So you have an idea for a business in France. It’s exciting and could lead to a whole new lifestyle and income. Maybe you want to run a gite, or open a B&B, or run a tour. But before you pack your bags and put down a deposit for your new business premises in France, it is absolutely essential that you have the right kind of visa. We asked the experts at Oui Immigration to explain the two main options when you create a company in France.
The “Company Creation” Talent Passport
You will need the Company Creation Talent visa if you are a non-EU citizen, and want to live in France and set up a business in France. This option is available if you’re ready to invest 30€K into the French company you will create, and if you can prove that your business will be viable. To do so, you’ll need to provide a strong business plan, which will require validation from the Ministry of Economy.
Once the file is accepted, you’ll receive a visa and a work/residence permit, valid for up to 4 years. This “titre de séjour” will allow you to bring your (married) spouse and children. Your spouse will also be authorised to work in France. It is renewable as long as conditions are met.
Note: Some French permits allow you to open a company in France ( such as the “Conjoint de Français” one) and others do not, it’s really important to check beforehand as this is such a complicated topic.
The “ Entrepreneur / Liberal profession” permit
The Entrepreneur visa will also allow you to open a company in France, or work in a ‘liberal profession’ (independent services), and it does not require an investment. You will however need to obtain an agreement from the Ministry of Labour, based on your business plan, and be able to show that this business will have you earn at least 1800€ per month.
It is valid for one year, renewable as long as conditions are met, but it does now allow you to bring your family.
Other options
Other options such as the “Investor” or the “ Social Agent” are available – it is important to identity the right type of visa for you and your family – immigration strategy is essential, especially if you’re already in France and wants to do a “change of status”.
Your visa application
If you have ever entertained the idea of applying to work in France, you’ll already know that the immigration and visa system is complex, bewildering and awash with red tape. A quick look at the various government immigration websites will probably leave you more confused than when you started and that’s all before you even start the application process itself.
These applications are quite technical and require you to understand clearly the requirements of French administration. A number of things will be taken into account ( criminal records, personal finances, past work experience, diplomas, etc.) – added to the fact that you will need to show that you’re already well advanced in the actual creation of your company.
Cue Oui Immigration
If the thought of all this makes your blood run a little cold, don’t despair, because help is available. And it’s the type of help that quickly gets to the heart of what visa you require and then makes sure you get it.
Who are Oui Immigration?
Oui Immigration are a small team of immigration experts. They have been through the immigration process themselves and they have helped hundreds of others do the same. They understand the nuances of the system, they know the right people to contact, the right things to say and they can help you adopt the right approach to your application.
The starting point for the Oui Immigration team is finding out more about you and your project. This is not a box ticking exercise either for them or the official who will say yes or no to your application.
Oui Immigration work with you to understand your objectives, your hopes and dreams, identifying the strengths of your application as well as spotting, and where possible, shoring up any weaknesses. In short, they get to know you and find out what really matters to you so that they can see the bigger picture of your application as well as the detail.
The team also have considerable experience of dealing with entrepreneurs who have previously been turned down. Their approach is to work methodically through each file, analysing the contents and making recommendations either about changing to a different type of application, or re-submitting an amended application that now meets the authorities’ expectations.
A stress-free visa application
Entrepreneur visas can be very tricky. And if you get any part of it wrong: the wrong application, a weak business plan, the wrong evidence in support of your visa, then your application will be refused.
One of the first challenges is that you may need a work permit to create a company, but you will need a company to get the work permit. Before you tear your hair out over this dilemma, the good news is that Oui Immigration has a strong partnership with a firm that specialises in creating companies and together, they can work on what is often otherwise an insurmountable problem.
This type of visa also serves those wanting to move to France and work as auto-entrepreneurs, for instance managing a gite for which you need a titre de séjour authorising you to work in France.
You will also need to prove that your business plan’s projections are realistic and can be met. Whilst Oui Immigration won’t write your business plan for you, they can and will go through it with you and have the experience to be able to tell you what needs improving: it should be precise enough to convince the French authorities about the viability of your company but still remain pragmatic enough to make sure the goals can and will be met.
And when it comes to renewal?
Your Talent Passport can be a gateway to permanent permission to live in France – you can apply for a residency card, carte de sejours, after 5 years of living and working in France. You will still need to prove that the business plan’s projections have been met. Once again, the Oui Immigration are on hand to help and analyse your renewal application to ensure its success.
With the stress and anxiety of your visa application being dealt with by Oui Immigration, you’re free to focus on your dreams, on a new life in France and on fine tuning the vision you have for your future business.
You can find out more or book a consultation by visiting their website: oui-immigration.com
