How the French Government Could Block Access to Your Assurance Vie

Why moving your money could protect your future income

The latest. On 25 March 2025, President Macron proposed a radical idea: using private savings to support national defence spending through new state-backed investment vehicles. While the details remain unclear, the government’s intentions are increasingly evident and it’s sounding alarm bells for anyone relying on French-based savings for their future.

Why it matters. There is already a law in France that allows the government to block access to your assurance vie. In other words, you could be stopped from withdrawing your own money – an extremely worrying scenario for anyone dependent on assurance vieincome.

The government is now discussing applying similar restrictions to other savings vehicles like deposit accounts (Livret A), pointing to even broader future controls.

This isn’t theoretical. The French government has a record of shifting financial policy, from raising social charges (15.5% to 17.2%) to transforming wealth tax (ISF to IFI).

Smart solution. Luxembourg- and Ireland-based assurance vie policies offer stronger protections and are beyond French government control. With French authorities already empowered to freeze assurance vie withdrawals, moving your money to a Luxembourg- or Ireland-based policy ensures you keep control of your capital.

Takeaway. Don’t wait for the rules to shift, secure your assurance vie by moving it to Luxembourg or Ireland while you still can.