FRANCE: IMMIGRATION FOR ENTREPRENEUR

ADVANTAGES

1. 1. 1. By having a French residency, you’ll have the freedom of movement in all the Schengen area, which includes 26 other EU countries.
      2. After 5 years of continuous residence in France, you can apply for French citizenship.
      3. The level of education, both private and public, is world-renowned, from primary to university level. In addition, public education is of good quality and free of charge.
      4. France is known for its unique culture, rooted in a deeply rich and diverse history. With its exquisite gastronomy, an exceptional climate and natural beauty, this country offers a once in a lifetime experience. Besides, its economy in constant growth and its stable democracy make France a yearning place to live.
      5. The country has a good level of technology, attracting start-ups such as La French Tech to set up and develop on French territory, boosting its global importance in the technological field.
      6. As a visitor resident in France, you are not obliged to become a tax resident of the country.
      7. France is a country with an extensive transport infrastructure, allowing easy access to countries near and far, on any continent.
      8. Within all of France’s geography, you’ll encounter an overwhelming art concentration, enriching further the cultural experience. French gastronomy is renowned worldwide for its diversity and its focus on healthy ingredients, with each region offering its own culinary and wine speciality.
      9. France possesses a large healthcare system and an excellent infrastructure, converting it into an ideal place to live and work. Its exceptional location and well-developed transport connections make it an accessible and connected place with the rest of the world. On top of that, French is one of the most important and spoken languages in the world. 

In summary, France offers a large series of advantages and opportunities, which converts it into an excellent option to live and settle.

ACTS AND REGULATIONS

Legal and regulatory texts of France’s immigration for entrepreneurs:

1. 1. 1. Code for Entry and Residence of Foreign Persons and the Right of Asylum: Article L313-20, paragraph 7(multi-year Talent Passport residence permit marked ‘Business investor’)
      2. Code for Entry and Residence of Foreign Persons and the Right of Asylum: Articles R313-63ff.(multi-year Talent Passport residence permit marked ‘Business investor’ – documents)
      3. Code for Entry and Residence of Foreign Persons and the Right of Asylum: Articles L311-13 to L311-18
      4. Code for Entry and Residence of Foreign Persons and the Right of Asylum: Articles D311-18-1 to D311-18-3(taxes and stamp duty)
      5. Decree 2016-1462 of October 28, 2016 on taxes laid down in Articles L311-13 and L311-14 of the Code for Entry and Residence of Foreign Persons and the Right of Asylum

Memorandum of November 2, 2016 on the Applicanton of the Rights of Foreign Persons in France.

CONDITIONS

There are a few requirements for the immigration for entrepreneurs in France:

1. 1. 1. An employer in France who wants to hire a foreigner must obtain an authorisation from the French Ministry of labor;
      2. You must have an employment agreement valid for at least 1 year and earn not less that 53.331 EUR per year;
      3. You must also hold a degree achieved after at least 3 years of higher education or you can prove your qualifications by providing evidence of five years of professional experience at an equivalent level.

DOCUMENTS

All documents must be translated into French and legalised. In addition, some of them must be apostilled.

1. 1. 1. Completed application forms;
      2. Three recent photo ID, 25×45 mm;
      3. Passport and identity card (copies of all identification pages);
      4. Detailed curriculum vitae;
      5. No criminal record certificate;
      6. Documents certifying at least 5 years of comparable professional experience or diploma certifying at least 3 years of higher education study;
      7. An employment contract;
      8. An authorization from the French Ministry of labor;
      9. Birth certificate;
      10. Marriage certificate;
      11. Residence tenancy agreement (or purchase agreement) in France;
      12. Health insurance coverage for one (1) year in France.

PROCESS

1. 1. 1. We will provide you a consultation regarding: the process of immigration to France, the procedures of obtaining a residence permit, questions related to education, insurance, integration, healthcare, administrative and other aspects associated with your move to France;
      2. You have to prepare and legalise the required documents;
      3. We have a team of sworn translators who are responsible for translating all the documents into French;
      4. You must have an employment contract, valid for at least 1 year and showing a salary of at least 1.5 times the minimum annual wage as defined by Ministerial decree i.e. 53 331 EUR;
      5. An employer submits the application to the French Ministry of Labor and obtains an authorization;
      6. The employer must send an application to the department authority responsible for foreign workers (DIRECCTE – Direction régionale des entreprises, de la concurrence, de la consommation, du travail et de l’emploi));
      7. After getting a positive decision, your file will be sent to the OFII (Office français de l’immigration et de l’integration);
      8. Lease agreement in France;
      9. We apply for a Blue Card residence permit at the French consulate;
      10. If you reside legally in France with another residence permit or have an EU Blue card issued by another EU country where you have lived for at least 18 months we can directly apply for an EU Blue Card at the Prefecture;
      11. You will be asked for an interview at a French Consulate in your country, and you will receive an entry visa (entry for France only);
      12. Upon arrival in France, you must go to the Prefecture at your place of residence to obtain the EU Blue Card;
      13. If the duration of the employment contract is for 1 or more and less than 3 years, your EU Blue Card is valid for a period of between 1 and 3 years;
      14. If your contract will run for more than three years, a 3 years residence permit will be issued;
      15. The residence permit will be renewal as long as you continue to meet the conditions for the French Blue Card;
      16. As the holder of an EU Blue Card, you can obtain an EU long-term residence permit after 5 years uninterrupted stay in the EU (during the required 5 years of continuous residence, a maximum absence of 12 consecutive months and 18 months in total is allowed).

