LumenWhich French residence card do you need to work as a freelancer or self-employed, and how much must you earn?
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France's "entrepreneur/profession libérale" card is for foreigners running a commercial, craft or liberal activity in France for more than 3 months. The 2026 government guidance asks for a viable, registered activity and, for liberal professions and continuing businesses, income from it of at least 1,867.02 € a month. The card costs 350 € and lasts up to 1 year.
Key facts
| What | The guidance says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Who it’s for | Foreigners coming to run a commercial, craft or liberal activity in France for more than 3 months | Service-public.fr F35795, “Qui peut demander” |
| The activity | Main activity, registered with the business formalities one-stop shop, economically viable, giving sufficient means of living, matching your qualifications or experience | F35795, “Qui peut demander” |
| Income, liberal profession | New activity: proof it can bring at least 1,867.02 € a month. Continuing: income from it of at least 1,867.02 € a month | F35795, documents, “Activité libérale” |
| Income, commercial/craft business continuing | Resources from the activity of at least 1,867.02 € a month | F35795, documents, “Poursuite d’une activité commerciale” |
| New commercial/craft business | Business plan and multi-year budget; a guarantee from a bank or insurer approved in France, or a credit-balance certificate for a French account in your name | F35795, documents, “Création d’une activité commerciale” |
| Cost | 350 € (300 € tax + 50 € stamp duty); renewal 250 € | F35795, “Quel est le coût”, “Coût” |
| Length | Up to 1 year; then a 4-year multi-year card can be requested | F35795, “Durée”, “Comment renouveler” |
Who it’s for
The government’s guidance on service-public.fr (checked by the source on 1 June 2026) says this card is for a foreigner who comes to France to carry out a commercial, craft, industrial or liberal activity for more than 3 months. The activity must be your main one and be registered with the one-stop shop for business formalities (guichet unique). It must be economically viable, give you sufficient means of living, and match your qualifications or professional experience.
How much you must earn
For a liberal activity (most freelance professions), the guidance asks for proof that a new activity can bring income of at least 1,867.02 € a month, or, if you are continuing one, proof of income from it of at least 1,867.02 € a month. You also need your Urssaf registration, the opinion of the foreign-labour platform, and, for a regulated profession, the authorisation to practise or registration with the professional order.
For a commercial, industrial or craft activity, continuing a business needs proof of resources from it of at least 1,867.02 € a month. Creating one needs a written project presentation, a business plan and a multi-year budget, a guarantee from a credit institution or insurer approved in France or a certificate of a credit balance on a French account in your name, and the foreign-labour platform’s opinion.
Cost, length and renewal
The card costs 350 € in tax stamps (300 € tax + 50 € stamp duty) and lasts up to 1 year. You apply at the prefecture or sub-prefecture where you live, in the 2 months before your current card ends. A renewal of the temporary card costs 250 €; a late application, except for force majeure or with a valid visa, adds a 180 € regularisation visa fee. The temporary card can’t be renewed more than 3 times in a row on the same ground.
After the first temporary card you can ask for a 4-year multi-year card (350 €). For a first multi-year card you need French at level A2 and to pass the civic exam, unless you are over 65.
Related questions
- Teleworking from France for a foreign employer: see “Does France have a digital nomad visa”.
- The French language and civic exam rules: see “France residence permit French language level A2/B1” and “France residence permit civic exam”.
Sources
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This is general information, not legal advice, and Lumen is not a law firm. Rules change and offices differ: check the official sources above before you act. Found something wrong or out of date? Write to support@lumen.observer.