Entrepreneur Visa France: Guide for Self Employed

The main France Entrepreneur Visa options include:

• The entrepreneur/liberal profession long-stay visa and residence permit for applicants planning to undertake a commercial, craft or liberal activity in France, including applicants who intend to set up regulated businesses in France
• A multi-year entrepreneur/liberal profession residence permit, which may be available to eligible applicants after an initial qualifying long-stay visa or temporary residence permit, including a Long-Stay Visa
• The Talent Passport Residence Permit for eligible business founders and applicants with an innovative economic project recognized by a French public body

The talent business founder route requires a genuine, serious business-creation project in France. Applicants must hold a qualification at least equivalent to a Master’s degree, have at least 5 years of comparable professional experience, and invest at least €30,000 in the project.

Applicants using the innovative economic-project route must provide evidence that a public body recognizes their project as innovative.

The French Tech Visa framework can support eligible founders, employees and investors seeking a French talent residence permit, but applicants must still meet the requirements for the relevant talent category.

Overview

The term “France Entrepreneur Visa” covers several immigration routes for non-EU nationals who plan to start, take over, or run a business in France. Eligibility depends on whether the applicant is applying for the entrepreneur/liberal profession route or one of the talent project-leader routes.

Applicants for the entrepreneur/liberal profession route must plan to carry out a commercial, craft, industrial or liberal activity in France as their main activity.

The proposed activity must be economically viable, provide sufficient means of subsistence and correspond to the applicant’s qualifications or professional experience.

Applicants for a talent residence permit must meet the criteria for the applicable project-leader category. These categories include company creation, an innovative economic project and direct economic investment.

Entrepreneur/Liberal Profession Requirements

Applicants seeking an entrepreneur/liberal profession long-stay visa or residence permit must show that their planned activity meets the French requirements.

The evidence required depends on whether the applicant plans to create a new business, take over an existing activity or practise a liberal profession.

Applicants should provide documents that support the economic viability of the activity, their financial resources and their relevant qualifications or experience.

For a new business, the applicant must demonstrate that the proposed project is economically viable. The authorities will assess the business proposal and supporting financial information as part of the application.

For an existing activity or a liberal profession, the activity must provide resources at least equivalent to the French legal minimum wage for full-time work. The applicant’s role must also correspond to their qualifications or professional experience.

Applicants seeking to practise a regulated profession may need an authorisation to practise in France or registration with the relevant professional body.

Talent Project-Leader Requirements

The talent company-creation route is available to applicants who can demonstrate a concrete, serious plan to establish a business in France.

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Hold a qualification at least equivalent to a Master’s degree or have at least five years of comparable professional experience
• Show that the business-creation project is real and serious
• Have sufficient resources to support themselves and eligible family members, at least equal to the French full-time minimum wage
• Show funding of at least €30,000 for the business project

Applicants for a talent residence permit based on an innovative economic project must show that a competent French public body has recognised the project as innovative.

A separate talent route exists for direct economic investment in France. This route has different requirements, including an investment of at least €300,000 in tangible or intangible fixed assets in France.

Applying From Outside France

Non-EU nationals who intend to live in France while setting up or running a business must apply for the visa or residence route that matches their project before travelling to France.

For the entrepreneur/liberal profession route, applicants can apply for a long-stay visa equivalent to a residence permit, known as a VLS-TS. This permission is valid for one year and must be validated online within three months of arrival in France.

Applicants should start their application through France-Visas. The France-Visas process identifies the visa requirements, supporting documents and application procedures for the applicant’s country of residence.

Talent applicants who plan to stay in France for at least one year may receive a three-month long-stay visa marked “talent”.

They must validate the visa online after arrival and complete the process for the relevant multi-year talent residence permit.

Applying From Inside France

People who already hold a valid French residence document may be able to apply to change their immigration status to an entrepreneur/liberal profession or talent residence permit.

Eligibility depends on the existing immigration status and whether the applicant meets all conditions for the new route.

Applications for an entrepreneur/liberal profession residence permit are submitted to the prefecture or sub-prefecture responsible for the applicant’s place of residence.

Applicants should check the process and filing deadline set by their local prefecture before applying.

Application Process

The application process for a France Entrepreneur Visa depends on the route that matches the applicant’s business activity.

