France Entrepreneur Visa 2026: Requirements & Immigration Lawyer Help

The France Entrepreneur visa is a long-stay route for non-EU nationals who want to create or carry out a commercial, industrial, artisanal, agricultural or liberal professional activity in France.

If you have a business project which you wish to bring to France, this may be the right route for you.

The Entrepreneur /profession libérale VLS-TS is valid for one year, after which eligible applicants can apply for a residence permit and, subject to the conditions, a four-year multi-year card.

In order to extend the visa, the visa holder must demonstrate that they continue to satisfy the visa’s eligibility conditions, for example that the company continues to be economically viable and continues to meet French safety standards.

Page Contents

• What Is The Entrepreneur Visa France And Who Is It For?
• French Entrepreneur Visa Requirements & Eligibility Criteria
• France Entrepreneur Visa Application Process
• What Documents Will I Require?
• How Much Does The Application Cost?
• Processing Time: How Long Will The Application Take?
• Renewing The Visa
• Bringing Family
• How Our Team Can Help You
• Frequently Asked Questions

In order to be eligible for the Entrepreneur visa, applicants must satisfy a number of conditions. These are as follows:

• The applicant must demonstrate the economic viability of their company. They will also need to demonstrate that they have the professional experience to realise their plans for the company
• If the applicant is joining an existing activity or working in a liberal profession, they must demonstrate that the activity can provide resources at least equivalent to the French legal minimum wage for full-time work.
• The applicant must demonstrate that the business meets the French standards of public safety and health and order

The application process for the Entrepreneur visa differs depending on whether or not the applicant already lives in France.

If the applicant does not yet live in France, they will need to apply for a long – stay visa (VLS -TS) which is marked ‘Entrepreneur/Independent professional’.

This visa type acts as the equivalent to a residence permit and allows the holder to lawfully live and work in France. When applying for this visa type, the applicant will need to apply to the French consulate or embassy in their country of residence.

If the application is successful, the applicant will then be granted a visa and will be able to legally enter France. Holders of a VLS-TS must complete the required validation procedure after arriving in France; for the Entrepreneur/profession libérale VLS-TS, France-Visas specifies validation within 15 days of arrival.

The VLS-TS serves as the residence authorisation during its validity period, provided the applicant completes the required validation process. Any subsequent residence application depends on the route and the applicant’s circumstances.

After their arrival, the visa holder will also be expected to attend a medical examination and/or a welcome visit.

For applicants who already live in France on a pre-existing residence permit, they must apply to the Prefecture (the local representative for the French government) for a change of status.

If their change of status application is successful, they will be given an ‘Entrepreneur/independent professional’ residence permit.

For applicants who do not already reside in France, the application process should be started within 3 months of the intended arrival date. For those who do currently reside in France, their application should be submitted within 2 months of their current residence permit’s expiry date.

In order to apply for the French Entrepreneur visa, the following documents are required:

• Cerfa form (long – stay visa application form)
• A passport which will be valid for a least 3 months after the visa’s expiry date
• 3 passport photos which meet the French specifications
• A record of the applicant’s criminal history
• Evidence that the applicant has the ability to carry out the proposed business activity

If the applicant is starting a new business, they will also be expected to provide the following:

• Written presentation of the project
• A business plan
• An estimated budget which is multi – year in nature
• Evidence of the letter of guarantee from a French credit institution or insurance company, or proof of a credit account held by the applicant at a French credit institution

If the applicant is already in France and is applying for a change of status, they will need to provide the following:

• Passport
• Either a long-stay visa which has the label ‘Talent passport’ or a residence permit which is currently valid
• Proof of address from within the last 6 months. This could include a bill, a recent tenancy agreement, or a hotel invoice, for example
• 3 passport photos which meet the French specifications
• Proof of payment of the residence permit tax and the stamp duty
• Medical certificate from the OFII

There are a number of costs associated with this particular visa route.

The long-stay visa application fee is €99. If a residence permit is subsequently issued, additional residence taxes and stamp duties may apply depending on the permit.

Applicants may also wish to pay for legal assistance in order to aid their application. Contact Total Law on +1 844 290 6312 to find out how we can help you make your own application as smooth as possible.

The processing time for the Entrepreneur visa generally takes from 1-2 months. Applicants should make sure to apply for the visa within 3 months of the date on which they intend to enter France.

Note that applications may take longer to process during periods when there is a higher number of applicants than usual, or where there is an issue with the application, such as if any of the supporting documents are missing. Applicants should make sure that they have all of the required documents and that they meet the eligibility criteria in order to maximise the speed of their application.

It is sometimes also possible to renew the Entrepreneur visa. In order to renew the visa, the application should be submitted in the 2 months before the document expires.

The applicant will need to provide evidence that they still meet the conditions of the visa.

They will also need to demonstrate that the business is still economically viable and that their annual remuneration is still equivalent to French minimum wage.

When the permit holder has legally resided in France for 5 years, they may be able to apply for a residence card. A residence card allows the holder to live and work in France for any profession for which they are qualified. The card is valid for 10 years and can be renewed once the 10 years have passed.

This particular visa type does not allow for a fast-track family reunification, but the main applicant’s family members can apply independently for their own residence permits.

Alternatively, once the main applicant has lived in France for at least 18 months, they can apply for their spouse and children to join them via family reunification.