INFORMATION

Your family member (spouse and children who entered France as minors) can get the “private and family life” residence permit, allowing them to come to France and work. The permit is renewable. Your spouse and children can apply for an EU long-term residence permit if they reside 5 years in France.

CITIZENSHIP

There are a few ways to get French citizenship, and therefore get the French ID card and/or passport:

Naturalisation

A request for naturalisation is admissible after 5 years of legal residence in the country, with the exception of marriage. This duration may be shortened to 2 years for individuals who have a degree from an establishment of superior education or who have served France in an exceptional way. Any foreigner who has served in the French army is not obliged to satisfy the minimum residence requirement.

Furthermore, it is essential to prove that the applicant has successfully integrated into French society, i.e. has a suitable level of French and is aware of the rights and obligations of a French citizen. People over the age of 65 are not subject to this exemption, however, as they merely have to undergo an oral examination in French with a government official to prove that they are fit to conduct a day-to-day conversation.

Children under 18 can be added to the application and be granted French nationality (certain conditions may apply).

Right of blood

A child of which at least one parent is of French nationality may become a French citizen.

If the child was born in France

A child born in France during the mother’s brief visit as a tourist is not eligible for French nationality. Children born on French soil to foreign citizens can qualify for French nationality by descent on their 16th birthday and become French nationals at 18, so long as France has been their main residence for five (5) successive years since they were 11 years old.

A modification of French legislation in 2015 also enables children to gain French nationality at the age of 18 provided they have been living in France since the age of 6, have been enrolled in a French school and have a sibling who has obtained French nationality.

If you are the non-French parents of a child of at least 13 years old and has lived in France since the age of 8, you can ask for the nationality on their behalf before a magistrate.

Marriage

The union of a French citizen and a foreigner does not grant the foreign spouse French nationality. 

Nevertheless, in order to become a French citizen, a non-national who has married a French national must fulfil one of the following conditions:

1. 1. 1. The couple has been residing in France, legally married, for at least 4 years. At the time of the request, cohabitation must be ongoing and the French partner must have maintained French nationality;
      2. The couple has been living together outside France, legally married, for at least 5 years. At the time of their claim, cohabitation must not have been interrupted and the French spouse must have kept his/her French nationality.

OUR SERVICES

Our experts team offers a large choice of relocation, immigration and integration services in France. These services are:

1. 1. 1. Our assistance in applying for and obtaining visas in France. Thanks to our services, you can obtain a “visitor” residence permit for economically independent people, as well as a “talent passport”. We help you to obtain your first residence permit, and then to renew it with the local prefecture in your place of residence. Finally, we can help you apply for a residence permit and French citizenship by naturalisation. 
      2. Our support in finding property to buy or rent. We represent our clients and protect their needs and interests. For example, we can help you find a reliable notary. In some cases, we can help you apply for a mortgage with the banks. We have a presence throughout France, so we can guide you wherever you want to go, whether that’s Paris, the north such as Strasbourg, or the south such as Nice.
      3. If you have children, we can help you enrol them in a private or public school of your choice. We can help you register your children for activities and courses such as tennis, dance, and others to develop their sporting or artistic skills. If your child is of university age, we can also help guide them towards universities specialising in different disciplines of study, such as medicine at the Sorbonne University, political science at Science Po or law at Paris-Panthéon-Assas.
      4. We work with accountants and tax specialists who can help you register and set up a business in France. They can also help you prepare an annual tax return.
      5. You can take part in a consultation with our lawyers in various fields, such as employment law, immigration law, family law, company law, society law, and more.
      6. We can provide you with various interpreting services for immigration applications or other personal needs in France, as well as sworn translation of documents for visa applications, renewals, school enrolments or any other applications in France.

Start your immigration procedure with us.