Which Visa or Status Should You Use If You Want to Work for Yourself in France?

Which Visa or Status Should You Use If You Want to Work for Yourself in France?

One of the most common mistakes people make when moving to France is assuming that any long-stay visa allows them to work, freelance, or “just invoice a bit on the side”. It does not.

French immigration and business administration are tightly linked. The visa or residence status you choose determines whether you can legally earn income, register a business, and remain compliant over time.

Understanding this upfront prevents later problems that are difficult to unwind.

Work authorisation and immigration status are not optional

In France, the right to live in the country and the right to work are separate but connected. Many residence permits allow residence only, not professional activity.

This distinction matters because:

• registering a business without the correct authorisation can invalidate your status,

• income earned without authorisation can cause renewal problems later,

• and changing status mid-process often takes months.

Choosing the wrong path at the start can block you later, even if your business is small.

The most common statuses people consider

People intending to work for themselves usually encounter the following options:

Visitor visa / visitor residence permit

This status explicitly prohibits professional activity. It is designed for retirees, non-working residents, or those with independent means.

You cannot:

• invoice clients,

• register as a micro-entrepreneur,

• or legally earn income in France.

Attempting to “upgrade later” is possible in theory, but in practice it is slow and uncertain.

Employee-linked statuses

Some people arrive under:

• employee permits,

• posted worker arrangements,

• or family-linked permits tied to a spouse’s work.

In some cases, limited self-employment may be allowed. In many cases, it is not. The conditions vary and are often misunderstood.

Before assuming flexibility, the exact wording of the residence permit matters.

Self-employed / entrepreneur pathways

If you intend to work independently, you usually need a status that explicitly authorises self-employment.

For many people, this leads to the micro-entrepreneur regime, which is:

• simple to register,

• capped in turnover,

• and widely used by freelancers and small service providers.

However, the immigration pathway and the business regime are not the same thing.

Visa vs business regime: the common confusion

A frequent misunderstanding is thinking that “micro-entrepreneur” is a visa. It is not.

Micro-entrepreneur is a business registration regime, not an immigration status. To use it legally, you must already hold (or be granted) a residence status that authorises independent professional activity.

This distinction matters because:

• some visas allow business registration,

• some explicitly forbid it,

• and some require a change of status before registration.

Registering first and hoping immigration “won’t notice” is risky and often backfires at renewal.

Typical scenarios (and what usually works)

Scenario 1: Planning to freelance or consult

If your plan is to:

• freelance,

• consult,

• run a small online business,

• or invoice clients directly,

you generally need:

• a residence status authorising independent activity, and

• a correctly registered business structure.

Micro-entrepreneur is often the simplest structure once the immigration side is correct.

Scenario 2: Already in France on a non-working status

Many people arrive as visitors or dependants and later decide to work.

In these cases:

• business registration alone is not sufficient,

• a change of status may be required,

• and timing becomes critical to avoid gaps or refusals.

Understanding when and how to switch matters more than the business idea itself.

Scenario 3: EU vs non-EU nationals

EU nationals have freedom of establishment and do not require visas to work. Non-EU nationals must navigate both immigration and business rules.

This blog focuses primarily on non-EU situations, where most errors occur.

Why micro-entrepreneur is attractive (and limited)

The micro-entrepreneur regime is popular because:

• registration is relatively fast,

• accounting is simplified,

• and costs are predictable.

However, it has limits:

• turnover caps,

• restricted expense deductions,

• and strict reporting rules.

It works well for many people starting out, but only if set up correctly and used within its limits.

Where people get into trouble

Problems often arise when:

• people register without confirming work authorisation,

• incorrect activity codes are selected,

• immigration and tax timelines are misaligned,

• or renewal files later show inconsistent professional activity.

These issues rarely cause immediate rejection. They surface months or years later, usually at renewal.

The practical takeaway

Choosing the right visa or residence status is not about finding the most “flexible” option. It is about choosing a coherent path where immigration status and business registration support each other.

For people intending to work independently, this means:

• understanding which statuses allow self-employment,

• knowing when micro-entrepreneur registration is appropriate,

• and setting it up correctly from the start.

This is why structured micro-entrepreneur setup packs exist. They focus on documentation, sequence, and compliance rather than business advice or marketing. Getting the admin right early avoids far more expensive problems later.