Thinking of swapping your life at home for an island in the Indian Ocean? Reunion Island is a French overseas department, so it runs on French rules, the euro and French paperwork. Here's what it takes: 6 to 8 weeks for a container to arrive from France, €1,500 to €4,000 to ship it, and a cost of living 10 to 15% above mainland France.
Reunion Island is a French department and part of the EU.French and EU citizens can move with just an ID card, and French social security works as it does in mainland France. Other nationalities should check visa and residence rules first. For the island's exact status, see DROM, COM, TOM. To prepare for the climate, read the weather in Reunion Island.
This site brings together more than 470 partner activities (helicopter flights, paragliding, hiking, whale-watching cruises, airport shuttles...), a wide choice of hotels and gîtes for your first weeks in temporary accommodation, and dozens of practical guides to exploring your new island. An independent site run by a Reunion Island enthusiast.
Reunion Island is part of France, and of the European Union. Its legal, tax, social security and school systems are the French ones, the currency is the euro and the official language is French. If you're moving from mainland France, it's a domestic move: no visa, no customs formalities, and your ID card, Carte Vitale (French health insurance card) and driving licence all remain valid. EU citizens can also settle without a visa. Coming from elsewhere? Check the visa and residence requirements for your nationality before anything else. Much of the practical advice below assumes a move from France, as that's where most new arrivals come from.
The physical move is a big undertaking. Shipping from France, allow 6 to 8 weeks at sea between Marseille and Le Port for a container, so roughly 2 to 3 months between loading and delivery to your door. Expect to pay €1,500 to €4,000 for a 20-foot container(the contents of a 2-3 bedroom home). Many people sell bulky furniture before they leave and buy again on the island. Once you're here, to move boxes into your new home, local rental companies such as Clovis rent out vans at reasonable prices.
Day to day, the cost of living is 10 to 15% higher than in mainland France, and up to 30% higher on some imported products (cheese, yoghurt, ham). On the other hand, fuel prices are regulated and generally lower, local fruit and fish are plentiful, and renting a large house with a garden costs less than around Paris.
Below you'll find the 4 key steps, the 6 areas to plan for (housing, jobs, healthcare, schooling, cost of living, getting around), the documents to bring and the pitfalls to avoid.
Ideally, start 6 months before you leave so that sea freight, your lease and the paperwork all line up. Here's the order that works best.
Work out the total budget (flight + freight + deposit + 2 months of living costs on the island) and choose where you want to live. If you're eligible to work in France, contact France Travail Réunion (the public job centre) and look into any help available (from an employer, a work transfer, a graduate scheme).
Request 3 quotes from freight forwarders (CMA-CGM, Marfret, Mauritius Shipping). A 20-foot container from Marseille: €1,500 to €4,000 depending on volume. Le Havre costs more.
Book somewhere to stay for the first few weeks (Airbnb, a hotel, a gîte or holiday cottage). Many people use Saint-Pierre or Saint-Denis as a base while they view properties and sign a lease.
Coming from mainland France: update your address with the tax office, the CPAM health insurer (your file moves to CGSS Réunion), the CAF (family benefits), your bank and utility providers, register on the electoral roll at the town hall and update your vehicle registration within 30 days. Coming from abroad: register with the local French authorities as your nationality requires.
Housing, jobs, healthcare, schooling, cost of living, getting around: the six big areas to get right for a smooth move, with practical advice for each.
A tight property market. Typical rents per m²: central Saint-Denis €12-20, Saint-Paul €11-18, Saint-Pierre €10-15, Le Tampon €8-12. The highland towns (Plaine des Cafres, Bourg-Murat) are more affordable. To buy, expect €2,800 to €5,500 per m² depending on the area.
Growing sectors: healthcare, construction, tourism, agriculture (sugar cane and tropical fruit), public administration. Unemployment is higher than in mainland France (12-15% versus around 7%), but skilled trades are in strong demand. The civil service recruits through national competitive exams, as Reunion Island is a full French department.
CGSS Réunion (the general social security fund) replaces mainland France's CPAM. Your file is transferred automatically once you request it on ameli.fr, and the Carte Vitale (health insurance card) works as normal. There's a solid hospital network (university hospitals in Saint-Denis and Saint-Pierre) and plenty of private doctors in the towns.
Schools come under the Académie de La Réunion (the regional education authority, based in Saint-Denis). The school calendar is different: because of the southern summer, the long holidays fall in December-January. There are state schools, Catholic private schools and lycées (secondary schools). The University of Reunion Island has 2 campuses (Saint-Denis and Le Tampon), 6 faculties and 12,000 students.
Overall 10 to 15% more expensive than mainland France, and up to 30% more on some imported products (yoghurt, cheese, certain spirits). A local import tax (the octroi de mer) applies to imported goods. Fuel prices are set by the prefecture and are generally lower than in mainland France. Tap water is safe to drink but is sometimes rationed in the east during the dry season.
A car is almost essential outside the main towns. The Car Jaune inter-city bus network is thin on the ground and slow. Traffic is often heavy at rush hour in Saint-Denis and along the RN1 and RN2. There's no train. Flights from Roland-Garros airport go to Mauritius (45 min) and mainland France (11h).
Originals and copies: don't put everything in the container, which will take two months to arrive. Keep these on you during the flight.
French and EU citizens need no visa. Other nationalities: check entry and residence rules before you go.
To be updated within 30 days of moving, via the ANTS.
Vaccinations up to date, especially as dengue fever keeps coming back.
Prescriptions, reports and medical history for your new doctor.
Essential for signing a lease.
For direct debits: tax, energy, phone and internet.
Originals, for job applications.
Still valid, as you're still in France.
Rather than queueing at a counter, use the official French online services (in French), which work exactly as they do in mainland France.
Page updated October 2026.