France Entrepreneur Visa 2026: Requirements & Immigration Lawyer Help

US citizens who want to live in France and run a business there for a duration exceeding 3 months, will need a long-stay visa and residence authorization.

If you are a US entrepreneur looking to expand your business footprint in France (and maybe later in the European Union), you can consider the following three main French entrepreneurship routes:

• Entrepreneur / Profession Libérale: Allows you to be self-employed or work in a liberal profession in France for a duration exceeding 3 months
• Talent – Business Creator (Passeport Talent – Créateur d’entreprise): Allows you to establish or create a business in France
• French Tech Visa for Founders (Talent – Innovative Economic Project): Allows you to develop an innovative business in France

Each route has different eligibility and financial requirements, application process, and renewal conditions. Call our immigration lawyers on +1 844 312 4979 to explore the differences and understand which suits you best. We can also help you prepare a stronger application to increase your chances of receiving a positive visa decision.

Page Contents

• Moving to France as a US Entrepreneur
• Entrepreneur / Profession Libérale Visa
• Talent – Business Creator (Passeport Talent – Créateur d’entreprise)
• French Tech Visa for Founders (Talent – Innovative Economic Project)
• Business Viability for the Talent Routes
• What Entrepreneur / Profession Libérale Visa Applicants Must Know
• How to Apply from the USA: Step-By-Step Guide
• Visa Fees and Processing Times
• Bringing Dependants to France from the US
• After Arriving in France from the USA
• Validity, Renewal and Maintaining Eligibility
• How American Entrepreneurs Can Settle in France and Obtain Citizenship
• How Our Team Can Help You
• Frequently Asked Questions

The Entrepreneur / Profession Libérale Visa is a temporary resident permit. Non-EU/EEA and Swiss nationals can work as self-employed professionals through this route.

The Entrepreneur / Profession Libérale route suits you if you want to start a small business, a commercial, craft, or agricultural business, or pursue a liberal profession, such as medicine, or manage an existing business. US citizens can apply if they meet the eligibility requirements and qualifications.

Eligibility and Qualifications

The requirements and qualifications are listed below:

• The intended business or project must be economically viable. This means it must bring in enough revenue and value to cover costs and keep the business growing in France
• The business must be able to support you financially. Liberal professions like law require you to earn at least France’s minimum wage of €22,404.24
• Your proposed business or professional activity must comply with French law and not threaten public safety, health, or order
• You must meet any qualification that applies to your specific profession

Required Documents

The required documents depend on your circumstances and the business you intend to establish or work in. You may need the following documents:

• A valid US passport or travel document issued less than 10 years ago. You must provide the original and a photocopy. Scan the identity page and all pages containing visa stamps
• A completed France long-stay visa application
• Two copies of your ID photograph. It must be in ICAO format
• Professional qualification certificates and license, if applicable
• Criminal status certificate from the US
• Private health insurance
• A well-written business plan describing the nature of the business, target audience, and expected revenue
• Proof that your business can provide resources equivalent to the French full-time minimum wage if in a liberal profession
• The lease agreement, sales agreement, or domiciliation contract to prove the business will be in France

The Talent – Business Creator (resident permit) route allows entrepreneurs from non-EU/EEA and Swiss nationals, such as Americans, to establish or develop a business in France.

This business must be in the commercial, craft, or industrial sector. However, you must meet the required qualifications and investment requirements.

Eligibility and Qualifications

The requirements and qualifications are listed below:

• A master’s degree or its equivalent, or 5 years of professional experience
• A business creation project that is economically viable, serious, and genuine
• An investment of at least €30,000 in the planned business
• Personal resources equivalent to France’s minimum wage of at least €22,404.24
• The project must meet French business and immigration requirements

In exceptional circumstances, acquiring a stake in an existing French company may qualify under the Talent – Business Creator route if the acquisition gives you effective control of the company, depending on the nature and characteristics of the project.

Required Documents

You may require the following documents:

• Your valid US passport and completed application forms
• 2 passport photographs in line with ICAO standards
• Your master’s degree certificate or evidence of 5 years of comparable professional experience
• Your proof of investment funds of at least €30,000 and a bank statement showing proof of personal financial resources
• Your health insurance certificate valid in France for emergency or hospital treatment. Your American insurance card is not acceptable
• A certificate to prove that the business will be or is genuine
• A detailed business plan
• US criminal record certificate

The French Tech Visa allows eligible international founders who want to develop an innovative startup in France. Non EU/EEA and non-Swiss nationals, such as Americans, can apply if eligible.

If your application is successful, you will be granted a “Talent – Innovative Economic Project” residence permit. The business must be an innovative economic project recognized by a public body.

Eligibility and Qualifications

To obtain the French tech visa, you generally need to meet the following requirements and qualifications listed below:

• The business must be an innovative economic project that you intend to develop in France
• The project must be recognized by a public body known as the Regional Directorate for the Economy, Employment, Work and Solidarity (DRIEETS)
• You must have enough financial resources for yourself equivalent to the French current minimum wage of €22,404.24.

Required Documents

The required documents depend on the route and the applicant’s personal circumstances. You may need the following documents:

• Your valid US passport and completed long-stay visa application
• 2 recent ID photographs in ICAO specifications
• US criminal record certificate
• Private health insurance
• Proof that your personal funds are equivalent to the French minimum wage
• Your DRIEETS certificate
• A detailed business plan explaining the innovative nature of the project, the target audience, and how funds will be used. For example, explain the problem your product addresses, how your solution differs from existing alternatives, and why France is a suitable location

Your detailed business plan and financial evidence should explain how you will use the investment funds, how the business will operate, your target audience, and your market research.

