Opportunities to work as a digital nomad in France

Are you interested in living as a digital nomad in France?

If you are traveling to France for business reasons or want to work remotely while traveling or visiting family for 90 days or less, then the short-term visa is all you need. However, if you plan to stay in France for a longer period of time, I advise you not to exceed your "visitor status" as this could jeopardize your future visa or residence permit applications.

Are you ready? Let's explore together the different visa options for working as a digital nomad in France.

1. Obtaining the entrepreneur/self-employed visa (entrepreneur/profession libérale):

What are the requirements? This visa is aimed at foreign nationals who want to establish or carry out a commercial, industrial, craft or agricultural activity or pursue a liberal profession in France. Please note: if your activity or profession is regulated, you must meet certain requirements in terms of qualifications, diplomas, as well as any other conditions set out in the regulation.

List of documents: If you want to start a new business in France, you must be able to prove the economic viability of your project. If you decide to pursue a freelance profession or an existing activity, you must be able to prove that you have sufficient financial resources equivalent to the legal minimum wage in France for a full-time employee (SMIC). But you're probably wondering, how can I prove this to the French authorities? You can prove this by submitting a business plan explaining your project (a business plan is individual and adapted to each case!), a CV, your diplomas and/or certificates related to your activity, invoices from customers, expressions of interest from potential clients (better if they are based in France), letters of recommendation from clients or employers certifying your qualifications, experience as a business owner, savings. This list is not exhaustive and further evidence should be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Where should the application be submitted? At the French consulate of the country in which you live or where you are a national.

What type of visa will you be issued? You will receive a long-stay visa equivalent to a residence permit (VLS-TS) marked "Entrepreneur/Self-employed" (Self-employed person) for 12 months, subject to validation upon entry into France.

How high are the costs? A fee of €99 to be paid to the French Consulate, a tax of €200 to be paid to the French Office of Immigration and Integration (Office Français de l'Immigration et de l'Intégration - OFII) upon online validation. to be paid and a fee of €25 for the residence permit.

Can I extend it? If you continue to meet the above requirements, you can obtain an "entrepreneur/self-employed" residence permit valid for 4 years and, after 5 years of legal and continuous residence in France, a residence card for 10 years and even naturalization.

Important: To register your activity/company, pay taxes and other social security contributions, you should seek advice from an expert.

If you want to invest at least €30,000 in the planned business and have a master's degree or equivalent or at least five years of relevant professional experience, you should take a look at the "Talent Passport" residence permit for new companies.

2. Visa passeport talent "artistic and cultural profession" (profession artistique et culturelle):

For whom? Employed or self-employed artists who can demonstrate a production or performance lasting at least three months in France.

List of documents (for self-employed people): All documents proving your activity as an artist or creator of a literary or artistic work, your engagements in France and your financial capacity.

How can this be proven? By providing proof of income from at least 51% of the activity, which amounts to at least €1,122.18 gross per month full-time from January 1, 2022. If it comes from your own income, you must provide proof of a scholarship, financial support from your country of origin, money from rent or pension. If the income comes from an artistic or cultural activity in France, you must present a contract with a gallery or an order from a potential client who wants to buy your art. You can also provide a document certifying that you are an artist or author of a literary or artistic work, as well as the nature and duration of your project in France.

What type of visa will you be issued? You will receive a visa for a long-term stay "passeport talent" with the note "profession artistique et culturelle". However, if you plan to stay for more than 12 months, you can apply for a multi-year residence permit, the validity of which depends on the type and duration of your activities in France and is up to a maximum of 4 years.

How high are the costs? A fee of €99 to be paid to the French Consulate, a tax of €200 to be paid to the French Office of Immigration and Integration (Office Français de l'Immigration et de l'Intégration - OFII) upon online validation. to be paid and a fee of €25 for the residence permit.

3. The Blue Card of the European Union

If you can prove that you have lived in another EU participating country with a European Union Blue Card, you may be eligible for a residence permit passeport talent - carte bleue européenne if you apply within one month of entering France .

4. Working Holiday Visa

This visa is perfect for globetrotters! If you want to explore the world (and France in particular) while earning an income to cover your travel expenses, you should consider this option.

Conditions: Citizens of Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, South Korea, Hong Kong, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Russia, Taiwan, Uruguay, Peru (from 2021) and soon Ecuador; You have never taken part in the Working Holiday Program; You are between 18 and 30 years old (35 years for Australian, Argentine and Canadian citizens); You are not accompanied by a dependent child; You have a return ticket; You have health insurance and provide evidence of sufficient financial resources. A complete list of documents to be presented can be found on the website of the French consulate in your country of origin.

If you have a working holiday visa, you will automatically be granted a work permit unless you are an Australian or Russian citizen.

Note: Due to the global pandemic, most Working Holiday Program agreements have been suspended.

5. Visa for young professionals (visa jeune professionnel)

This visa is designed for young foreigners who want to come to France to gain work experience and immerse themselves in French culture.

Conditions: You must be nationals of Argentina, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Cape Verde, Congo Brazzaville, USA (through the Franco-American Chamber of Commerce - FACC), Gabon, Georgia, Morocco, Mauritius, Montenegro, New Zealand (agriculture only) , Russia, Senegal, Serbia or Tunisia. The young professionals must be between 18 and 35 years old, with the exception of Benin nationals, for whom the maximum age is 40 years, and Russian nationals, for whom the maximum age is 30 years. Applicants must have a university degree or professional experience relevant to the position to be filled in France.

Normally, young professionals must be resident outside France, but exceptionally a foreigner holding a student residence permit can request a change of status without having to leave France.

Please check the website of the French consulate in your home country for the exact conditions.

6. Other options

If you are employed by a multinational company and would like to gain experience in France, you may be eligible for the Talent Pass:

The Talent Passport - Employee on Assignment if you have been employed by the group for at least three months, have an employment contract with the subsidiary in France and will earn a gross annual salary of at least €34,627.32 from January 1, 2022.

Or for the multi-year residence permit "Salarié détaché ICT", if you can prove that you have at least six months of employment with the company, have an employment contract with the home company that sends you to France as an executive or expert, and that your home company and the host company belong to the same group.

So don't wait! Develop a strategy with an expert and pack your bags, France is waiting for you!