What You Need to Know When You’re Moving to Strasbourg

Relocating to Strasbourg

About the City

Strasbourg is the official seat of the European Parliament and the capital city of the Alsace region of Eastern France. Strasbourg is a city steeped in culture, history and political importance with several European legislative institutions headquartered in the city.

Located close to the German border, Strasbourg represents an alliance between France and Germany and its culture is an exciting amalgamation of the two nations. In 1988 Strasbourg was awarded the title of World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the first city to receive the classification and Strasbourg remains an important hub for Franco-German relations as well as a prime location for both the French and German economies.

The seventh largest city in France, Strasbourg had a population of 270,000 in 2014. Its inhabitants and culture are diverse, and demonstrate the co-existence of the European community.

The Climate in Strasbourg

Strasbourg has what is known as an ‘Oceanic’ climate, with warm sunny summers and cold overcast winters. Snow is common in the winter months, on average falling for approximately 30 days in each year and rain is not uncommon throughout the seasons.

Strasbourg’s temperatures range on average from between -7°C and 26°C, with recorded lows of -23°C and highs of 38°C in extreme weathers.

Due to Strasbourg’s location in the Rhine Valley, it is afforded protection from weather fronts bringing strong winds; conversely, this means that Strasbourg is also one of the most polluted cities in France as this ‘protection’ also inhibits the cities exposure to fresh air and natural aeration.

However, the decline of heavy industry and the government’s introduction of traffic calming initiatives in the city have seen marked improvements towards reducing air pollution.

Visas for France

Most countries have embassies located in the capital of Paris which deal with all matters relating to their own nationals whilst living and working in France.

For members of EU countries, entry into Strasbourg is allowed using travel documentation, such as passports or ID cards, issued by the country of citizenship. Following three months consecutive stay, EU member state citizens must declare themselves as a ‘resident’, work and residence permits are not required for nationals of these member states.

Non-EU citizens must apply for a visa to remain in the country; however there are several variations of visa dependent on the purpose and duration of stay. Non-EU citizens who plan to take up residency in France must apply for a long stay visa prior to moving and applying for their first temporary or residence visa.

For full details of the application process and entry requirements it is advisable to seek counsel from the French Embassy in your home country or a comprehensive guide to visa requirements is also available online from France Diplomatie. Additionally, you can also take a look at our comprehensive guide on Moving to France.