How can a foreigner run a business in France?

You must meet all of the following conditions:

• You must have at least one seniority 3 months in an establishment or a company of the same group as an employee or social agent.
• You must justify your appointment acting as legal representative in an establishment or business in France
• You must justify resources corresponding to €63,609

You can apply for a visa via the France-visa online service :

Apply for a visa

You can also apply by visiting the French consular authorities of the country in which you reside :

In the 3 months after your entry into France, you must apply for a long-term visa as a valid residence permit. The application can be made online on the following platform:

Validate a long-stay visa as a residence permit (VLS-TS) and pay the tax

Once your application has been validated and your residence permit is available, you must go to the prefecture on which you depend to collect it:

You must attach the following documents:

• Visa Application Form long stay, completed dated and signed
• Received France visa
• Passport less than 10 years with a period of validity of at least 3 months longer than the scheduled date of departure from France. All pages with visas and entry and exit stamps must be sent.
• Entitlementcivil status and nationality : passport or birth certificate with filiation or full copy of the birth certificate
• 3 identity photos compliant
• Documents certifying that you hold a position of corporate agent in an establishment or company established in France (e.g.: statutes, act of appointment)
• Documents proving that you work in the company or a business in the same group for at least 3 months (e.g. employment contract, corporate mandate)
• Document that you have a gross remuneration at least equal to €63,609

The long visa valid as a residence permit is valid for a period of 1 year.

If you want to stay longer in France, you will need to apply for a residence permit within the last 2 months of validity of the visa with the prefecture of your place of residence.

You will have to resubmit the documents proving that you meet the conditions to obtain a visa.

You will also need to justify your renewal request and provide proof that your business is working (resources at least equal to €63,609).

The duration of the residence permit "Talent passport mention Social agent" 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.

It is possible that your visa application will be refused. The refusal must be justified in writing.

You have the right to ex gratia appeal against that decision to consular or diplomatic authority on which you depend for her to make a new decision:

The Board of Appeal against decisions refusing entry visas to France (CRV) is also competent to deal with appeals without charge:

Once in France, you can apply for a residence permit Talent passport: Social agent in one of the following ways:

• Online:

Validate a long-stay visa as a residence permit (VLS-TS) and pay the tax

• On the spot:

Attach the following documents to your application:

• Passport less than 10 years with a period of validity of at least 3 months longer than the scheduled date of departure from France. All pages with visas and entry and exit stamps must be sent
• Long-stay visa or long-stay visa as a residence permit valid
• Entitlementcivil status and nationality : passport or birth certificate with filiation or a full copy of the birth certificate
• Proof of payment of the tax on the residence permit and the right to the stamp (to be given at the time of delivery of the residence permit)
• 3 identity photos compliant
• Documents attesting that you are a social agent in an establishment or company established in France (e.g.: statutes, act of appointment)
• Documents proving that you work in the company or a business in the same group for at least 3 months (e.g. employment contract, corporate mandate)
• Document that you have a gross remuneration at least equal to €63,609

Your application for a residence permit may be refused.

1. LRefusal letter

In case of receipt of a refusal letter, you have the obligation to leave French territory.

You have the right to appeal in court before the Administrative Court within 48 hours, 15 days or 30 days:

2. No response:

If you have not received a response, this is an implicit denial.

You can challenge this refusal within 2 months by administrative appeal to the prefect.

Administrative appeals may also be filed with the Ministry of the Interior.

You can also appeal to the Administrative Court:

The duration of the residence permit varies according to 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 request for renewal must be made within Last 2 months of validity of your residence permit. You will have to resubmit the documents proving that you meet the conditions to obtain a residence permit. You will also need to justify your renewal request and provide proof that your business is working (resources at least equal to €63,609).

The request 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 the spot:

Renewal costs €225 (€200 for the tax on the residence permit and €25 for stamp duty).

After 5 years of regular and uninterrupted residence in France, you can apply for a residence card authorizing your stay and the exercise of any professional activity.

Its duration is 10 years and it can be renewed.

The visa costs €99.

You also have to pay atOfii: titleContent a tax equal to €200 plus €25 stamp duty.

You must pay in all €324.