Moving back to Réunion
Moving back, car, jobs and travel aid for Réunionese returning from mainland France.
By the Rentîles editorial team Published on Updated on
To move back to Réunion, you follow the same rules as for a first move. Your personal belongings enter free of VAT and octroi de mer with a dated, signed inventory, if they arrive within a year of your return.
Moving back
- Draw up a detailed inventory of your belongings, dated and signed in 2 copies.
- Keep proof of settlement: certificate of change of residence, employment contract, transfer notice or order.
- Bring in your belongings within a year of your return, in one or more shipments.
- Do not sell, rent or lend these belongings for 12 months.
The full conditions are on the octroi de mer exemption page.
The car
Your car enters free of VAT and octroi de mer if you bought it with all taxes included in mainland France. Once on the island, you have 1 month to change the address on your vehicle registration certificate. The shipping your car to Réunion page details the paperwork.
Jobs
The unemployment rate in Réunion is 16% in 2025, against 7.5% in mainland France. It has fallen by 5 points since 2019 and is at its lowest level ever measured on the island, according to Insee.
As a state public servant, you receive a gross salary increased by 53.63% on the island. The overseas pay supplement calculator gives the amount from your salary index.
Travel aid once settled
Once you live in Réunion, you can apply for territorial continuity aid for a plane ticket. It is granted once every 3 years. You apply on the LADOM website.
Your latest tax notice must show an address in Réunion. The amount depends on your family quotient, that is your reference tax income divided by the number of tax shares.
| Family quotient | Aid amount | Paid by |
|---|---|---|
| Up to €6,000 | €575 | €475 by LADOM, €100 by the Region |
| €6,000 to €18,000 | €475 | LADOM |
| €18,000 to €26,030 | €200 | Region, if the reference tax income does not exceed €65,000 |
The aid cannot exceed the price of the ticket. These rules come from the Réunion Region’s rules of April 2026.
In short
Moving back to Réunion follows the rules of a first move. Your belongings and your car enter tax-free with an inventory and proof of settlement. Once settled, territorial continuity aid covers €200 to €575 of a plane ticket every 3 years.