Lecturer-guide: conditions of access and practice in France

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

  • Technical profession and regulated living environment
  • Self-employed or employed
  • EPA Code : 79.90.20 / NACE European Code : 79.90.20
  • Social contributions : to be paid to theUrssaf: titleContent
  • Social security scheme  : Social security for the self-employed (SSI) or General Social Security Scheme, depending on the mode of practice
  • Social protection : CPAM: titleContent (disease), Cipav: titleContent (retirement)

Definition

The guide-lecturer is a professional whose mission is to provide guided tours (conferences, educational animations), in French or in a foreign language, in the museums of France and the historical monuments. Its role is to promote heritage by designing cultural mediation actions for the public in heritage territories and places.

This profession therefore requires a great knowledge of the territory (political, social, cultural, artistic, tourist history), but also specific knowledge such as mastery of communication techniques. The guide-lecturer has relational qualities and has a sense of pedagogy. With a great availability, a good ability to adapt to the expectations of visitors, he expresses himself with ease in one or more foreign languages.

Travel and holiday operators are obliged to use tour guides for guided tours of museums and historical monuments, as part of the services they market.

Access

The profession of guide-speaker is regulated. You have to fill in some conditions training/qualification and nationality in order to obtain the professional guide-lecturer card.

If these conditions are not filled, the practice of the profession of guide-lecturer is illegal. The remunerated practice of this profession without holding the professional guide-speaker card shall be punished by fine from €450 (natural persons) or €2,250 (legal persons).

Training and qualification conditions depend on the State in which the certification or diploma to practice the profession of guide-lecturer was obtained :

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In France

The professional guide-lecturer card is issued to persons holding a certificate or diploma at least at the bachelor's level.

The professional guide-lecturer card can be requested by holders:

  • Either the professional license of guide-lecturer
  • Either the national diploma of national guide-interpreter
  • Either a diploma conferring the degree of master having validated a teaching unit (EU) "skills of the guides-lecturers", an EU "setting up and professional practice" and an EU in a living language other than French. The person must have a descriptive appendix to his diploma indicating the validation of these teaching units or a certificate issued by an authorized higher education institution certifying the validation of the teaching units.
  • Either a diploma conferring the degree of master and proving at least one year of professional experience accumulated over the last 5 years in oral heritage mediation, and having at least the level C1 in a foreign living language, a regional language of France or the French sign language.

The fields of activities that may be taken into account as professional experience in oral heritage mediation are as follows:

  • Animators and speakers from cities and countries of history
  • National Interpreter Guide
  • Regional Interpreter Guide
  • Local interpreter guide
  • Final Auxiliary Guide
  • Oral mediator or signed language of collections and architectures within a group in a room or workshop within heritage institutions
  • Oral Ombudsman for Natural Heritage
  • Teachers providing practical lessons in oral heritage mediation in the context of professional licenses and master's degrees of guest guides.

In another state

The conditions of training and qualification differ depending on whether the person wishes to practice in France permanently or temporarily.

Permanent exercise (free establishment)

Persons wishing settle in France as a guide-lecturer and respecting the nationality condition can obtain the professional card of guide-lecturer

  • Or if they have a training title obtained in a Member State ofEuropean Union certifying regulated training specifically aimed at the practice of the profession of guide-speaker
  • Or if they have a diploma, certificate or other evidence of formal qualifications enabling the pursuit of the activity in a professional capacity in a Member State of the EU or theEuropean Economic Area (EEA), which regulates access to or practice of the profession. The diploma, certificate or other evidence of formal qualifications must have been issued:
    • Either by the competent authority of an EU or EEA State. The evidence of formal qualifications must then justify that the applicant’s training was essentially acquired in the EU or the EEA.
    • or by a third country, provided that a certificate is provided from the competent authority of the EU or EEA Member State which has recognized the diploma, certificate or other evidence of formal qualifications. The certificate must certify that the holder has actually carried out the activity in his territory in a professional capacity for a period of at least 3 years.
  • Either if they have exercised full-time or part-time for an equivalent period, the activity of guide-speaker for at least one year during the previous 10 years, in one or more EU or EEA Member States which do not regulate access to or the pursuit of the activity. The holder must then hold one or more certificates of competence or one or more qualifications. These certificates or titles must have been issued by a competent authority of this State, and attest to the applicant's preparation for the exercise of the activity of guide-lecturer.

