Self-employed card (carte de séjour entrepreneur/profession libérale)

If you are a foreign national coming to France for commercial, craft or self-employed professional work lasting more than 3 months, you can apply for this card. It is valid for a maximum of 1 year. Apply at your local préfecture or sous-préfecture within the 2 months before your current residence card expires.

Civic exam

For your initial multi-year residence card (carte de séjour pluriannuelle), you must pass the civic exam (examen civique) marked “carte de séjour pluriannuelle”, unless you are over 65.

Practise the civic exam

French level

For your initial multi-year residence card (carte de séjour pluriannuelle), you need French at level A2, unless you are over 65.

Steps

Check your préfecture’s website: some sous-préfectures cannot handle this application.
Submit your application at your local préfecture or sous-préfecture within the 2 months before your residence card expires.
For the initial card, pay 350 € using the timbre fiscal tax stamp (timbre fiscal).
When you receive your card, provide proof of payment and your medical certificate from OFII, the immigration and integration office.

Documents to bring

Your valid long-stay visa (visa de long séjour) or residence permit (titre de séjour).
Your proof of nationality: passport, identity card or consular card.
Your justificatif de domicile (proof of address) dated less than 6 months ago.
Your 3 identity photos.
Your proof of stamp duty payment, to provide when your permit is issued.
Your medical certificate from OFII, the immigration and integration office, to provide when you receive your permit.
If you are married and a national of a country allowing polygamy, your sworn declaration that you do not practise polygamy in France.
Your signed commitment to respect the principles of the Republic.

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You are starting a commercial, industrial or craft business: additional documents

Your completed Cerfa form “commerçant, artisan, industriel”.
If you live outside France, your criminal record extract (extrait de casier judiciaire) or an equivalent document from your country of origin.
If you live in France, your tax status statement concerning income tax payments.
Your evidence that you can carry out the commercial, industrial or craft activity.
Your opinion from the foreign labour platform responsible for the department where you plan your project.
Your proof of business registration or membership of the self-employed social security scheme, to present when the card is produced.
Your written presentation of the project, business plan and multi-year forecast budget.
Your proof of a guarantee from a credit institution or insurer approved in France, or a certificate showing a positive balance in a French account in your name.
If your activity is regulated, your authorisation to practise.

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You are continuing a commercial, industrial or craft business: additional documents

Your proof of business registration, such as articles of association or a K or Kbis extract, or membership of the self-employed social security scheme.
Your evidence that the business operates and gives you income of at least 1 867,02 € per month.

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You have a self-employed professional activity: additional documents

If you are starting the activity, your proof of Urssaf registration.
If you are starting the activity, your evidence that it can provide income of at least 1 867,02 € per month.
If you are starting a regulated profession, your authorisation to practise or registration with the relevant professional body.
If you are starting the activity, your opinion from the foreign labour platform.
If you are continuing the activity, your proof that it is continuing.
If you are continuing the activity, your proof of income from it of at least 1 867,02 € per month.
If you are continuing a regulated profession, your authorisation to practise or registration with the relevant professional body.

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Key facts

Your initial card is valid for a maximum of 1 year.
For your initial card, you pay 350 €: stamp duty of 50 € and a tax of 300 €.
You pay 250 € to renew your temporary residence card (carte de séjour temporaire), or 350 € for a multi-year residence card (carte de séjour pluriannuelle).
At the end of your initial temporary residence card (carte de séjour temporaire), you can apply for a multi-year residence card (carte de séjour pluriannuelle) lasting 4 years.
You cannot renew your temporary residence card (carte de séjour temporaire) more than 3 consecutive times on the same grounds.

When to renew

Apply at your local préfecture or sous-préfecture within the 2 months before your current residence card expires.

Renewal planner · the end date of your permit gives the filing window