Guest speaker: conditions of access and exercise in France

Verified 21 February 2026 - Entreprendre Service Public / (Prime Minister)

  • Technical profession and regulated living environment
  • Self-employed or employed
  • APE 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 exercise
  • Social protection : CPAM: titleContent (illness), Cipav: titleContent (retirement)

Definition

The guide-lecturer is a professional whose mission is to ensure 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 interpersonal skills and a sense of pedagogy. With a high availability, a good ability to adapt to the expectations of visitors, he expresses himself with ease in one or more foreign languages.

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

Access

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

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

The conditions of training and qualification 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 shall be issued to persons holding a certificate or diploma at least at 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 (UE) "skills of the guides-lecturers", a UE "setting up and professional practice" and a UE in living language other than French. The person must have a descriptive appendix to his diploma mentioning the validation of these teaching units or a certificate issued by an accredited higher education institution certifying the validation of the teaching units.
  • Either a diploma conferring the degree of master and having at least one year of professional experience accumulated over the last 5 years in oral heritage mediation, and having at least 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)

People wishing establishing in France as a guide-lecturer and respecting the condition of nationality can obtain the professional card of guide-lecturer:

  • Or if they have a training title obtained in a Member State of(UE) certifying regulated training specifically aimed at the practice of the profession of guide-lecturer
  • Either 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 UE or(EEE), 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 a UE or EEE State. The evidence of formal qualifications must then prove that the applicant’s training was essentially acquired in the UE or EEE.
    • or by a third country, provided that an attestation is provided from the competent authority of the Member UE or EEE 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-lecturer for at least one year during the previous 10 years, in one or more Member UE of the State or of the EEE 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 that State, and attest to the applicant's preparation for the exercise of the activity of guide-lecturer.

The Prefect verifies 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 proficiency 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 contest the non-recognition of the diploma of the guide-lecturer, 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 UE or theEEE, may exercise that profession on a temporary and occasional basis in France (‘freedom to provide services’).

However, where the profession of interpreter-guide or lecturer or the training leading to it is not regulated in the Member State in which the person is practicing that profession, the temporary exercise of the profession is possible on condition that the person must have practiced that profession in a Member UE of the EEE 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 include in French the mention of the professional title he holds in the Member State of the UE or theEEE in which it is drawn up or its evidence of formal qualifications in respect of documents intended for third parties, whatever the medium. He must indicate this title to the persons who use his services, as well as to the person in charge of the museum or historical monument visited.

Please note

Mastery (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:

  • Of nationality French
  • Nationals of another Member State of l'' (UE)
  • Nationals of another State party to the Agreement on the l' (EEE).

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 make an application in order to obtain it before being able to practice in France.

Constitution of the application file

The applicant for a professional speaking guide card must provide the following elements 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 annex to the diploma or certificate of the transcript justifying the validation of the teaching units « skills of the guides-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 entrepreneurs : invoices paid or payslips) of 1 year cumulated over the last 5 years in the oral mediation of assets.
    • Any document justifying 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 get closer to your prefecture to find out.

The special mentions which may be included 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 graduate degree (examples: art history, history, archeology, architecture, etc.) 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 exam,...).)

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

As business cards are permanent, a request 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 upon 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 where the applicant is domiciled.

Who shall I contact
Abroad

The professional guide-lecturer 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-lecturer’, ‘guide-interpreter’ or ‘lecturer’. In cases where the professional title of the national does not exist in France, he must mention his French language training credential 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-lecturer card is permanent, so there is no validity period.

It is valid throughout France and can be used to prove professional qualification in any EU Member State.

The professional card may be used to prove professional qualification in any EU Member State. However, cardholders will have to check with the authorities of the Member State that the card is sufficient to exercise it under the freedom to provide services.

Checking the information on the business card

The professional guide-lecturer card has 2 flaps.

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

  • ‘French Republic’
  • Mention of competent ministries
  • "Guidebook"
  • ‘Permanent validity’
  • ‘Card number: [followed by card number]’ (The card number shall consist 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:

  • 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:

  • ‘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:

  • « The holder of this card is authorized to conduct guided tours in 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 legislative and regulatory provisions in force »
  • ‘The holder of this card is exempt from the entry fee 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 practice, for remuneration, of 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 the company’s operating rules, but it also has implications for the tax system and social protection.

There are two main legal forms:

  • Individual business (EI) : allows you to carry out your activity alone and in your own name. The Head of company and the individual business shall form a one and the same person. Micro-company (or self-company) is an individual business with a simplified tax and social system.
  • Business : allows you to work 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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Individual business (including micro-entrepreneur)

The creation of an individual business (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.

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

The tax and social system of traditional individual business

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

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

The individual contractor is subject to the Social security for the self-employed regime. He has the status of 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 factsheet on the social protection for traders and craftsmen details of the contributions due and the arrangements for reporting and payment.

Our sheet on theindividual business (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 did not exceed certain thresholds in each of the previous 2 years.

Warning  

Since 1er in january 2026, these thresholds were reassessed: €203,100 in the case of an activity of selling goods (instead of €188,700 in 2025), and €83,600 for the provision of services (instead of €77,700 in 2025).

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

Furthermore, the micro-company is subjected to the TVA-based franchise : that is, the contractor does not declare the TVA on the services or sales he performs and cannot deduct it either.

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

For more details on tax rebates, you can consult the sheet on the micro-entrepreneur tax system.

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

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 established. It thus makes it possible to protect the personal assets 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 expensive. In addition, the business must comply with various accounting obligations (keeping and filing of annual accounts, convening of shareholders at general meetings (AGMs), holding of AGMs for any change in 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 carried out shall be 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 head of an EURL or SARL (if in the 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 head of an SAS, SASU, SARL (minority or egalitarian) is considered to be a salaried assimilated worker. It is part of the general social security system. He enjoys 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, the Urssaf offers the following simulator:

Finding the right legal status (form) for your company project

Please note

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

Declare activity

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

Window of company formalities

The trader must apply for registration within one month before the declared start date of the activity and, at the latest, 15 days after the start date of the activity. This formality has the effect of giving the company legal status.

This declaration informs 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, the Insee shall award:

  • A number Siren : it is a unique identification number of the 9-digit company 
  • A number Siret : this is 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, the Insee also assigns the professional its code APE: titleContent.

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

When the spouse (married, partner of Civil partnerships: titleContent or common-law 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, entered into a civil partnership or cohabiting) of a merchant, craftsman or liberal head of company (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 certifies that he has not been subject to any criminal, civil or administrative sanction prohibiting him from setting up and managing a company.

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

Declaration of non-conviction and filiation for registration in the French 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 professional who carries out his activity in his own name (individual business) or as majority manager of a business (such as an EURL or SARL), is affiliated to the Social security for the self-employed (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 real 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 equivalent (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 business card.

If they decide to hire, the entrepreneur takes a step in the life of their company because they become an employer. This status commits it to a legal framework, with formalities to be complied with 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 take place no earlier than 8 days before the hiring and no later than the day of taking up the position.

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

Notice of hiring (DPAE)

  • Establishment of an employment contract and communication of the 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 may be for an indefinite term (CDI) or a 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 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, see this pageon the digital labor code website.

  • Entry of the employee in the single staff register

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

This register is mandatory from the first employee hired.

This document details thehistory of inputs and outputs employees in the company.

  • Affiliation of the employee to the supplementary pension fund

Employers are obliged to enroll their 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 position, 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 benefited from an information and prevention visit within five years or, within three years prior to 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 guarantee 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's guide shall apply the National Collective Agreement for Travel Operators and Guides (IDCC 3245).

A simulator allows find your 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.

FAQ