The prefect checks these elements following the filing of the application file for a professional card.

Where the prefect finds that the applicant's training differs significantly from the qualifications provided for in France for the exercise of the profession of guide-lecturer, he may require the applicant, in order to authorize him to exercise:

  • Either to submit to a aptitude test. This is then organized within 6 months of the notification of the prefect's decision.
  • Either to accomplish a adaptation course of a maximum duration of 3 years and subject to evaluation.

The applicant must then make known his choice between the aptitude test and the adaptation period within 2 months.

Please note

To challenge the non-recognition of the lecturer-guide's diploma, a appeal can be deposited on the european platform Solvit.

Submit a complaint to Solvit

Temporary exercise (freedom to provide services)

Persons of a nationality who are entitled to practice the profession of guide-lecturer and who are legally exercising the regulated profession of guide-interpreter or lecturer in a Member State of the EU or theEEA, may exercise that profession on a temporary and occasional basis in France (‘freedom to provide services’).

However, where the profession of guide-interpreter or lecturer or the training leading to it is not regulated in the State in which the person exercises that profession, the temporary exercise of the profession is possible on condition that: the person must have exercised that profession in an EU or EEA Member State during at least one year, full-time or part-time for an equivalent total duration, in the 10 years which precede the freedom to provide services.

In order to carry out the freedom to provide services, the trader must indicate in French the professional title that he holds in the Member State of the EU or theEEA in which it is established or its evidence of formal qualifications on documents intended for third parties, whatever the medium. It must indicate this title to the persons who use its services, as well as to the person in charge of the museum or historical monument visited.

Please note

Proficiency (level C1) in a foreign living language, a regional language of France or the French sign language is mandatory to practice the profession of guide-lecturer.

The profession of guide-lecturer can be exercised by holders of a French certification regardless of their nationality.

For holders of a certification obtained outside France, the practice of the profession is reserved for persons:

  • Nationality French
  • Nationals of another Member State of the European Union (EU)
  • Nationals of another State party to the Agreement on the the European Economic Area (EEA).

The persons who can practice the profession of guide-lecturer are the persons holding the professional guide-lecturer card.

No badge is issued with the professional guide card. The card itself can be used as a badge.

It is therefore necessary to apply in order to obtain it before being able to practice in France.

Constitution of the application file

An applicant for a professional speaking guide card must provide the following when applying:

  • Personal information: surname, first name, date and place of birth, nationality, postal address, email address, telephone number
  • Copy of the training document (diploma, certificate, etc.) justifying the application for the card
  • Copy of a valid ID
  • Recent Identity Photography
  • Proof of address
  • Any copies of other documents requested (depending on the situation):
    • Descriptive appendix to the diploma or attestation of the transcript justifying the validation of the teaching units “skills of the guide-lecturers”, “setting up and professional practice”, “living language other than French”
    • Any document proving professional experience (employer's certificate detailing the nature and duration of assignments, employment contract, or, for individual contractors : invoices paid or payslips) of 1 year cumulated over the last 5 years in the oral mediation of assets.
    • Any document demonstrating level C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages in a foreign living language, a regional language of France or the French sign language.
  • Application letter setting out, if any, the specific terms that may appear on the map (linguistic, scientific or cultural).

One RESUME: titleContent may possibly be requested.

All documents must be written in French or translated into French by a translator.

FYI  

Some prefectures allow the transmission of this information and documents via an online service or a form. It is recommended to contact your prefecture to find out.

