About us

Ask the Expat Girls is run by us – Zoe and Vicky – two English expats living in the Basque Country in South Western France. Zoe moved to France in 2013, and Vicky in 2011, both green and completely naive to the complicated French bureaucracy that we had to deal with.

Since moving here, Zoe has started and built a business, and has gone through the arduous and somewhat confusing processes and administration required to set up and maintain a business in France. Vicky has had several jobs since moving here, most recently working with expats for a large global clothing brand, so has first hand knowledge of all that is involved when applying for jobs, job seeking, and the different government benefits available.

We are both mothers to two gorgeous little girls. We gave birth in France, so have researched and learned all the benefits & aid in France that are available for women pre and post birth. We speak fluent French and have successfully applied for our residency (carte de séjour), and now our French citizenship.

Zoe is a home owner and Vicky has lived in several rental properties so both understand the administrative processes involved when buying and renting property here.

We set up Ask the Expat Girls after seeing how challenging it was for our friends and family to relocate to France, especially for those who have a basic level of French or don’t speak it at all.

Our aim is to make other expats’ lives easier. Moving to a new country can be hard enough, let us take the hassle out of your journey of becoming an expat in France.

Got a question? Ask the Expat Girls!