# I have an employee or student residence permit in France: can I form a company?

Updated : 2026-10-24 · Source : https://legalrapide.fr/en/reponses/titre-sejour-salarie-etudiant-creer-societe/

Not directly. The residence permits that service-public lists for starting a business while living in France are the **"entrepreneur / liberal profession"** card, the **"job search or business creation"** card (after a master's degree in France), the **"talent passport"** and the EU long-term resident card. With an "employee" or "student" permit, you generally need to **apply for a change of status** at the préfecture before running your company.

## The permits that allow you to start a business in France
| Permit | For whom | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Entrepreneur / liberal profession | An economically viable commercial, craft or liberal-profession activity | 1 year, renewable |
| Job search or business creation | Holder of a master's degree (or equivalent) from France | 1 year, non-renewable |
| Talent passport, project holder | Business creation, innovative project or investment | Up to 4 years |
| EU long-term resident | 5 years of lawful residence | 10 years |

Have your project approved by the préfecture before being appointed president: a refused permit can lead to an obligation to leave French territory.

## Sources
- [Service-public: can a foreign national start a business in France?](https://entreprendre.service-public.gouv.fr/vosdroits/F22494)
- [Service-public: how can a foreign national run a company in France?](https://entreprendre.service-public.gouv.fr/vosdroits/F36405)