According to the official French business website, you must obtain a certificate on the dedicated platform to prove the business is genuine and economically viable for the Talent route.

The certificate from the dedicated platform is valid for 12 months. If you apply for the certificate on the platform, you must provide accurate details, as false declarations can lead to penalties such as imprisonment and a fine. Ideally, the process takes between 20 days and 4 months. Apply for the certificate on time, as it is required for the talent business-creator.

If the business already exists, you must submit proof that the business is economically viable. This may include proof that the company is registered, its tax status, URSSAF bank account details, and, if applicable, an employment contract.

From January 2026 onwards, applicants applying for their first multi-year residence card under the Entrepreneur / Profession Libérale route must meet additional integration requirements.

If subject to the Contrat d’intégration républicaine (CIR), they must demonstrate regular and serious participation in the prescribed training.

They must also provide evidence of A2-level French proficiency and, unless exempt, pass the civic examination for a multi-year residence card.

Applicants over 65 are exempt from these two requirements. You should prepare for these requirements before your initial one-year residence authorization expires.

The three entrepreneurship France visa routes are long-stay visas which currently cost €99 per applicant. The application costs listed in the table below are the same for the three routes.

If you are a resident in America and apply from there, you usually pay the fees in USD. The exchange rate can change and is set by the French administration. At the US visa centres, you can only pay by credit or debit card (Mastercard or Visa). The fees are non-refundable whether or not the visa/permit is granted.

Your actual costs to get a visa and set up your business in France will depend on your specific needs. Be sure to account for extra costs where applicable, like passport return shipping, document translation, or official company registration.

Processing Time

Processing times for French long-stay visas vary depending on the application, supporting documents, and any additional requirements.

Our lawyers can help confirm the current guidance for your chosen route before you make travel arrangements.

If you qualify for the Talent – Business Creator or French Tech Visa for Founders route, eligible family members may be able to join you in France through the simplified Talent – Family procedure. This generally covers your spouse and minor children, allowing them to live in France for the authorized period.

Your spouse’s Talent – Family residence permit may allow them to work in France without applying for a separate work permit. This can be helpful if your partner intends to work while you establish and develop your business.

You should prepare supporting documents, including valid passports and evidence of your family relationships, such as a marriage certificate or your children’s birth certificates.

If you apply for the Entrepreneur / Profession Libérale route, your family members do not automatically qualify for the simplified Talent – Family procedure. Depending on their circumstances, they may apply for an independent residence permit or join you through the standard family reunification process.

To apply, the principal applicant must have lived legally in France for at least 18 months and hold an eligible residence document when applying or applying for renewal.

You must show that you have enough financial resources and suitable accommodation for them to join you. This route covers only your spouse and children under 18 who live outside France.

Entrepreneur/Profession Libérale Visa

According to the France-Visas official site, if you are granted a one-year VLS-TS, you must validate it within 15 days of arriving in France. If you are applying as a private medical professional, you may have 3 months to validate your visa. No other formalities or registration are needed at the prefecture in the first one year.

However, you must attend a medical examination if summoned and complete any required administrative formalities, such as tax registration and social security.

Keep evidence of your income, business activity, civic examination result, and proof that you still comply with the visa requirements. These records are important when you want to renew the residence permit.

Talent – Business Creator (Passeport Talent – Créateur d’entreprise)

After arriving in France, you must use the dedicated platform to complete the application. Once the prefecture validates your application, you will receive a certificate of approval.

This certificate serves as your temporary residence permit until you receive the official one.

French Tech Visa for Founders (Talent – Innovative Economic Project)

The French tech visa for founders lets you enter France and start your business or professional activity immediately.

Once you arrive in France, you must apply for a residence permit online to complete the process. The time to apply depends on the type of visa you received.

There are two types of long stay visas:

• VLS-TS: for stays between 3 months to 12 months. It must be validated within three months of arrival
• Long stay visa requiring a resident permit: for stays exceeding one year, you must apply for a multi-year residence permit within two months of arrival

Only the Entrepreneur / Profession Libérale Visa has a specific validation requirement of 15 days. It is valid for one year and can be renewed.

The duration of your authorization depends on your route. The project’s nature and duration also determine the visa’s duration.

For instance, you can apply for a one-year (VLS-TS) ‘talent’ visa if you intend to stay for one year. If you still intend to remain because of the nature of the project/business, you can apply for a “Talent” residence permit, valid for up to 4 years.

The same applies to the French tech visa for founders.

Renewal Requirements

To renew your residence permit, you must continue to meet the eligibility conditions for your specific route. Keep accurate records of your business activities and finances, as you may need to prove that:

• Your business remains active and continues to meet the conditions for your residence permit
• You continue to meet the applicable income or financial-resource requirements
• You have met the investment requirements for your route and can provide supporting evidence where required
• Your innovative project continues to progress, if you hold a French Tech Visa for Founders
• You continue to comply with the French tax, social security, and other legal obligations relevant to your business
• You can submit an application for renewal between 2 and 4 months before the expiry of your current residence permit for any of the three entrepreneur visas.

If you intend to change to another business, change your professional role, or restructure your company, obtain advice before making changes that could affect your immigration status.

Call us on +33 187653350 to get expert advice on renewal or on changing your immigration status in France.