The special mentions which may appear on the professional card are of 2 types:

  • Linguistic : mother tongue, regional and foreign languages (the number of languages to be registered is not limited). However, a foreign nationality or dual nationality allows the registration of the foreign language relating to nationality without justification by a diploma or certification.
  • Scientific and cultural : a mention referring to a specialty of a higher education diploma (examples: art history, history, archeology, architecture…) within the limit of 3 mentions.

They must be linked to the professional activity carried out and must be duly justified (diploma, specific certification, transcript of an examination, etc.).

There is no obligation to include any special information on the card.

Since professional cards are permanent, an application for a change of special mention does not necessarily justify the issue of a new card.

The addition of a special mention on a professional card after the application is accepted on presentation of proof.

Sending the request

The service to be contacted depends on the place of residence of the applicant. The applicant shall reside in:

In France

The professional guide-speaker card is issued to people residing in France by the prefect of the department where they are established.

Where the applicant does not have a professional activity, the competent prefect shall be the prefect of the place of residence of the applicant.

Who shall I contact
Abroad

The professional guide-speaker card is issued by the prefect of Paris to persons residing abroad.

The practice of the profession in France must be carried out under a French professional title corresponding to the training of the European national: ‘guide-speaker’, ‘guide-interpreter’ or ‘speaker’ (indicated in French). In cases where the professional title of the national does not exist in France, the latter must mention his training title in French when practicing.

The Prefect shall inform the applicant of any missing documents, if any, within one month of receipt of the request. It acknowledges receipt of the application file for a professional card when it is complete.

The prefect pronounces himself within 2 months from the date of receipt of the complete application file. The business card is then sent to the applicant.

In case of silence kept by the prefect for more than 2 months, the applicant may consider that his application is validated and that he has obtained his professional card.

Please note

The application procedure and the issuance of the card are free of charge.

Validity of card

The professional guide-speaker card is permanent, so there is no validity period.

It is valid throughout France and can be used to prove its professional qualification in any Member State of the European Union.

The professional card can be used to prove your professional qualification in any Member State of the European Union. However, cardholders will have to check with the authorities of the Member State that the card is sufficient to exercise the freedom to provide services.

Verification of the information contained on the business card

The professional guide-lecturer card has 2 flaps.

The information printed on the 1è page of 1er component are as follows:

  • ‘French Republic’
  • Mention of competent ministries
  • “Guidebook”
  • ‘Permanent validity’
  • ‘Card number: [followed by card number]’ (The card number consists of the two letters CG, seven digits followed by a letter, identifying respectively: the year of issue, the department, the order number of issue in the year and the nature of the administrative authority which issued them).

The information printed on the 2è page of 1er component are as follows:

  • Photo location of the holder and official stamp
  • ‘Signature of the holder: [signature]’
  • ‘Specific terms: [possible terms]’ (if any, terms may be linguistic, scientific or cultural).

The information printed on the 1e page of 2e component are as follows:

  • ‘Name: [name]’
  • ‘First name: [first name]’
  • ‘Born: [date of birth]’
  • ‘To: [place of birth]’
  • ‘Nationality: [nationality]’
  • ‘Done at [place] on: [date]’
  • ‘Issued by: [name of issuing prefecture]’
  • Signature of the prefect.

The information printed on the 2e page of 2e component are as follows:

  • ‘The holder of this card is authorized to conduct guided visits to the museums of France defined in Title IV of Book IV of the Heritage Code and historical monuments defined in Title II of Book IV of the Heritage Code in accordance with the laws and regulations in force’
  • ‘The holder of this card is exempt from entry fees for visits to museums in France defined in Title IV of Book IV of the Heritage Code and historical monuments defined in Title II of Book IV of the Heritage Code’
  • “This card must be presented to any control”.

Please note

The applicant for the professional card may request the registration of special mentions in connection with the practice of the profession. These particulars shall be entered on the professional card in the light of the particulars appearing on the documents submitted by the applicant to justify their entry.

