--- title: "France Entrepreneur / freelancer 2026: €1,867+/mo needed" url: https://settleanywhere.com/countries/france/entrepreneur-liberal/ lang: en updated: 2026-10-11 --- France · Business / Startup # France Entrepreneur / freelancer **Income needed:** €1,867+ a month ≈ $2,090 Residence permit "entrepreneur/profession liberale" First checked against official sources on 11 Oct 2026 [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/) - **Income needed:** €1,867+ a month ≈ $2,090 (Income of at least EUR 1,867.02 a month (≈ $2,090) · Resources from the business or profession at least equal to gross monthly SMIC. A fee of EUR 350 (≈ $390) · Residence card fee: EUR 300 tax plus EUR 50 stamp duty, paid by tax stamps.) - **First stay:** 1 yr (First card valid at most one year; a multi-year card is valid four years on renewal.) - **Who can apply:** Most passports (Non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals; Algerian nationals follow the bilateral agreement) - **Spouse work:** Limited (Your spouse or partner can join through family reunification after 18 months of your residence and may then work in France without a separate permit.) ## Key facts Entrepreneur / freelancer is a business / startup route for France. Applicants need income of €1,867+ a month ≈ $2,090. You can stay 1 yr, renewable. Checked 2026-10-11 against the official source. - **Money needed:** €1,867+ a month ≈ $2,090 - **Government fees:** €350 ≈ $390 - **First stay:** 1 yr ## Cost, time and long term To apply: government fee €350 ≈ $390; income to show €1,867+/mo ≈ $2,090. No lawyer or agent fee is included. **Government fees: €350 ≈ $390** - EUR 350 (≈ $390) Residence card fee: EUR 300 (≈ $340) tax plus EUR 50 (≈ $56) stamp duty, paid by tax stamps. **Shown, not spent: €1,867+/mo ≈ $2,090** - EUR 1,867.02 a month (≈ $2,090) Resources from the business or profession at least equal to gross monthly SMIC. **Renewal: Renewable** The first card lasts at most one year; at renewal a 4-year multi-year card is possible with A2 French and the civic exam, and a temporary card cannot be renewed more than 3 consecutive times for the same reason. [Service-Public](https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F35795) **Permanent residence: After 5 years of residence** The EU long-term resident card needs 5 years of uninterrupted legal stay on a listed permit, stable resources, health cover, French at level B1 and the civic exam; absences up to 6 consecutive months (10 in total) are allowed. [Service-Public.gouv.fr](https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F17359?lang=en) **Citizenship: After 5 years of residence** Naturalisation needs at least 5 years of residence in France, a valid residence permit at the time of application, integration into the French community and sufficient French. [Service-Public.gouv.fr](https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F2213?lang=en) ## Why this route may not fit Check this before you apply. - Not open to EU, EEA or Swiss passports, or passports from Algeria ### What you'll need #### Who can apply - The applicant is a non-EU/EEA/Swiss national; Algerian nationals follow the bilateral agreement. - The applicant creates a business or practises a liberal profession. #### What you must show - Resources from the activity of at least EUR1,867.02 (≈ $2,090) per month (gross monthly SMIC). #### Documents - Business plan and budget forecast. - A platform opinion on the project. #### After you arrive - Proof of effective activity is required at renewal. ## When you become tax resident How France decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records. - **Stay on this route:** **Up to 1 year at first, renewable** - **Tax residence:** Tax domicile rules in Art. 4 B CGI. - **Income tax:** Progressive scale per family-quotient share: 0% to EUR11,600, (≈ $13,000) 11% to EUR29,579, (≈ $33,000) 30% to EUR84,577, (≈ $94,500) 41% to EUR181,917 (≈ $203,000) and 45% above, set by Finance Act 2026-103 of 19 February 2026. [All tax rules for France](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/france/tax/) Tax records checked 10 Oct 2026 **Full official text** Temporary card for people creating a business or practising a liberal profession whose activity yields resources of at least EUR1,867.02 (≈ $2,090) a month; the project is reviewed by the foreign-labour platform. (sources 1, 2, 3, 4) #### What you must show and pay - Income of at least EUR 1,867.02 a month (≈ $2,090) · Resources from the business or profession at least equal to gross monthly SMIC. (source 1) - A fee of EUR 350 (≈ $390) · Residence card fee: EUR 300 (≈ $340) tax plus EUR 50 (≈ $56) stamp duty, paid by tax stamps. (source 1) #### Requirements - The applicant is a non-EU/EEA/Swiss national; Algerian nationals follow the bilateral agreement. (source 1) - The applicant creates a business or practises a liberal profession. (source 1) - Resources from the activity of at least EUR1,867.02 (≈ $2,090) per month (gross monthly SMIC). (source 1) - Business plan and budget forecast. (source 1) - A platform opinion on the project. (source 1) - Proof of effective activity is required at renewal. (source 1) #### Stay - First card valid at most one year; a multi-year card is valid four years on renewal. - First stay: up to 12 months, decided case by case. - Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal. #### Nationality Non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals; Algerian nationals follow the bilateral agreement Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Algeria, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia. #### Work Self-employed or company activity. #### Family Your spouse or partner can join through family reunification after 18 months of your residence and may then work in France without a separate permit. Checked 2026-10-11 ## Official sources 1. [Residence permit "entrepreneur/profession liberale"](https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F35795) · Service-Public (DILA) · checked 2026-10-10 2. [Family reunification of a foreigner in France](https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F11166?lang=en) · Service-Public.gouv.fr · checked 2026-10-11 3. [Work authorisation for a foreign employee in France: titles that exempt the employer](https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F2728) · Service-Public.fr (DILA) · checked 2026-10-12 4. [Can a family already in France benefit from family reunification?](https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F11167) · Service-Public.fr (DILA) · checked 2026-10-12 5. [Long-term resident card - EU (foreigner in France for 5 years)](https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F17359?lang=en) · Service-Public.gouv.fr (Direction de l'information légale et administrative) · checked 2026-10-11 6. [French naturalization by decree](https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F2213?lang=en) · Service-Public.gouv.fr (Direction de l'information légale et administrative) · checked 2026-10-11 ## Entrepreneur / freelancer and its alternatives | Route | Money needed | Stay | Work | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Entrepreneur / freelancer | Needs income of €1,867+ a month ≈ $2,090 | 1 yr, renewable | – | | [Talent · Artist](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/france/talent-artistic/) | Needs income of €1,307+ a month ≈ $1,460 | 4 yr, renewable | – | | [Talent · Business creator](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/france/talent-business-creator/) | Needs an investment of €30k+ ≈ $34k | 4 yr, renewable | – | | [Talent · Innovative project](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/france/talent-innovative-project/) | Needs income of €22k+ a year ≈ $25k | 4 yr, renewable | – | | [Startup Visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/portugal/startup-visa-89-4/) Portugal | Needs savings of €6,446+ ≈ $7,200 | 2 yr, renewable | – | ## Questions people ask ### How much money do I need for the Entrepreneur / freelancer? Income of at least EUR 1,867.02 a month (≈ $2,090). Resources from the business or profession at least equal to gross monthly SMIC. A fee of EUR 350 (≈ $390). Residence card fee: EUR 300 (≈ $340) tax plus EUR 50 (≈ $56) stamp duty, paid by tax stamps. ### How long can I stay on the Entrepreneur / freelancer? First card valid at most one year; a multi-year card is valid four years on renewal. ### Can I work on the Entrepreneur / freelancer? Self-employed or company activity. ### Can I bring my family on the Entrepreneur / freelancer? Your spouse or partner can join through family reunification after 18 months of your residence and may then work in France without a separate permit. ### Who can apply for the Entrepreneur / freelancer? Non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals; Algerian nationals follow the bilateral agreement Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Algeria, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia. ### Does the Entrepreneur / freelancer lead to permanent residence in France? Time on the Entrepreneur / freelancer counts toward permanent residence in France, which the rules allow after 5 years of residence. Time on the Entrepreneur / freelancer counts toward citizenship, which the rules allow after 5 years of residence. ### How are Entrepreneur / freelancer holders taxed in France? No special regime in our records is tied to the Entrepreneur / freelancer. The standard rules apply: Progressive scale per family-quotient share: 0% to EUR11,600, (≈ $13,000) 11% to EUR29,579, (≈ $33,000) 30% to EUR84,577, (≈ $94,500) 41% to EUR181,917 (≈ $203,000) and 45% above, set by Finance Act 2026-103 of 19 February 2026. ## More in France [Talent · Renowned person](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/france/talent-renown/) [Working Holiday](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/france/working-holiday/) [Visitor card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/france/visitor-card/) [Talent · €300k investment](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/france/talent-economic-investment/) [Intra-company transfer permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/france/ict-posted-employee/) [Employee residence card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/france/employee-residence-card/) [Seasonal worker card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/france/seasonal-worker/) [Talent · Company officer](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/france/talent-corporate-officer/) ## Business / startup visas elsewhere [🇪🇸 Entrepreneur visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/spain/entrepreneur-visa/) [🇮🇹 Startup Hub (in-country)](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/italy/startup-hub/) [🇬🇷 Business investor permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/greece/business-investment-b2/) [🇩🇪 Self-employed permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/germany/self-employment-21/) [🇬🇧 Innovator Founder](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-kingdom/innovator-founder/) [🇳🇱 DAFT self-employed](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/netherlands/daft-self-employed/) ≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated. ## How this was checked **Checked on 2026-10-11 against 6 official sources.** Status: verified against the official sources. Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out. 1. [Residence permit "entrepreneur/profession liberale"](https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F35795) · Service-Public (DILA) · checked 2026-10-10 2. [Family reunification of a foreigner in France](https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F11166?lang=en) · Service-Public.gouv.fr · checked 2026-10-11 3. [Work authorisation for a foreign employee in France: titles that exempt the employer](https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F2728) · Service-Public.fr (DILA) · checked 2026-10-12 4. [Can a family already in France benefit from family reunification?](https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F11167) · Service-Public.fr (DILA) · checked 2026-10-12 5. [Long-term resident card - EU (foreigner in France for 5 years)](https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F17359?lang=en) · Service-Public.gouv.fr (Direction de l'information légale et administrative) · checked 2026-10-11 6. [French naturalization by decree](https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F2213?lang=en) · Service-Public.gouv.fr (Direction de l'information légale et administrative) · checked 2026-10-11 Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the [changes page](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/), and the [methodology page](https://settleanywhere.com/methodology/) explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email [contact@stayglobe.app](mailto:contact@stayglobe.app?subject=Correction) with a link to the official source.