How can a foreigner run a business in France?
Verified 01 January 2026 - Entreprendre Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
To run a company in France, a national of a non-EU countryEuropean Unionmust carry out certain preliminary steps. In particular, you must apply for a multi-year residence card “talent-corporate officer”.
You reside in France
You must apply for a multi-year residence card bearing the mention Talent passport: Corporate officer.
To run a company in France, you must meet all of the following conditions:
- You must have at least one seniority 3 months in an establishment or company of the same group as an employee or corporate officer.
- You must justify your actual appointment as a legal representative in an establishment or business located in France.
- You must justify to resources corresponding to €64,864.80
You must apply for a residence card mention Passport talent Corporate agent online:
Validate a long-stay visa as a residence permit (VLS-TS) and pay the tax
The following documents must be attached:
- Long-stay visa or valid residence permit
- Passport (pages concerning civil status, validity dates, entry stamps and visas)
or consular certificate with photo
or photo ID card
or consular card with photo
or certificate of nationality of less than 6 months with photo
- Proof of address less than 6 months old
- e-photo : enter the e-photo code (provided by the photographer or the authorized booth on the photo board). If you don't have an e-photo yet, you can locate a digital photo and signature service.
- Proof of your position as corporate officer in an establishment or business established in France
- Proof of the status of employee or corporate officer for more than 3 months in an establishment or a business of the same group
- Proof of resources greater than or equal to 3 times the Smic: titleContent (or €64,864.80 annual gross)
- Signed copy of the commitment to respect the principles of the Republic
The application for a residence permit costs €225.
The duration of the residence permit varies depending on the nature, characteristics and duration of your project. Its maximum duration is 4 years and the renewal is done in the same way as the application.
The application for renewal must be made in the Last 2 months of validity of your residence permit. You will need to re-submit the documentation that you meet the requirements for a residence permit. You will also need to justify your request for renewal and provide proof that your activity is working (resources at least equal to €64,864.80).
The application for renewal may be made in one of the following ways:
- Online:
Validate a long-stay visa as a residence permit (VLS-TS) and pay the tax
- On site:
Renewal costs €225 (€200 for the tax on the residence permit and €25 for stamp duty).
FYI
After 5 years of regular residence and uninterrupted in France, you can make a request for resident card authorizing your stay and the exercise of any professional activity.
Its duration is 10 years and it can be renewed.
It is possible that your application for a residence permit will be refused. Depending on the situation, the possible remedies are different:
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
Refusal Letter
In case of receipt of a refusal letter, you have the obligation to leave French territory. Except for exceptions, this refusal is accompanied by an obligation to leave French territory (OQTF) setting the country to which you will be returned.
You have the right to appeal in court before the administrative tribunal within a period of time:
No response
If you have not received a response after 4 months, this is an implicit refusal.
You can challenge this refusal in a 2 months delay by an administrative appeal. These may include:
- Either an ex gratia appeal to the prefect.
- Either a hierarchical appeal to the Ministry of the Interior.
Who shall I contact
It is also possible to perform a contentious remedies before the administrative court:
Who shall I contact
You do not reside in France
You have to make a visa application and one application for a multi-annual residence permit marked with Talent passport: Corporate officer.
You must meet all of the following conditions:
- You must have at least one seniority 3 months in an establishment or company of the same group as an employee or corporate officer.
- You must justify your appointment effective as a legal representative in an establishment or business located in France
- You must justify to resources corresponding to €64,864.80
Apply for a visa
You must submit your visa application to the French consular authorities in your country of residence.
Who shall I contact
If the duration of your stay is less than 12 months, the consulate shall issue you a long-stay visa as a residence permit bearing the words "talent." On arrival in France, you must have your long-stay visa validated as a residence permit on the internet within 3 months:
If the duration of your stay is equal to or greater than 1 year, the consulate shall issue you with a long-stay visa bearing the words "talent" of a duration of 3 months. You apply for a residence card on the internet:
Prepare the documents to be provided
- Long-stay visa or valid residence permit
- Passport (pages concerning civil status, validity dates, entry stamps and visas)
or consular certificate with photo
or photo ID card
or consular card with photo
or certificate of nationality of less than 6 months with photo
- Proof of address less than 6 months old
- e-photo : enter the e-photo code (provided by the photographer or the authorized booth on the photo board). If you don't have an e-photo yet, you can locate a digital photo and signature service.
- Proof of your position as corporate officer in an establishment or business established in France
- Proof of the status of employee or corporate officer for more than 3 months in an establishment or a business of the same group
- Proof of resources greater than or equal to 3 times the Smic: titleContent (or €64,864.80 annual gross)
- Signed copy of the commitment to respect the principles of the Republic
Do the process on the internet
You must submit your application on the Internet no earlier than 4 months and no later than 2 months before the end of validity of your residence document (visa, VLS-TS or title):
When you submit your application for a residence permit on the internet, you will immediately receive a dematerialized certificate of deposit.
For more details on the procedure to follow, you can consult our sheet Talent card: multi-year residence card of a foreigner in France.
The visa costs €99.
You also have to pay at theOfii: titleContent a tax equal to €200 to which are added €25 stamp duty.
You have to pay in all €324.
It is possible that your application for a residence permit will be refused. Depending on the situation, the possible remedies are different:
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
Refusal Letter
In case of receipt of a refusal letter, you have the obligation to leave French territory. Except for exceptions, this refusal is accompanied by an obligation to leave French territory (OQTF) setting the country to which you will be returned.
You have the right to appeal in court before the administrative tribunal within a period of time:
No response
If you have not received a response after 4 months, this is an implicit refusal.
You can challenge this refusal in a 2 months delay by an administrative appeal. These may include:
- Either an ex gratia appeal to the prefect.
- Either a hierarchical appeal to the Ministry of the Interior.
Who shall I contact
It is also possible to perform a contentious remedies before the administrative court:
Who shall I contact
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