The Entrepreneur / Profession Libérale Visa

Who it is for

The entrepreneur / profession libérale visa is a long-stay route for non-EU nationals who want to create or take part in a commercial, industrial, artisanal or agricultural activity in France, or to work in a liberal profession: freelancers, consultants, and owners of small commercial or artisanal businesses. It applies to a stay of more than 3 months.

It is issued as a long-stay visa that serves as a residence permit (VLS-TS), bearing the statement “entrepreneur/profession libérale”. A related “commerçant” track covers commercial, industrial or artisanal activity and is requested at the French embassy (ambassade de France) or the competent French consulate in your country of origin.

How it differs from the Talent Passport

This route is for self-employed activity that does not qualify under the Talent Passport. It is a distinct, less-publicized VLS-TS category, and unlike the Talent Passport tracks it has no fixed capital or headcount threshold: the core test is economic viability.

The Talent Passport founder category (Talent – porteur de projet) is built differently. It asks for a Master’s-equivalent diploma or 5 years of comparable experience, at least €30,000 invested in the business, and a project validated as “real and serious” by the Ministry of Economy through the DRIEETS. Its French Tech Visa track for innovative projects has no €30,000 floor but needs backing from an approved incubator or French Tech ecosystem player. If your project fits one of those, compare the two routes before choosing.

The viability test

The status lets non-European nationals start or carry out an independent activity in France provided the project is economically viable and respects public order. You submit proof of viability to the consulate, and the decision rests on the administration’s assessment of it.

For the commerçant route, the decision to grant or refuse depends on the economic viability of the business-creation project, or on the business’s capacity to provide income at least equivalent to the SMIC, the French minimum wage.

• Proof that the project is economically viable: business plan, viability documentation and income projections
• For a regulated profession such as law, accounting or medicine: the same diploma or professional-experience requirements that apply to French nationals in that profession
• The general long-stay documents: a passport valid for 6+ months beyond the intended stay, the completed application, passport photos, proof of accommodation in France, proof of financial resources, and comprehensive health insurance for the full stay, including repatriation and emergency care

The resources you must show

If you are managing or joining an existing business, you must show the ability to earn a salary at least equivalent to the minimum wage. Since June 1, 2026 the gross SMIC is €1,867.02 a month.

For a brand-new activity, no separate fixed savings requirement is stated. The consulate evaluates the project’s own income projections and viability documents instead.

Applying

The application can be submitted no earlier than 3 months before your date of arrival in France.

• The long-stay visa fee is the ordinary €99, paid at the consulate or visa center and non-refundable if the visa is refused
• A residence-permit tax is paid separately after arrival, by tax stamp (timbre fiscal); from May 1, 2026 the standard tax rose from €200 to €300 and the stamp duty from €25 to €50

After you arrive

Like every VLS-TS, the entrepreneur / profession libérale visa is validated online on the ANEF portal within 3 months of your entry into France (CESEDA article R.431-17, which lists this visa among those concerned; service-public.gouv.fr states the same three months). France-Visas’ own page for this visa still speaks of validating within fifteen days of arrival, so do not wait: validate in your first days, and you meet either reading.

From arrival you must also complete every formality that allows you to carry out your professional activity in France, and attend the mandatory medical examination and/or welcome visit that are part of standard VLS-TS validation.

1. 1Validate the visa on the ANEF portal in your first days — the legal deadline is 3 months from entry
2. 2Complete the formalities for your professional activity and attend the medical examination and/or welcome visit
3. 3Before the card is finalized, show proof that the business is registered (statuts, extrait K or Kbis) or of affiliation with the self-employed social security scheme
4. 4At the end of the year, request a carte de séjour “entrepreneur/profession libérale” or a carte de séjour pluriannuelle “talent – porteur de projet”