and messages from French numbers without high roaming costs
- A certified French translator if your French isn’t strong enough to follow a full notarial reading at the signing