Monaco Business owner card

Residence card for foreign nationals who set up or run a business in Monaco under a business permit from the Minister of State. ^{1 2 3}

What you must show and pay

• A fee of EUR 80 (≈ $89) · Issue fee for a first temporary residence card (renewal EUR 40 (≈ $45)). ²

Requirements

• The applicant is 16 or older and runs or plans to start a business in Monaco as sole trader, manager or company administrator. ^{1 3}
• Foreign nationals need a business permit from the Business Development Agency before operating a sole trade. ³
• Future company founders first obtain a receipt from the Department of Economic Expansion confirming the company application is admissible. ¹
• The applicant has a home in Monaco suited to the household, as owner, shareholder of the owning company, tenant or guest of a close relative or partner. ¹
• Resources shown by a trade register extract under three months old, or a Kbis extract for French activity. ¹
• Issue fee EUR 80 (≈ $89) for a first temporary card. ²
• The business permit application form, a personal information form, ID and a criminal record under three months old. ³
• For a new business, a tenancy agreement, title deed or occupancy agreement for the premises. ³
• A passport with the establishment visa, a birth certificate under three months old and a sworn statement for first-time applicants. ¹
• Proof of housing: electricity contract or last bill plus a deed of ownership, a registered lease or a free-hosting certificate. ¹
• A criminal record extract under three months old from each country of residence in the last five years. ¹
• Documents in languages other than French, English or Italian need a sworn translation. ¹
• The business permit application goes to the Business Development Agency, which has forty-five days to decide once it is eligible. ³
• Apply online through the dedicated service or on paper at the Residents Section, 9 rue Suffren-Reymond. ¹
• A complete file is followed by an individual interview with original documents. ¹
• After the permit, register the business, get a statistical number and declare the company to the tax services. ³

Stay

• Temporary card valid one year; an ordinary card valid 3 years (first card EUR 100 (≈ $110)) is available after 3 years of residence, and a privileged card valid 10 years (first card EUR 160 (≈ $180)) after 10 years of effective residence (the 10 years can be reduced to 1 year in particular cases).
• Initial permitted stay: 12 months.
• Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.

Nationality

EEA and third-country nationals listed by Monaco (including Andorra, Switzerland and San Marino) need no visa; other nationals need a long-stay establishment visa (type D) from the French consulate nearest their last home, or a transfer of residence from the French embassy in Monaco if settled in France for over a year.

Work

Operate the business covered by the business permit.

Family

Spouse or partner and children can be supported by the resident and apply with their own cards; children under 16 get a travel document instead.

Checked 2026-10-12

Official sources

1. Demander une carte de séjour · Government of Monaco (MonServicePublic) · checked 2026-10-11
2. La carte de séjour · Government of Monaco (MonServicePublic) · checked 2026-10-11
3. How to set up a business as a sole trader · Government of Monaco (MonEntreprise) · checked 2026-10-11
4. Loi n. 1.155 du 18 decembre 1992 relative a la nationalite (Art. 3 and 5) · Legimonaco (Government of the Principality of Monaco) · checked 2026-10-11