One fine from €450 (natural persons) or €2,250 (legal persons) is provided for the act of carrying out, for remuneration, the activity of guide-lecturer using a non-compliant business card.

Exercise

We are dealing here with the obligations imposed on the entrepreneur and not directly on the employee.

The choice of a legal form (or legal status) of the company is a decisive step.

It determines how the company operates, but it also has implications for the tax system and social protection.

There are two main legal forms:

  • ₪(EI) : allows the holder to carry out his activity alone and in his own name. The Head of company and the one and the same person. Micro-company (or self-company) is one with a simplified tax and social regime.
  • Business : allows to carry out an activity in a legal entity distinct from the Head of company. It has the legal personality, i.e. it has its own legal existence (share capital, company name, registered office, etc.).

These two modes of exercise each have their own specific rules:

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- (including micro-entrepreneur)

The creation of an entity (EI) involves few formalities (no drafting of statutes, no constitution of share capital and partner, etc.) and allows to launch its activity quickly. The assets of the individual entrepreneur (IC), including the micro-entrepreneur, are automatically separated into professional and personal assets.

FYI  

For more information, please refer to the fact sheet on the separation of professional and personal assets.

Tax and social system of the classical

The individual entrepreneur is subject to income tax (IR), in the category corresponding to his activity (BIC: titleContent, NCB: titleContent , BA: titleContent..).

However, it is possible to opt for the actual tax regime or even for thebusiness tax (IS).

The individual entrepreneur is covered by the Social Security scheme for self-employed persons. He has the status of a self-employed person (TNS). It does not pay social contributions during at least 90 days which follow the start of its activity.

For more information, our fact sheet on the social protection for traders and craftsmen details the contributions due and the arrangements for reporting and payment.

FYI  

Our fact sheet on the₪(EI) specifies all operating rules.

Simplified micro-company regime

The scheme of micro-entrepreneur is a very simplified social and tax system. It is applicable when the turnover HT: titleContent does not exceed certain thresholds: for example €188,700 in the case of an activity of selling goods, or €77,700 for the provision of services

The simplified scheme applies automatically for the year of establishment (N) and the following year (N+1) provided that these thresholds are met.

Furthermore, the micro-company is subjected to the exemption from VAT : i.e. the entrepreneur does not declare VAT on the services or sales he makes and cannot deduct it either.

As regards the taxation of income, micro-company is imposed on theIR: titleContent, in the category corresponding to its activity: micro BIC: titleContent, microphone NCB: titleContent , microphone BA: titleContent..). The tax due is calculated taking into account a flat-rate abatement on turnover for business expenses which varies according to the activity carried out (for an activity of selling goods: the allowance corresponds for example to 71% turnover).

For more details on tax allowances, you can consult the sheet on the tax regime for micro-entrepreneurs.

Finally, the entrepreneur pays social security contributions only if he generates turnover.

Warning  

Revenue generated from 1er January 2026 (and reported in 2027) is submitted, for the application of the micro-entrepreneur (micro-fiscal) tax system, to new thresholds, of which the amount will be set by the finance law for 2026. This law must be passed in the coming weeks.

In the meantime, the budgetary provisions planned for 2025 have been renewed by a special law no. 2025-1316 of 26 december 2025.

Business

The business is a legal entity that has a legal personality, i.e. it has its own legal existence (share capital, company name, registered office, etc.). It can sign a commercial lease, hire employees and has a separate estate from that of its partners. It is represented by an officer (a manager or a president) who carries out the activity.

The interest of create a business is to limit the liability of the professional and his associates to the contributions made when the business was set up. It thus makes it possible to protect the personal heritage of each individual.

