French Visa & Residence Permit — Entrepreneur / Profession libérale

The Entrepreneur / Profession libérale visa and residence permit are intended for those planning to carry out independent commercial, artisanal, industrial, agricultural or liberal professional activity in France. We handle the VLS-TS long-stay visa when you apply from outside France, the issue and renewal of the residence card in France, and a change of status within France where there are appropriate grounds. The procedure depends on where you are when you apply — abroad or already in France; both are described separately below.

This format suits different types of activity: activité libérale, commerciale, artisanale (métier), industrielle or agricole.

Types of Activity

• Activité libérale — liberal professions (consultants, IT specialists, doctors, lawyers)
• Activité commerciale — commercial activity
• Activité artisanale / métier — craft activity
• Activité industrielle — industrial activity
• Activité agricole — agricultural activity

Choosing the right category is essential, as it determines the conditions of registration, taxation and the subsequent renewal of the residence permit. This is where we start: by correctly defining your status and form of activity.

Validity and Renewal

Initially, the Entrepreneur permit is issued for 1 year. Then, with confirmed integration, real activity, and A2 language requirements:

• Renewal for 2 years
• Then another 2 years
• After 5 years — right to resident card (10 years) and citizenship

Applying from Outside France: VLS-TS Visa

When applying from outside France, a long-stay visa VLS-TS “Entrepreneur / Profession libérale” is issued through the French consulate in your country of residence. After entry into France and validation, it serves as a residence permit. Your further stay is then arranged in France through a residence card (carte de séjour).

We:

• Analyze your project and the format of your activity
• Prepare the business plan and support its review by the competent authorities
• Prepare the document package for the consulate
• Support you in obtaining the 1-year VLS-TS Entrepreneur / Profession libérale visa
• After your arrival in France, support the validation of the visa, after which it serves as a residence permit
• If needed, support the registration of your activity and the administrative steps on site
• Support the application for a residence card for your further stay in France

Applying in France: Change of Status

If you are already in France, a change of status to “Entrepreneur / Profession libérale” is possible where there are appropriate grounds. We check whether a change of status is possible in your situation and support the procedure:

• Help choose the correct category of activity (libérale / commerciale / artisanale / industrielle / agricole)
• Support the registration of your business status
• Prepare the business plan and support its review by the competent authorities
• Prepare the complete document package for the Prefecture
• Support the submission
• Help with initial declarations
• Support setting up your accounting at the start

Economic Viability and Income

In both procedures, the project must meet two requirements:

• Economic viability of the project — the activity must be real and economically sound
• Income from the activity — at least the current full-time SMIC (SMIC à temps plein)

When the project is being set up, this is substantiated by forecasts (business plan and financial forecast); at renewal, by actual income from the activity.

Service Costs

• Entrepreneur / Profession libérale visa and residence permit support: €950 (main applicant)
• DCEM for child: €450
• Business plan preparation and support during its review by the competent authorities: €450
• Visa fees and sworn translations — separate

What We Do