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. Sources (2)Service-publicService-public: can a foreign national start a business in France?
Service-publicService-public: how can a foreign national run a company in France?
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.
Written by Razvan Toma, founder of LegalRapide. How we check our figures · LinkedIn