Hi everyone,
I hope you’re safe and nicely tucked in at home and most especially free from that dreadful virus.
I’ve just discovered something that may have been around for a while but I find this particularly useful for English speaking expats and therefore I’m sharing it. The URSSAF has made an official website in English to help expats set up a business in France. It’s kind of neat so I let you have a look if you’re interested:
Stay safe,
Thank you.
I’m glad to have found this site. I am due to move to France in July. I’ve been spending at least 4 to 5 months of the year in France, and fortunately as a French and Spanish teacher my level of language is fine. This site has however clarified many things that I’d spent hours trying to research myself.
Do you know if I will count as a worker already once I arrive, or whether i have to wait until I have received a Siret number? And do I now have to go on a stage to become a microentrepreneur?
There is a lot to do and i am trying to prepare everything as far as possible whilst I’m stuck in the UK waiting for the borders to open!
My SIM card did not appear from the firm I’d ordered it from several weeks before arriving in france last trip, and not at all during the month I was there. So I left to nip home for a weeks for the border to shut and I have no French number for me to be contacted on. I’ve now ordered yet another number.
Many thanks again.
Sarah.
Hi Sarah,
If/when you get your Siret number you’ll be considered a worker indeed but until then your situation will be “in between” but if you’ve applied for the micro entreprise it shouldn’t take more than a month.
The stage to become a microentrepreneur is not mandatory 
Best wishes,
Hi I wonder if you can give me some advice.
I moved to france 3 years ago on a micro-entrepreneur visa. My business plan was to crete a gite handicapé. Unfortunatly in my first year i was unwell and also broke my ankle as a disabled person already this hindered my progress. I had problems getting an architech to make the plans and have had many more problems trying to find artisans that will provide quotes.
At my first visa renewal in 23 i provided a letter stating my illness and broken ankle, my visa was renewed at the second visa renewal 24 I showed i had got plans made and that they had been excepted. Again visa was renewed. This year my site manger added a letter stating that to make the gites it will cost over €300,000.00. Both my husband and i have only received 1 year visas to date even though we have passed language tests and done all that is required.
He explain 1 year is no security to spend this kind of money. We have plenty of money in the bank for the project but if we spent that amout we would have no reserves.
I am trying to change things to reduce the cost and do more work myself, but when i applied for my Visa this year I was told i was given an excepetion last year, and that as i have made no money i should expect to be asked to leave.
Is this correct i thought you either had to make over €20,000 or you had to have that money in the bank to show you would not be a burden on the goverment. My husbands business if fine and he is paying his URSAFF and impots every year. He also gives me a letter to put with my Visa application to say he will support me financially.
My worry is even if i get the gite done this year i wont make €20,000 by my renewal in October next year, will i be at risk of being thrown out then?
How can I avoid this what do i need to do? My plan was to keep €20,000 in a seperate account so it was always there no matter what money i made on the gites. Can i do this will it stop be being thrown out?
Many thanks for any advise Lj
If I understand you correctly, it will cost 300,000€ to create your gite(s), and you’ve told the French government that.
What sort of income do you reasonably expect to get from the gite business per year? You’ve mentioned 20,000€, but that would mean it will take 15 years for you to make a profit.
Hi Lorna,
From what you describe, you’re currently on a micro-entrepreneur visa (probably an entrepreneur visa?) based on a business project (the accessible gîte), but the business has not yet generated income. While your project is genuine and progressing, prefectures look primarily at financial autonomy when renewing visas.
Here’s how it generally works:
Income or financial stability requirement
The prefecture wants to see that you can support yourself without becoming a financial burden on the French state.
The benchmark is roughly the French minimum wage (SMIC) which is about €20,000 per year either in income or accessible savings.
Having €20,000 (or more) in a separate account can help demonstrate financial self-sufficiency, especially if you can show you’re still actively pursuing your project.
Supporting evidence
Your husband’s stable business income and his letter of financial support are both positive and should definitely be included again.
Keep providing proof of progress on the gîte project (photos, quotes, planning permissions, correspondence with artisans, invoices, etc.).
If you’ve reduced costs or modified your project to make it viable, document those changes clearly.
What the prefecture meant by “exception”
It sounds like last year they renewed your visa as a one-time allowance, likely because of your health and project progress.
Without revenue, they might hesitate to keep extending it indefinitely. This is why showing financial means and project advancement will be essential this time.
Risk at next renewal
If your business still isn’t generating income by next renewal, you could be asked to switch status or justify staying through another route (for example, as the spouse of an independent worker, or potentially a visitor visa if your husband’s income covers both of you).
But you won’t automatically be “thrown out” you’ll always have the chance to submit supporting documents, explain your situation, and possibly change status if needed.
What you can do now
Keep that €20,000 clearly set aside.
Gather all evidence of progress on the gîte.
Include your husband’s support letter and proof of his tax and URSSAF payments.
Consider requesting an appointment with the prefecture before renewal to explain your situation and ask what they expect for next time.
And the bottom line here is, as the issue seems to be getting more and more complex I would strongly suggest a consultation with an immigration lawyer. I am thinking about Eleonore from Lexidy Law Boutique for example but feel free to reach out to any one you may know of.
You will also find this thred instructive: Salutary lesson for would be french entrepreneurs
Maybe time to take a long, hard look at your original plan, since events seem to have overtaken it?
I’m not sure who the ‘site manager’ is?
if I understand your post correctly it seems that apart from plans you have actually made no substantial progress on your gîte in two years? And that it is still in the preparation stage. So chances of finishing it and having enough time to generate income within a year are pretty small?
I would think carefully about Fabien’s advice to change to a different visa. Then replan what you want to do and start afresh.
Thank you so much for your detailed reply. I have received a text today telling me to book a collection for my visa so fingers crossed i have been renewed and i have a year to plan for next year.
Kind regards
Lj