Non-EU nationals who plan to live in France while starting or running a business may apply under the entrepreneur/liberal profession route or an eligible talent residence-permit category.

Applicants should first identify the correct immigration route, then use the official France-Visas tool to confirm the required documents, application procedure and fees for their country of residence.

The document requirements can vary depending on the proposed activity and the applicant’s personal circumstances.

Step 1: Identify the Correct Entrepreneur Route

Applicants should identify the route that reflects the proposed activity before preparing an application.

The entrepreneur/liberal profession route may suit applicants who plan to engage in a commercial, craft, industrial, or liberal activity in France.

A talent residence permit may be relevant to applicants who are creating a business, undertaking an officially recognised innovative economic project, or making a qualifying direct economic investment.

The applicant should confirm the relevant requirements before submitting documents. An application in the wrong category can delay the process or result in refusal.

Step 2: Prepare the Required Documents

The required documents depend on the selected visa or residence permit category. France-Visas provides a personalised checklist after applicants enter their nationality, country of residence and reason for travel.

Supporting documents can include:

• A valid passport
• A completed visa application form and France-Visas receipt
• A curriculum vitae
• Evidence of relevant qualifications or professional experience
• A business plan or project file, where required
• Financial forecasts and evidence of project funding
• Evidence of personal financial resources
• Evidence that the applicant meets the conditions for the selected entrepreneur or talent route
• Evidence of official recognition for an innovative economic project, where required

Applicants should check whether any documents require a French translation, an apostille, legalisation, or a certified copy. These requirements depend on the document and the country where it was issued.

Step 3: Submit the Correct Application

Applicants outside France should start their visa application through France-Visas. The platform identifies the required documents, applicable fees, and submission process in the applicant’s country of residence.

After completing the online application, the applicant must attend an appointment at the French visa application centre, embassy or consulate responsible for their place of residence.

Applicants must bring the final application receipt, the required forms and supporting documents to the appointment.

Applicants already in France who are eligible to apply for a change of status or renew an existing residence document must use the process set by the relevant prefecture or the official online residence-permit service. A multi-year residence permit is not issued through a consulate.

Step 4: Pay the Applicable Fees

Applicants must pay the visa fee and any applicable service charges when submitting an overseas visa application. The standard fee for a long-stay visa is €300,000, although the amount can differ in some cases.

Additional taxes may apply after arrival in France when validating a long-stay visa or collecting a residence permit. Residence permit fees are separate from the visa fee and depend on the type of application.

Since May 2026, the standard tax-stamp fee for the first issue of several residence permits has been €350, while reduced fees apply to certain categories.

Applicants should confirm the fee shown by France-Visas and the relevant prefecture before making payment.

Step 5: Attend the Application Appointment

Applicants submitting a visa application from outside France must attend their scheduled appointment to provide their passport, supporting documents and biometric information where required.

The application centre, embassy or consulate may ask questions about the proposed business activity, professional background, project funding and plans to live in France.

Applicants should be ready to explain their project clearly and ensure that the documents listed on the France-Visas receipt are complete.

France-Visas states that an application may be refused if a required document shown on the receipt is missing.

France Entrepreneur Visa Processing Times

Processing times depend on the applicant’s country of residence, the volume of applications, the selected immigration route and whether the authorities need further information.

France-Visas advises applicants to check processing information for their place of application and to submit their applications well before the intended travel date.

One France-Visas country page states that a long-stay visa for an independent profession or business creation can take up to four months to process.

Applicants should not make non-refundable travel arrangements until they have received the appropriate visa or residence authorisation.

Overview

The validity period for a French entrepreneur immigration route depends on the visa or residence permit held. The term “France Entrepreneur Visa” can refer to the entrepreneur/liberal profession route and several talent residence-permit categories, which have different validity and renewal rules.

A long-stay visa, equivalent to a residence permit, for the entrepreneur/liberal profession route can be valid for up to 1 year. A talent residence permit for an eligible business creator, innovative project holder, or investor can be valid for up to 4 years.

Before a residence document expires, the holder must apply for renewal or for the next appropriate residence permit if they want to remain in France. Renewal is not automatic. Applicants must continue to meet the requirements of their immigration category.

Renewal Requirements

Entrepreneur/liberal profession permit holders must continue to carry out the authorised commercial, craft, industrial or liberal activity. They may need to provide evidence that the activity remains economically viable and that it provides sufficient resources.

