What are the income rules for self-employed people coming to France?
People must show their business is economically viable to be granted a visa
Entrepreneurs moving to France must produce a budget plan
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Reader Question: My daughter – a freelance web designer – and partner – who runs a roofing firm – want to come to France with their children. What are the income rules?
If a person is looking to come to France on a self-employment visa (entrepreneur/profession libérale), they will be required to show business plans and budget forecasts.
The plans should ideally be backed up by a professional such as a French accountant.
It is also necessary to apply for an assessment of the economic viability of your project in the department where you plan to work. You apply online for this.
The work should bring in income that is at least the equivalent of the French minimum wage, which in November 2024 is €1,426.30 net per month after social charges.
Read more: Do I need prior French clients to apply for a profession libérale visa?
Rules for self-employed
The self-employment visa is a form of visa de long-séjour valant titre de séjour (VLS-TS).
Additional rules for a self-employment visa include showing that you have any relevant qualifications.
If a person's spouse is planning also to work as a self-employed person, they will need to obtain their own visa bearing this status, though the couple can state in their applications that they plan to come to France together.
Another possible route for the self-employed is to start a company investing at least €30,000 under the passeport talent visa scheme. This simplifies rules for bringing a spouse, who has the right freely to work in France under the same visa, as do minor children on reaching 18.
Jade Mercier of immigration lawyer Fatou Babou’s offices in Paris, said, however, it is possible to bring minor children at the same time if the parents are coming under VLS-TS entrepreneur visas.
It should not be necessary for one parent to come first and then to apply to bring the rest of the family later on (a process known as regroupement familial).
There is no precise requirement for extra income but consular officials will be looking for evidence that the couple will be able to provide suitable income and housing, she said.
Visa must be validated
Self-employment VLS-TS visas last for 12 months, and can be renewed (or switched to a multi-year residency permit) once this period is up.
On receiving your first visa, however, you must validate it within three months of arrival.
Read more: Explainer: which self-employment visa to live and work in France?
