In summary…
Yes, going abroad does not require you to close your French bank accounts, and no rule will close them for you. However, your bank can close a standard account without giving a reason, provided you give at least two months' written notice.
The real question, therefore, is not "Do I have the right to keep my account?" but "What happens if it's taken away?" Our position: keep a French account as long as you need it, but open a second, independent account before you leave.
«"My bank just wrote to me: my account will be closed in two months." Typical situation: a family that has been living abroad for a few months, a request for supporting documents that has gone unanswered. Rent, alimony, and property tax payments were deposited into this account. Nothing had been planned.
1. What the law guarantees, and what it does not guarantee
A closure without cause remains possible, with two months' notice.
Apart from the right to an account, the bank can close a deposit account, even if it is functioning normally, provided that it informs you in writing with at least [number] days' notice. two months. She does not have to justify her decision, and you can only contest the failure to respect the notice period. The Ministry of the Economy has clarified that these rules are the same for a resident and for a non-resident.
Leaving is therefore not a legal reason for closure, but it does not protect either: the bank retains its contractual freedom, limited by the rules against discrimination (the Defender of Rights can be contacted).
The right to an account: a safety net, not a plan
If no bank will lend to you, the procedure of right to an account It exists. It is open to people domiciled in France, French citizens residing abroad, and foreigners legally residing in another European Union member state who are not acting for professional purposes. A foreigner residing outside the European Union is not included. A common condition is not to hold any deposit account in France.
- The bank that refuses must give you a certificate of refusal; silence of fifteen days is considered a refusal.
- The Bank of France designates a bank within one working day after receiving the complete file; the designation is valid for six months.
- The account is then opened within three working days once the documents are provided, with only basic banking services.
Specifically. This system is useful when the account has already disappeared. It does not replace a securities account, a loan, or a banking relationship with someone who knows you.
For the technician. Right to an account: Article L. 312-1 of the French Monetary and Financial Code (CMF), basic services in Article D. 312-5-1. Closure of an account not subject to the right to an account: Article L. 312-1-1, III of the CMF (two-month notice period, no justification required). For an account opened under the right to an account, closure requires two months' notice and a reasoned written notification, except in cases of fraudulent transactions or inaccurate information (Article L. 312-1, IV). Discrimination: Articles 225-1 and 225-2 of the French Penal Code.
2. What the bank will ask you when your tax residence changes
A tax residency declaration that the bank is requesting
For the automatic exchange of information between states (the OECD Common Reporting Standard, known as CRS), your bank collects a self-certification This is a document in which you declare your countries of tax residence and your tax identification number. Since 2018, financial institutions have been collecting their clients' tax residence and, when it is outside France, their tax identification number, through this self-certification request provided for in Article 1649 AC of the French General Tax Code. When your situation changes, the bank may ask you for a new one. new.
Failure to provide the requested information may result in a fine as stipulated by the General Tax Code. Details in the article on the bank's application for tax residency.
Monitoring the relationship: a change of country is a signal
Banks maintain constant vigilance: transactions must remain consistent with their up-to-date knowledge of you, and any factor that could alter your risk profile must be taken into account. A new country of residence or incoming transfers from abroad are all reasons why they might ask you for documents. Responding quickly and completely protects you.
For the technician. Self-certification: Article 1649 AC of the French General Tax Code and BOFiP BOI-INT-AEA-20-20-30. Failure to provide information by the holder: Article 1740 C of the French General Tax Code, discussed in BOFiP BOI-CF-INF-10-40-80. Constant vigilance: Article L. 561-6 of the French Monetary and Financial Code, guidelines of the ACPR (French Prudential Control and Resolution Authority) on business relationships.
A more everyday obstacle: online access from abroad
Online access requires two-factor authentication. Customers living abroad encounter difficulties enrolling a device when the code arrives by mail or SMS to a French number. According to the Ministry of the Economy (December 2024), the app or SMS remains compatible with foreign residency: contact the bank for an alternative enrollment method before access is blocked.
