Conditions, procedure and 2026 updates
Every year, many foreign nationals choose France to create or develop an independent business activity. The entrepreneur visa represents a genuine opportunity, but it is subject to strict requirements: the project must be genuine, serious, viable, and suited to the applicant's profile. This article reviews the two available residence permits, the procedure to follow, and the new supporting documents required since the order (arrêté) of 13 May 2026.
This permit is intended for applicants wishing to carry out, in France, an activity that is:
French law sets no minimum investment amount. The applicant must nonetheless demonstrate sufficient funds to launch the activity, and that the activity will generate income at least equivalent to the full-time gross annual minimum wage (SMIC) — €22,404.20 as of 1 June 2026.
The permit is generally issued for one year and may then be renewed if the activity is genuinely carried out and remains economically viable.
Following decree n° 2025-539 of 13 June 2025, the former “business creator,” “innovative project,” and “investor” categories were merged into a single “Talent – Project Holder” permit (Article L. 421-16, 3° of the CESEDA). This permit remains more advantageous than the “Entrepreneur” permit, as it can be issued for a period of up to four years.
It nonetheless requires:
The applicant's spouse may also be granted a “Talent (family)” permit authorizing them to work in France.
The order (arrêté) of 13 May 2026 clarified the list of supporting documents required for an application for an opinion on the economic viability of the non-salaried activity, requested for the “Entrepreneur/Liberal Profession” permit (Article L. 421-5 of the CESEDA).
The documents common to all applications now include:
Additional documents are required depending on the situation:
Practical tip: applicants are advised to obtain the criminal record extract and its certified translation as early as possible, since these steps can significantly delay the filing of the application when the applicant resides abroad.
The applicant must prepare a file including, in particular:
The application is filed with the French consulate where the applicant resides abroad, or with the relevant French authority in the case of a change of status while already in France.
Simply forming a company or a micro-enterprise is not enough. The authorities verify that the activity is credible, funded, and capable of generating income.
Many applicants apply for a “Talent” permit without holding the required €30,000, or submit an “Entrepreneur” application without demonstrating the economic viability of the project.
Projected revenue that is announced without supporting contracts, clientele, or a serious market study can lead to a refusal.
Certain professions require a diploma, an administrative authorization, or registration with a professional body. Setting up a company does not allow these requirements to be bypassed.
Processing times vary depending on the competent consulate or prefecture and on how complete the file is. Applicants are advised to start preparing the file several months before the intended departure date, particularly to gather the economic viability opinion and, where applicable, the translated criminal record.
No. This amount only applies to the “Talent – Project Holder” permit. The “Entrepreneur/Liberal Profession” permit imposes no legal minimum amount, but requires proof of sufficient funds and a viable activity capable of generating income at least equivalent to the SMIC.
The holder of a “Talent – Project Holder” permit can have their spouse granted a “Talent (family)” permit. For the “Entrepreneur/Liberal Profession” permit, family members' arrival follows the ordinary family reunification rules, subject to meeting resource and housing requirements.
A refusal can be challenged through an informal or hierarchical appeal to the authorities, and then through a contentious appeal before the competent administrative court, within two months of notification of the decision. Meeting this deadline and precisely substantiating the appeal are essential.
The entrepreneur visa represents a genuine opportunity to build a business activity in France. However, registering a company does not automatically create a right of residence: the success of the application depends on the coherence of the project, its financing, and the applicant's ability to prove that the activity will allow them to support themselves durably.
Maître Sarah Haidar supports her clients at every stage: assessing the situation, choosing the most suitable permit, preparing the economic viability file, drafting the business plan, and following through until the permit is granted — or, in the event of a refusal, through the contentious appeal. We work in French, English, and Arabic, and regularly assists Lebanese, Syrian, Egyptian, and Gulf clients with their relocation to France.
Go back