You are in Montreal, the house is in the Charente, and the lawnmower has no passport. Good news: the sale does.
You live on the other side of the world and your house is waiting in France, shutters closed. Selling from a distance is entirely possible, provided you organise the viewings, the signatures and the tax.
Organising the property on site
An unoccupied property deteriorates and shows badly. Before putting it on the market, you need to have it checked, maintain it (garden, ventilation, frost-protection heating) and carry out the compulsory surveys. A trusted contact on site handles the viewings and any unexpected problems.
Also inform your insurer: a home left empty for a long time is not always covered on the same terms. And gather now the documents the notary will ask for: title deed, invoices for works, surveys, the latest property tax notices.
Signing without coming back to France
There are three ways to sign the preliminary sale agreement and the deed of sale:
Since the decree of 20 November 2020, a French notary can draw up an authenticated power of attorney by video conference, signed electronically, without you having to travel. You appoint a person, often a member of the notary's office staff, who signs on your behalf.
Before a notary or a local authority, with the legalisation or apostille required depending on the country. First ask the notary handling the sale which form they accept, to avoid a document being rejected.
You can sign at the notary's office of your choice; the electronic deed allows the buyer and the seller each to sign at their own notary's.
A power of attorney must be precise: the property, the minimum price accepted, the conditions of the sale. A power of attorney that is too vague blocks the signing on the day.
Selling from a distance is entirely possible, provided you organise it.
Taxation of non-residents
A capital gain made in France by a non-resident is taxed in France. The rules published by the tax authorities (January 2026 update) are as follows:
- Exemptions: subject to conditions, for the sale of your former main residence, or up to a capital gain of €150,000.
- Tax representative: not required if you live in the European Union, Iceland or Norway, if the price does not exceed €150,000, or if the sale is exempt because of the holding period. Otherwise, you must appoint an accredited representative, which costs money and takes time.
The notary calculates the tax, declares it and pays it at the time of the sale.
Beware of double taxation. Your country of residence may also tax this capital gain; the tax treaty between the two countries generally prevents this. Ask the notary, and your adviser where you live, from the outset.
A worked example
A fictitious example, calculated according to these rules. A house bought for €200,000 in 2012 and sold for €290,000 in 2026 by a person living in Canada, i.e. 14 years of ownership. Without supporting documents, a flat rate of 7.5% for acquisition costs and 15% for works (property held for more than 5 years) can be added to the purchase price.
Worked example: seller resident in Canada, 14 years of ownership
| Sale price | €290,000 |
| Purchase price used (€200,000 + flat rates of 7.5% and 15%) | €245,000 |
| Capital gain | €45,000 |
| Tax: 19% of €20,700 (54% allowance) | ≈ €3,930 |
| Social charges: 17.2% of €38,318 (14.85% allowance) | ≈ €6,590 |
| Total payable | ≈ €10,520 |
A tax representative must also be appointed. The same seller, if covered by the social security system of a European Union country, would pay around €2,870 in social charges instead of €6,590, i.e. around €6,800 in total, with no tax representative.
Selling faster when you are far away
From a distance, every month on the market costs money: property tax, insurance, upkeep, the risk of unlawful occupation. Selling to a buyer who sets no mortgage condition, or to a professional, can be more reassuring than a long marketing period, even at a slightly lower price. We compare the two scenarios.
Mistakes to avoid
- Waiting for the preliminary sale agreement to talk about tax: appointing a tax representative needs to be prepared in advance.
- Leaving the property unsupervised: a leak or a break-in discovered during a viewing drives the buyer away.
- Signing a power of attorney that is too broad or too vague: it must state precisely what the person can accept.
- Forgetting to tell the notary your tax residence: it changes how the tax is calculated.
Our approach
We review your property, its condition and its market, and help you organise the sale from a distance, working with the notary, so that you do not have to keep travelling back and forth.
Frequently asked questions
Can you sell a property in France without travelling there?
Yes, with a power of attorney: a French notary can draw it up remotely, by video conference and electronic signature.
Where can you sign a power of attorney when you live abroad?
Remotely with a French notary, or before an authority in your country with the legalisation or apostille required; the notary handling the sale will tell you which form they accept.
Does a non-resident pay capital gains tax in France?
Yes: 19% tax and social charges of 17.2% or 7.5% depending on your situation, after holding-period allowances. The notary handles it at the time of the sale.
Is a tax representative always required?
No. One is not needed if you live in the European Union, Iceland or Norway, if the price does not exceed €150,000, or if the capital gain is fully exempt because of the holding period.
Who shows the property when you live abroad?
An appointed professional, or a trusted person on site. What matters is that they know the property, its surveys and its defects, so they can answer buyers' questions without waiting for your return.
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