The trader may engage in a commercial and/or craft activity alone (creating a EURL or a SASU) or byassociating with other persons (SARL, SAS, SAetc.). The creation of a business requires the completion of various formalities such as the drafting of statutes, the deposit of a share capital which can be costly. In addition, the business must comply with various accounting obligations (keeping and filing of annual accounts, convening of shareholders at general meetings (AGMs), holding AGMs for any modification of the statutes of the business, etc.).

Tax system

The profits made by the business are in principle subject tobusiness tax (IS). For certain types of businesses, partners can opt for income tax (IR). In this case, the benefits are reported as BIC: titleContent in the income tax return.

Social protection

The social protection of the business manager varies according to the type of business chosen. The manager of a EURL or a SARL (if he is a majority) is considered a self-employed person and must contribute to the Urssaf on income from self-employment or on a minimum annual basis.

The manager of a SAS, SASU, SARL (minority or egalitarian) is considered as a salaried assimilated worker. It is part of the general social security system. He has a social protection very close to that of an employee. If he does not pay himself wages, he does not have to pay social security contributions.

To make the right choice, it is therefore essential to take into account many factors:

  • Exercise of the activity alone or with several partners (in business )
  • Tax regime for the taxation of profits
  • Social protection scheme according to the envisaged legal form.

To help you choose the legal form that best suits your situation, Urssaf offers the following simulator:

Find the right legal status (form) and compare the cost of social contributions

Please note

Liberal tour guides are paid asfees. Some are subject to value added tax (VAT)according to their turnover and/or the nature of their service. They are free to determine the amount of their fees.

Report activity

The trader must register the company. This procedure must be carried out online on the website of the companies' Formalities Window:

Window of company formalities

The trader must apply for registration within one month of the declared start date of the activity and no later than 15 days after the start date of the activity. The effect of this formality is to give the company legal status.

This declaration makes it possible to inform all the organizations concerned by the launch of the activity (INSEE, social organizations, Urssaf, public finance center, etc.).

As soon as the application for registration is accepted, INSEE allocates:

  • A number Siren : it is a unique identification number of the 9-digit company 
  • A number Siret : it's thegeographical identifier of each of the establishments from the company, it is therefore possible to have several. This number consists of the Siren and a NIC (Internal Ranking Number).

When registering the company, INSEE also assigns the professional its code EPA: titleContent.

When the professional's spouse decides to work in the company, he must provide a sworn certificate specifying his status in the company:

When the spouse (married, partner of Civil partnerships: titleContent or cohabiting partner) of the head of company professional activity regular in the company, he must opt for one of the following statuses: collaborating spouse, salaried spouse, associate spouse. The choice of a status makes it possible to guarantee her rights, in particular to retirement.

When registering the company, the Head of company declares the status chosen by the spouse on the website of the company formalities desk by providing the following document:

Certificate on the honor of the spouse (married, past or common-law) of a businessman, craftsman or liberal company manager (choice of status)

For more information on the status of the spouse, please refer to the fact sheet on the spouse of the head of company.

FYI  

If no status has been declared, the spouse is deemed to have opted for the status of salaried spouse.

Declaration of non-conviction

When registering his activity, the trader must provide a declaration on honor of non-conviction.

By this declaration, he attests that he has not been the subject of any criminal, civil or administrative sanction prohibiting him from setting up and managing a company.

One template declaration of non-conviction and parentage is available:

Declaration of non-conviction and filiation for registration in the Trade and Companies Register (RCS) and the National Register of companies (RNE)

Contributions called by theUrssaf: titleContent depend on the structure of the business and the legal status of the manager.

To know all the rules concerning the social system of the manager, it is possible to consult the sheet relating to the Social protection of the business manager.

The trader who carries out his activity in his own name ({circumflex over (X)}) or as majority manager of a business (such as a EURL or a SARL), is affiliated to the Social security for self-employed persons (SSI), the compulsory scheme for self-employed persons.

The professional must pay social contributions to the Urssaf from the beginning of his activity.

However, in practice, no contributions or social contributions are required during the first 90 days which follow the launch of its activity.

