Digital Nomads With Kids: Schooling, Health Coverage, and Insurance to Sort Out Before You Leave

Leaving with children does not suspend the duty of schooling or the question of health coverage. This article helps you understand which rules apply to schooling, how to request authorization to homeschool within the family, what steps to take to keep or reopen your health insurance rights, and which travel insurance to consider depending on the length of your stay. IT equipment, home insurance, renewing your papers, and well-being are not covered here, as no sources were reviewed for them.

Schooling: What the Law Requires, Even While Traveling

The texts that concern traveling families set out a simple principle: children aged three to sixteen present on national territory are subject to the duty of schooling, and their schooling must be encouraged regardless of living arrangements and the length of stay in a municipality^[1]. This 2019 ministerial reply indicates that, if the child is not enrolled in a school, they must receive instruction within the family, with a declaration then required to the mayor and to the departmental education services directorate (DSDEN)^[1]. The current system relies on an authorization request, detailed below^[2].

On the organizational side, a ministry guide, presented on the website of the CASNAV of the Lille academy, lists the specific teaching options for these students: regular classes, CNED distance learning, or homeschooling within the family^[3]. CNED is therefore one option among others, not a status that exempts you from any procedure.

These sources concern children present in France. Check the rules of your country of residence with its authorities and, for France, with the DSDEN of your department, in particular to find out whether a child enrolled locally meets the French schooling obligation.

Homeschooling Within the Family and CNED: Getting Authorization

The request for authorization to homeschool within the family is sent to the departmental education services directorate (DSDEN) of the child's department of residence, with the documents that match the reason given^[2]. When the project is based on a situation specific to the child, a written presentation of the educational project must be attached: teaching methods, resources and materials used, and how the child's time is organized^[2].

If a distance learning organization is involved, you must also describe the content of its contribution^[2]. This is where CNED enters the process: it may be part of the project, but it does not replace the authorization.

Deadlines

• According to the public service portal, the request can be submitted at any time of the year; confirm the deadlines specific to your reason with the DSDEN^[2].
• If the file is incomplete, the DSDEN may ask you to complete it within a period that cannot exceed 15 days^[2].
• The Dasen notifies its decision within 2 months of receiving the complete file; without a response within that period, the request is accepted^[2].

For information on CNED enrollment, costs, and the levels offered, contact CNED directly.

Health: Keeping or Changing Your Social Protection When You Leave

If you settle in a European Economic Area country or in Switzerland to work there, you are no longer insured under the French system: you fall under the social security of the country where you are established, to which you contribute^[4]. Before leaving, find out whether a minimum period of insurance, activity, or residence is required to open your rights locally. If so, ask your health insurance fund for form E104, which summarizes your insurance periods in France^[4].

Your family members are also covered by the social security of the host country, whether they live there or not^[4]. If your family members continue to live in France, you must request form S1 from your insurance body abroad; they will then submit it to their health insurance fund in France^[4].

You may also choose to keep the French system by joining the Caisse des Français de l'étranger (CFE)^[4]. This membership is in addition to contributions to the mandatory scheme of the country of expatriation^[4].

For a stay in the EU, the EEA, or Switzerland, the European Health Insurance Card confirms your rights and allows you to receive care locally under the legislation of the country where you are staying^[5]. You can apply online or through your health insurance fund, and you should allow time for processing^[5].

Your situation depends on your country of residence and your status. Confirm your case with your health insurance fund.

Travel and Assistance Insurance: What to Check Based on Length of Stay

Costs arising from illness, serious accident, medical evacuation, or death are not covered by the French embassy or consulate in the destination country^[5]. The right contract depends on how long you will stay.

• Stay of less than six months: if you are enrolled in the French national health insurance, a policy covering the medical costs it does not reimburse is recommended^[5].
• Stay of more than six months in practice: health insurance through the CFE or a private insurer is essential^[5].
• Stay of less than three months: assistance coverage is often tied to your home insurance, car insurance, or bank card; read the terms carefully before you leave^[5].
• Stay of more than three months in practice: a dedicated assistance policy is recommended^[5].

Also check that your policy does not exclude any country or region you plan to visit^[5]. If you plan mountain trips, evacuation coverage should start when the evacuation is requested, not on arrival at the hospital, so that a possible helicopter rescue is covered^[5].

Returning to France: Reopening Your Rights and Procedures

After living abroad, reopening your health insurance rights depends on your previous country of residence and your employment situation^[6].

If you were enrolled in French social security and are returning to work, send a copy of your employment contract or a payslip to the CPAM of your place of residence, together with form S1106^[6]. If you are not working, you must meet a residence requirement of 3 consecutive months in France; this can be proven by any means, for example 3 consecutive rent receipts^[6].

If you paid contributions to the CFE, you may, under certain conditions, receive its benefits for the 3 months after your return^[6].

Pitfalls and Points to Watch

• The CNED is not a way around the authorization requirement: a request for home schooling follows the procedure described above, and the project must detail any contribution from a distance-learning organization^[2].
• The appeal deadline is short: if your request is refused, you can contest the decision within 15 days of its notification^[2]. Before taking any step, check with the DSDEN which appeal routes apply to your refusal^[2].
• An incomplete file gives you at most 15 days to provide the missing documents^[2].
• Expenses incurred abroad remain the traveler's responsibility or that of their insurer, and can reach substantial amounts^[5]. Read the spending caps and exclusions in your contracts^[5].
• Without resuming work on your return, you generally must wait 3 consecutive months of residence in France before your rights reopen, depending on your previous country of residence and your situation^[6].

Checklist Before You Leave

• File the authorization request with the DSDEN of your department of residence if you choose home schooling, and note the notification date of any response.
• Ask your French health fund for form E104 if the host country requires a period of insurance or residence, and ask your host-country insurance body for form S1 for family members who remain in France.
• Order the European Health Insurance Card, allowing for processing times.
• Choose a CFE contract, a private insurer, or a dedicated assistance policy based on the length of stay, and read the country or region exclusions.
• Keep proof of residence (for example, rent receipts) for your return.
• Check the school rules of your country of residence, home insurance, and paperwork renewals with official sources.