How can a foreigner run a business in France? - You reside in France

Verified 01 janvier 2026 - Entreprendre Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

Your situation

  • You are not a European national
  • You reside in France
  • You want to run a company (e.g. manager of an LLC, president of an LLC...)
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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 €65,629.20

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 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 €65,629.20 annual gross)

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 documents proving that you meet the conditions for obtaining 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 €65,629.20).

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:
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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:

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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:

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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.
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  • Either a hierarchical appeal to the Ministry of the Interior.
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It is also possible to perform a contentious remedies before the administrative court:

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