Since the income is not yet known at the start of the activity, the contributions are first calculated on a flat-rate basis for the first 2 years (at the same rates as those applicable during the course of business). They are then adjusted and regularized according to the actual revenues of the fiscal year.

Contributions must be paid online in one of the following ways:

  • Either every month : payment is made on the 5th or 20th of each month, by direct debit.
  • Either every quarter : payment is made by direct debit, telepayment or credit card on 5 February, 5 May, 5 August and 5 November.

When he carries out his activity within the framework of a business and holds management functions that give him the status of employee assimilated (president or paid CEO of SAS for example), the professional reports to the general social security system.

His social security contributions are identical to those of an executive employee, and he enjoys equivalent social protection, with the exception of unemployment insurance (optional unemployment insurance is however possible).

In the event of a breach of their professional obligations (compliance with the regulations), the administrative penalties that may be imposed on the guide-lecturers are as follows:

  • Warning
  • Temporary withdrawal of the professional card, for a maximum period of 6 months
  • Permanent withdrawal of the professional card.

If they decide to hire, the contractor reaches a stage in the life of their company because they become an employer. This status commits it to a legal framework, with formalities to be respected and obligations to be assumed.

Here are the main steps and actions to anticipate.

  • Declaration of employment

Before taking up any post, the employer must declare the employee. This declaration is made by means of the pre-employment declaration (DPAE) and must be made no earlier than 8 days before hiring and no later than the day of taking up the position.

It allows toinform social organizations the arrival of an employee andopen its rights social protection.

Pre-employment declaration (PRE-EMPLOYMENT DECLARATION)

  • Establishment of an employment contract and communication on essential information of the employment relationship

In order to formalize the employment relationship, the employer must provide the employee with a employment contract.

This contract can be of indefinite duration (CDI) or fixed term (CDD).

The employer must provide the employee with one or more written documents containing the main information relating to the employment relationship. The deadline for communication varies according to the nature of the information.

To learn more about the nature of the information and the deadlines for communication, consult this pageon the website of the digital labor code.

  • Entry of the employee in the single staff register

Each newly hired employee must be registered on the single register of staff.

The maintenance of this register is mandatory from the first employee hired.

This document details thehistory of entries and exits employees in the company.

  • Affiliation of the employee to the supplementary pension fund

The employer is obliged to join its employees in the supplementary pension schemes of theAgirc-Arrco: titleContent.

This affiliation is made by the single and dematerialized transmission of the registered company declaration (DSN) to all the bodies which manage the social protection of employees.

  • Ensuring safety and health at work

Within 3 months of taking up his post, any newly recruited employee must benefit from a information and prevention visit organized by the employer and carried out by one of the occupational medicine.

Please note

In some cases, this visit must be carried out before the employee is assigned to his or her workstation. We are talking aboutmedical examination for suitability for employment.

If the employee has already received an information and prevention visit within five years or, within the three years preceding their hiring, for employees who benefit from an adapted individual monitoring of their health status (night workers, young people under 18 years of age, etc.), the organization of a new visit is not necessary if the employee is required to hold an identical job with equivalent exposure risks.

The employer must also ensure a safe working environment and prevent occupational risks.

For this, it must in particular inform and train the employee in safety, and update the single occupational risk assessment document (DUERP).

  • Compliance with applicable collective agreement

The employer must apply the collective agreement which includes the principal activity carried out by the company. The title of the collective agreement must appear on the pay slip.

Please note

The Labor Code lays down the general rules applicable to employment relations between employers and employees. Conventions and agreements, negotiated by the social partners, complement this legal framework.

One speaker guide must apply the National Collective Agreement for Travel Operators and Guides (IDCC 3245)

A simulator allows to search for the collective agreement with the company's name or Siret number :

Finding your collective agreement

Please note

For personalized answers on different topics (wages, working time, leave and rest, etc.) depending on the collective agreement, consult the Digital Labor Code site.