Visahjelp

Non-salaried activity — Commerce, industrie, artisanat

This long-stay visa is for Vietnamese nationals who want to create or take over a commercial, industrial, or craft business in France — covering structures like SARL, SAS, EURL, or micro-entreprise. It is the standard route for entrepreneurs whose project does not reach the Talent Passport business-creator thresholds (such as a €300,000 investment or formal project recognition by BPI France, Business France, or a Chamber of Commerce). The activity must be the applicant's main occupation, must be economically viable, and must match their qualifications or professional experience. Importantly, after arriving in France, the applicant has only 2 months to file for a carte de séjour at the préfecture — this window is tight and applicants should be briefed before departure.

From the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs

“Decisions by the Embassy of France in Hanoi or the Consulate-General in HCMC. **Post-arrival: applicant files the carte de séjour at the relevant préfecture within 2 months of arrival. Brief applicants explicitly on this 2-month préfecture window before departure. Post-arrival: carte de séjour at préfecture + guichet unique registration + URSSAF registration. After the initial 1-year temporary card, the applicant can apply for renewal; after A2 French level (waived if over 65) AND civic exam, eligible for a 4-year carte de séjour pluriannuelle (F35799). Préfecture card-issuance fee: €350 (€50 droit de timbre + €300 taxe) at carte delivery, paid by timbres fiscaux (F33071). EES does NOT apply to VLS-TS holders.”
— French Ministry of Foreign Affairs · French consulates

What you need

  • Per F35795 and CESEDA L.421-5: (1) the commercial/industrial/artisan activity must be the applicant's main activity; (2) it must be economically viable and provide sufficient means of existence — france-visas operationalises this as approximately the SMIC full-time annual equivalent (verify current SMIC on Légifrance before each filing); (3) it must correspond to the applicant's qualifications or relevant professional experience; (4) it must be registered at the guichet unique des formalités d'entreprise (formalites.entreprises.gouv.fr); (5) for artisan activity: professional qualification evidence relevant to the craft sector. Business plan required at visa stage; extrait Kbis required post-creation. Long-stay visa — carte de séjour to be filed at the préfecture within 2 months of arrival. Application form: Cerfa 14571-05 generated by the france-visas interactive assistant.

Checklist

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  • Long-stay visa application form (Cerfa 14571-05) — completed via france-visas assistant, printed, signed *
  • Two recent identical biometric photos (35mm × 45mm, ICAO standard) *
  • Original passport (validity covering the planned stay + 3 months; 2+ blank visa pages; issued ≤ 10 years ago) *
  • Passport copies — bio-data page + all pages with visas, stamps, or residence permits *
  • Vietnamese documents — notarised + sworn translation into French or English *
  • Business plan — commercial/industrial/artisan activity: business object, target market, 2-3 year financial forecast, legal structure, location, financing *
  • Qualifications and professional experience — diploma + CV matching the intended business activity *
  • Financial-resources evidence — at or above SMIC full-time equivalent *
  • Intent or evidence to register at the guichet unique des formalités d'entreprise *
  • Accommodation evidence — signed lease, hotel/Airbnb booking (first weeks), or attestation d'hébergement *
  • Health insurance — from arrival until enrolment in the French health system *
  • Birth certificate (with notarised translation) *
  • Visa fee — €99 (standard long-stay), paid at TLS Contact appointment *
  • TLS Contact service fee — €25 per applicant *
  • Préfecture card-issuance fee — €350 (€50 droit de timbre + €300 taxe) at carte delivery, paid by timbres fiscaux *
  • TLS Contact appointment — booked in advance, biometric collection *

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