3. The actual timeline for a closing, and what needs to be done during the two months
| Day | Event | Action |
|---|---|---|
| J (example: November 10, 2026) | Receipt of the closing letter | Date the receipt, and request in writing the schedule of ongoing operations. |
| J + a few days | Census | List direct debits, incoming transfers, cards, subscriptions, and related contracts |
| Day + 1 month | Rocker | Change bank details with your employer, tenant, pension funds, and tax authorities |
| Two months later (January 10, 2027) | Earliest closing date | Credit balance restored, debit balance to be repaid |
This timeline is an example of how to calculate the notice period, not a sample letter. The notice period begins upon notification, and the account cannot be closed before its end. During this period, open a replacement account: in your country of residence, or, if no bank will accept you, through your right to a bank account once you no longer have a deposit account in France.
Specifically. Common errors: rent collected in the old account, a rejected property tax payment, a pension returned to sender. For retirement, see the life certificate ; for booklets and plans, residency conditions ; for the equity savings plan, what happens to the initial plan.
What the announced reform would change, and where it stands.
A proposed law aimed to increase the notice period for French citizens living abroad from two to four months. The Senate Finance Committee rejected it on April 29, 2026, and the Senate as a whole rejected it on May 7, 2026. The Financial Sector Advisory Committee launched an inquiry into the matter from July 10 to September 4, 2026. The notice period remains at two months.
4. The solutions, with their limitations
| Solution | What it brings | Its limit |
|---|---|---|
| Keep the account and file up to date | A relationship known to the bank, new self-certification provided without delay | Closure without cause remains possible |
| Open an account in your country of residence | No longer dependent on a single bank, simple local access | Depends on the country and the bank; to be done before departure if possible |
| Right to an account | A basic account guaranteed if no bank accepts | Reserved for those without a deposit account in France; basic services |
| Structured complaint | Customer service, then banking ombudsman, then Defender of Rights in case of discrimination | It does not prevent the closure, it only contests it. |
For interest and bonds paid to a non-resident, see their tax treatment ; for accounts and contracts held abroad, what needs to be declared.
Frequently asked questions
Can the bank close my account because I live abroad?
Yes: without cause, with at least two months' written notice, whether resident or not. For an account opened under the right to an account, closure must be justified and notified to the Bank of France.
Do I need to inform my bank of my change of tax residence?
Read your account agreement, which may require it. The bank may ask you for a new self-certification anyway when your situation changes: provide it without waiting for them to request it.
Is a foreigner living outside the European Union entitled to a bank account in France?
No. The right to a bank account is available to people domiciled in France, French citizens residing abroad, and foreigners legally residing in another European Union member state. A foreigner living outside the EU is subject to the policies of each individual bank.
Our position
A French bank account is worth keeping, provided it's not your only source of income. Three key steps: proactively disclose your new tax residence, open a backup account before leaving, and never link rent, pension, and tax payments to a single account.
Are you living abroad and worried about your French bank accounts? We go through what is attached to each account and what needs to be moved, before a closing letter imposes the schedule.
Are you a notary, chartered accountant, lawyer, or fellow consultant? And one of your clients is leaving or has just left? We intervene in a co-contracting capacity on banking and wealth management organization: the client remains yours, we provide you with a clear map of accounts, contracts and deadlines.
Book an appointment
The initial consultation is to establish your exact situation and determine if there is anything that can be done—sometimes there is nothing, and we will say so as well. Thirty minutes, with no obligation.
Book an exchange with Balmont Conseil
Alexis Sagnier, financial and real estate investment advisor, insurance broker, AMF certified. ORIAS 13003497. Updated on 23/10/2026.
Official sources consulted
- Service-public.gouv.fr, Refusal to open a bank account: right to an account
- Service-public.gouv.fr, Closing a bank account by the bank
- Service-public.gouv.fr, Bank Account Agreement
- Senate, written question no. 00556 (2017), closure of accounts of French citizens residing outside France
- Senate, written question no. 02067 (2024), bank accounts of French citizens established outside France
- Senate, Bill No. 460 (2025-2026), Guarantee of access to a bank account
- Senate, session of May 7, 2026
- Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, access to banking services for French citizens abroad
- National Assembly, written question no. 2304 (answer published in the Official Journal on 25 March 2025), collection of tax residence by financial institutions
- BOFiP, BOI-INT-AEA-20-20-30, Common Reporting Standard, New Personal Accounts
- BOFiP, BOI-CF-INF-10-40-80, failure to comply with automatic exchange obligations
- ACPR, guidelines relating to the business relationship
