all that info is standard for everyone, Debra, copies of livret de famille, carnet de santé et al. juste like the doctor's certificates for clubs to say they can play sport although atleast there are moves to make that every other year - une usine à gaz ! :-O
No, never made it law but because of the foncière and so on we must be registered. So, we are supposed to but it is not compulsory!!?? That makes it wonderfully clear and then the three months come into it, which is nonetheless what the mairies want. Ours is not to reason why...
I have just looked at some information on an EU site and this is a summary of what it says for France:
If you are an EU citizen, you have the right to reside in France without a visa, but must carry a valid passport or identity document (ID). To declare yourself a resident go to the mairie of the commune you are living in where you must produce proof of ID and address. A attestation d’enregistrement is issued immediately and serves as your record of residence. This will help opening a bank account, taking out insurance and so on.
If working in France, you should register for social security at your local office ( the mairie can advise on where this is). You will be provided with a social security number and entitled to some French social security benefits.
You may wish to apply for a residence permit (carte de séjour) but it is optional since an EU passport is sufficient to reside and work in France. However, the carte de séjour can be a useful way to prove to certain authorities (such as the British HM Revenue and Customs) that you are a permanent resident in France.
After three months in France in a fixed residence, EU citizens may declare themselves resident. You should consult your local Mairie (town hall) to find out how and when you are expected to register. If so, you must go to the town hall with proof of ID and address. Otherwise, if you spend six months and one day (measured at 183 days) in France you are considered a resident for tax purposes. This is the standard in most EU countries.
You will be issued with a receipt of your registration: attestation d’enregistrement. You may also apply for a residence permit, but this is optional for EU/EEA nationals. If registration is deemed obligatory, nationals who do not register with their town hall upon arrival in France may be fined. Registration there is principally for local taxation purposes but the town hall will also pass it on to departmental records, which in turn will be entered into national records, all of which are likewise principally for taxation purposes.
183 days, half a year plus a day and you are resident in the country you spend at least that long in. I gather a camper is limited by the amount of time you are normally allowed travelling outside of your home country which is 90 days maximum. When we spent exactly a year in Portugal we had to insure both cars we took for nine months with an insurer there.
In what sense, David? I presume you're refering to the 183 day rule (tipping the scales one way or the other defining in which country are resident) - if so, there's your answer! ;-)