Coming to France as a self-employed worker

The passeport talent route is relevant to some self-employed people. Others need a visa marked entrepreneur/profession libérale.

The term entrepreneur in this sense mainly covers self-employed businesses, especially those in trade and commercial sectors.

The 'liberal professions' category covers a wide range of services, from traditional professions such as medicine or accountancy, which are 'regulated' and require a recognised diploma, to unregulated professions such as consultancy. 

These professions are often intellectual in nature, but not always. For example, a mountain guide or ski instructor also falls under this category. 

A (non-exhaustive) list of regulated professions can be found at the BPI France website. 

Note that certain professions, including chartered accountancy, require EU or EES citizenship.

In general, any service-based work that is not considered trade (artisan), commercial business (commerce), industrial, agricultural, or a regulated profession usually falls under unregulated professions.

Passeport talent création d’entreprise

This route applies to people who:

• Have at least €30,000 to invest in the business

• Have a diploma equivalent to at least a master’s degree or five years of professional experience at a similar level

• Have a “real and serious” business plan for a commercial, trade, craft, or industrial business in France

Immigration lawyer Paul Nicolaÿ, who works on visa issues in Puteaux near La Défense in Paris, said this route is especially suited to setting up a company (société), rather than an ordinary sole trader business. In this case, the investment money should be placed in a dedicated account.

If you obtain this status, your card will be issued for up to four years. Your close family members can obtain visas for the same period if they apply within three months of arrival. This grants your partner the right to work in France and your children the right to work once they reach 18.

Entrepreneur visa route

Under this route, you are usually issued a VLS-TS valid for one year, which must be validated in France after arrival.

Occasionally, a different kind of visa is issued. This requires the holder to apply for a residency card within two months of arrival, without a validation process.

Whichever route you choose, the process begins with an application via France-Visas. You should start this up to six months before you plan to travel to France to work.

It is useful to use the Visa Wizard, which shows the required supporting documents.

Select the option “business” (travail if using the site in French) and either “entrepreneur” or “liberal profession.”

If a spouse is also planning to work as a self-employed person, they must obtain their own visa with this status. The couple may state in their applications that they plan to come to France together. Jade Mercier of immigration lawyer Fatou Babou’s offices in Paris said that it is possible to bring minor children at the same time if parents are coming under VLS-TS entrepreneur visas. It should not be necessary for one parent to come first and then apply later through regroupement familial.

There is no precise requirement for extra income, but officials will look for evidence that the couple can provide suitable income and housing, she said.

If a spouse is coming as a dependent and does not plan to work, they may obtain a visitor visa if the family has suitable means.

To set up a new business, you must demonstrate relevant knowledge, experience, and the economic viability of your project. It must generate at least an income equivalent to the French minimum wage (in 2025, €1,426 net per month after social charges). A visa fee of €99 is payable.

In some cases, you must obtain an assessment of the viability of your plans in the region where you want to work. This can take around one month.

Mr Nicolaÿ said: “The entrepreneur visa is relatively complex, as it needs a lot of preparation.

“You have to prepare a business plan, preferably by a French expert such as an accountant. You should also have a budget forecast, again preferably by a French accountant.

“Documentation prepared solely by yourself carries less weight. You cannot apply for this visa with vague plans. You need to think things through.”

There are additional requirements if you intend to start a company rather than operate as a sole trader.

If you want to work in a regulated profession, you must check in advance that your qualifications are recognised in France. If they are not, you must find out whether you can take a course to update your rights to practise.

The Enic-Naric centre may be able to advise on diploma compatibility. Scroll down to find a contact form or call 01 45 07 60 00.

Note that, since Brexit, British diplomas no longer benefit from the same automatic recognition rules as EU diplomas.

A French professional body for your sector may also be able to help. For some regulated professions, you must obtain permission from the relevant professional “order” as part of your visa application.

Sources of information for new businesses include Business France. Once in France, you must complete the formalities to set up your business.

This is usually straightforward for small businesses, but you may wish to take advice from an accountant (expert-comptable). Depending on your accounting regime, their fees may be tax-deductible.

For a long-term stay, you must apply for the relevant residence card no more than two months before your visa expires. A €225 fee applies.

You must provide evidence that your business is operating and generating income equivalent to the minimum wage. If you work in a regulated profession, you may also need to show that you have joined the relevant professional body and obtained any required authorisation to carry out your job.