Nomad Watch
FR

Profession Libérale Visa

Active Standard Schengen

France · VLS-TS entrepreneur/profession libérale · Freelancer visa · apply embassy, in country

Minimum income $2,088/month $25,061/year
Stay 12 months, renewable
Application fee $392
Tax 45.0% Standard

Path to staying

  1. Visa12 months
  2. Renewrenewable
  3. Permanent residencyafter 5 years
  4. Citizenshipafter 5 years
  • Leads to residency 5 years
  • Leads to citizenship 5 years

Overview

Country
France
Visa name
Profession Libérale Visa
Local name
VLS-TS entrepreneur/profession libérale
Program type
Freelancer visa
Status
Active
Initial duration
12 months
Max duration
—
Income requirement
$2,088/month ($25,061/year)
Application fee
$392
Tax status
Standard

Requirements

  • Health insurance not required
  • Criminal record check not required
  • Proof of accommodation required
  • Proof of employment or clients not required
  • University degree not required

What you can do

  • Work for local companies
  • Freelancers eligible
  • Employees eligible
  • Work permit included
  • Bring dependents
  • Multiple entry
  • Travel in Schengen
  • Open a local bank account

Family and dependents

Dependents allowed
Yes

Tax

Tax status
Standard
Tax rate
45.0%
Foreign income taxed
Yes
Tax residency trigger
183 days

How to apply

Application method
embassy, in country
Can apply in-country
Yes
Multiple entry
Yes
Schengen access
Yes
Can open bank account
Yes
Renewable
Yes

Notes

France has no digital nomad visa. This is the long-stay route and residence card "entrepreneur/profession libérale" for a principal self-employed activity in France: commercial, industrial, craft or liberal. It is not a permit to work remotely for a foreign employer with no French activity. On 23 June 2026 the Interior Ministry said that profile is non-active and should hold visitor status. The activity must be registered at the business-formalities one-stop shop, be economically viable, and match the applicant's qualifications or experience. A regulated profession needs its licence or registration with the relevant order. For a liberal profession, Service-Public asks for proof that the activity can produce at least €1,867.02 a month. That is the gross full-time SMIC from 1 June 2026 (hourly €12.31). The published annual gross SMIC is €22,404.20. Twelve times the rounded monthly figure is €22,404.24; the record stores the published annual amount. A new commercial, industrial or craft activity is judged on a viability opinion and a business plan, not on that monthly line alone. Continuing a commercial activity must show resources from the activity of at least €1,867.02 a month. Creation of a liberal activity also needs the foreign-labour platform's opinion. The card lasts up to one year. After that first card, a four-year card is available if the applicant has followed the republican integration contract, has A2 French and has passed the civic exam for a multi-year card, unless they are over 65. A one-year card cannot be renewed more than three times in a row for the same reason. There is no published four-year cap on the total stay. Five years on this card, or on a long-stay visa that counts as a residence permit, can lead to the EU long-term resident card, with B1 French, the civic exam, health insurance and stable resources of at least the gross SMIC. Absences in those five years cannot exceed six consecutive months or ten months in total. From 1 May 2026 the long-stay visa that counts as a residence permit carries a €300 tax. The first residence card is €350 (€50 stamp plus €300 tax), about $392 at the ECB euro reference rate of 1.1186 on 8 October 2026. Renewal of a one-year card is €250. A multi-year card is €350. A late filing, other than force majeure or a still-valid visa, adds a €180 regularisation-visa fee. The separate consular visa fee was not confirmed. The $392 figure is the first card, not a total of every charge. Spouse and minor children are not included on this card. Family reunification is possible after 18 months in France with a card of at least one year. Over the previous 12 months the household must average €1,867.02 gross a month for 2 or 3 people, €2,053.72 for 4 or 5, and €2,240.42 for 6 or more. There is no numeric cap. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens do not use this card. Algerian nationals use the residence certificate under the Franco-Algerian agreement. Someone abroad applies at the consulate. Someone already holding a long-stay visa or a residence permit applies at the prefecture. Tax residence, verified 1 January 2026, is any one of a household in France, a principal stay of at least 183 days, a principal activity in France, or the centre of economic interests in France. A tax resident is taxed on French and foreign income, subject to treaties. The 2026 scale on 2025 income, per family-quotient part, is 0% to €11,600, 11% to €29,579, 30% to €84,577, 41% to €181,917 and 45% above that. Naturalisation generally requires five years of residence, B2 French, the civic exam and stable resources, and it is discretionary. USD amounts use the 8 October 2026 ECB rate. The 9 October fixing was not yet in the daily file.

Also in France

France also offers these long-term residency programs

Last verified Oct 9, 2026 Last changed Oct 10, 2026 Source

Change history

    • Name Profession Liberale Visa Profession Libérale Visa
    • Official page https://www.service-public.fr/ https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F35795
    • Max duration months 48 none
    • Income monthly (USD) 1966 2088
    • Income annual (USD) 23544 25061
    • Application fee (USD) 270 392
    • Income monthly (local currency) 1820 1867.02
    • Income annual (local currency) 21840 22404.2

    removed the 48-month maximum; the first card is one year and a four-year card can follow, with no published cap on the total stay Source

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