Supporting evidence can include:

• Evidence that the business or professional activity remains active
• Financial records, invoices, tax documents or business accounts
• Evidence of the applicant’s income and financial resources
• Evidence of compliance with French business, tax and social-security obligations
• A valid passport and a current residence document
• Any category-specific documents requested by the prefecture

Talent residence permit holders must demonstrate that they still meet the requirements of their specific talent category.

A business creator must continue to meet the applicable business-creation conditions, while an innovative-project holder may need to provide evidence that the recognised project remains active.

Applicants should check the procedure and document requirements set by their local prefecture before filing a renewal application.

Validity by Route

Long-Term Residence in France

Entrepreneurs may be eligible to apply for a long-term EU resident card after at least 5 years of lawful, uninterrupted residence in France. The card is valid for 10 years and can be renewed.

Time spent in France with an entrepreneur or liberal-profession temporary or multi-year residence permit can count toward the 5-year residence requirement, provided the applicant meets the other legal conditions.

Applicants must also provide evidence of lawful and uninterrupted residence, sufficient and stable resources, and republican integration. The long-term EU resident-card process includes a French-language requirement at the B1 level.

Absences from France can affect the continuous-residence calculation. For this route, absences of more than 6 consecutive months or more than 10 months in total during the five-year period may prevent an applicant from meeting the residence requirement.

Talent Business Creator Route

The talent business-creator route is available to applicants with a real, serious business-creation project in France. Applicants must invest at least €30,000 in the project and hold a qualification at least equivalent to a Master’s degree or have at least five years of comparable professional experience.

The business-creator talent residence permit may be valid for up to 4 years. It does not itself grant permanent residence or French citizenship. However, lawful residence may support a future application for long-term residence or naturalisation if the applicant meets the separate legal conditions.

Talent Investor Route

The talent investor route is available to applicants making a qualifying direct economic investment in France. The relevant investment threshold is at least €300,000 in tangible or intangible fixed assets in France.

A talent investor residence permit can be valid for up to 4 years. The holder must still meet the separate eligibility criteria for a long-term EU resident card after five years of lawful and uninterrupted residence.

Overview

An entrepreneur granted permission to live in France may be able to bring eligible family members with them. The applicable procedure depends on whether the entrepreneur holds an entrepreneur/liberal profession residence document or a talent residence permit.

Eligible family members can include a legally married spouse aged 18 or over and dependent children under 18. Other relatives, including parents, adult children, and siblings, do not qualify under the standard family reunification procedure and may need to apply for their own visas or residence permits.

Children who live lawfully in France can enrol in the French education system. Families should also plan for housing, healthcare, schooling and day-to-day living costs before relocating.

Family Members of Talent Permit Holders

Eligible holders of a talent residence permit can bring their spouse and minor children to France through the accompanying family procedure.

This includes eligible entrepreneurs who hold a talent residence permit for business creation, an innovative economic project or direct economic investment.

The family member must apply for the relevant long-stay visa before travelling to France. After arrival, they must complete the required residence formalities for their family status.

The accompanying-family route is distinct from standard family reunification. It can allow eligible family members to travel to France with, or shortly after, the talent permit holder rather than waiting for the 18-month residence period that applies under standard family reunification.

Family Members of Entrepreneur/Liberal Profession Permit Holders

Entrepreneurs who hold an entrepreneur/liberal profession residence document may be able to apply for standard family reunification for their spouse and minor children.

To apply, the sponsor must have lawfully resided in France for at least 18 months and hold a qualifying residence document valid for at least 1 year.

The sponsor must also demonstrate that they have stable, sufficient resources and accommodation suitable for the size of the family.

Once the family-reunification application is approved, the spouse must apply for a long-stay visa equivalent to a residence permit. This visa must be validated online within 3 months of arrival in France.

Financial Considerations

Entrepreneurs planning to relocate with family members should assess the costs of supporting the household before submitting an application.

Key expenses can include:

• Suitable accommodation for the size of the household
• Health insurance or access to the relevant French healthcare arrangements
• Food, transport, utilities and other household costs
• Childcare, school supplies and any education-related expenses
• Business setup costs alongside the family’s living expenses

For standard family reunification, the sponsor must demonstrate stable, sufficient financial resources and accommodations that meet the official requirements for the family’s size and location.