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

These permits are not the ones that allow you to work as an entrepreneur: to run your company in France, you generally need to change your status with the préfecture.
By Razvan Toma · Founder

Last updated 24 October 2026Sources cited in the text

TL;DR

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

PermitFor whomDuration
Entrepreneur / liberal professionAn economically viable commercial, craft or liberal-profession activity1 year, renewable
Job search or business creationHolder of a master's degree (or equivalent) from France1 year, non-renewable
Talent passport, project holderBusiness creation, innovative project or investmentUp to 4 years
EU long-term resident5 years of lawful residence10 years

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

Written by Razvan Toma, founder of LegalRapide. How we check our figures · LinkedIn

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