Moving to France as a Freelancer: Profession Libérale Visa
Moving abroad always felt like one of those distant dreams — something I’d thought about but never seriously considered until it suddenly became possible. If you’re a freelancer or small business owner, or even someone who’s never seriously considered self-employment but dreams of moving to France and isn’t sure how to make it happen, the Profession Libérale visa might be the opportunity you’re looking for. This visa allows self-employed individuals to legally live and work in France, making it a realistic path for entrepreneurs and freelancers ready to embrace a new chapter, and if desired, later pursue French citizenship.
In this post, I’m sharing my experience applying for the Profession Libérale long-stay visa, the steps I took, and what I learned along the way. Whether you already run your own business or are just starting to explore freelancing, I hope this guide helps you see how achievable your move to France can actually be!
Just a quick heads-up before you dive in: I’m not a visa expert, immigration lawyer, or anything of the sort. I’m simply sharing my experience in hopes that it might help others who are thinking about doing the same. Visa requirements and processes can change, so be sure to double-check the latest guidelines and consult with a professional if you need personalized advice. This is what worked for me, but your experience may be different!
My Story: From Remote Entrepreneur to Paris-Based Expat
I started my marketing management business, Sonder Social, in 2020 after getting laid off from my corporate job due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and since then, I’ve been working full-time and fully remote in my business. This flexibility gave me the freedom to travel (without having to ask my boss to use my PTO - phew!), and in 2022, I visited Paris for the first time — and I was instantly hooked. The City of Light truly felt like a place I could see myself living in, not just visiting.
That led me to spend two full months living abroad in Paris during the summer of 2023 as a "test run", fully embracing the lifestyle and seeing what life in the city could actually look like. Spoiler alert: it felt right. So when I returned to the US, I started seriously planning a long-term move to the French capital. Fast forward to September 2024, and I officially moved to Paris full-time, thanks to the Profession Libérale visa.
Thinking About Moving to France? Here’s What You Should Know
Before diving into the visa process, it’s important to understand your options for legally living and working in France. There are many different French visas available, and everyone’s situation is unique, so it’s essential to explore which type of visa best fits your personal and professional goals.
Getting a job in France as a non-EU citizen is notoriously difficult, especially if you don’t speak French fluently. Many companies are hesitant to sponsor work visas because it’s a complex and costly process for them. If you’re lucky enough to work fully remotely for a company outside of France, you might qualify for the long-stay visitor visa, which allows you to live in France as long as all your income comes from non-French sources. However, this visa doesn’t allow you to legally work with French clients, or have any France-based income for that matter.
If you’re looking to build a career and ultimately a life in France, the Profession Libérale visa is likely a much better fit. This visa allows you to run a freelance business or small company and build your livelihood in France. It was the most logical choice for me because I wanted to relocate to France by way of integrating my existing business into the French market. Of course, if you don’t already work in a freelance capacity, you would need to pursue a type of work that qualifies under the Profession Libérale visa.
The good news? You probably already have a skill set that can be transitioned into freelance work. Whether you have experience in marketing, project management, design, writing, or even teaching, many professional skills can be adapted into a service-based business. It’s all about identifying what you’re good at and figuring out how to offer that service to clients — especially those in France — to create a viable business that supports your move.
To better understand all the visa options, I highly recommend the book Foolproof French Visas by Allison Grant Lounes and Kimberly Mousseron. It breaks down the different types of French visas in great detail — who qualifies, what documents you need, and exactly how to apply. I found it incredibly helpful throughout my own application process. If you’re interested, you can check out Foolproof French Visas by clicking here.
Allison also runs a Facebook group called Americans in France, which is super helpful for getting additional questions answered. She also offers courses and consulting services if you need more hands-on support with navigating the French visa process. Between Foolproof French Visas and the info provided about the Profession Libérale visa online, I personally felt confident enough to embark on the visa process without extra support; that said, I likely wouldn't have found the application process quite as straightforward if I wasn't already a entrepreneur/freelancer and was planning to start a new business upon relocating to France – more on this later.
The links shared in this section are affiliate links, so I earn a small commission if you decide to purchase, at no extra cost to you!
The Profession Libérale Visa Application Process
Submitting the Online Application and Booking Your VFS Global Appointment
You can begin the application process for the Profession Libérale visa up to three months before your planned arrival date in France — and I can’t stress enough how important it is to start the process as soon as that window opens.
The first step is to submit the online visa application through the official French visa website. Once you complete this, you’ll receive a visa application number, which you’ll need to book your required VFS Global appointment. This in-person appointment is where you’ll submit your documents and complete the next steps of the visa application process.
As far as I know, the VFS in-person appointment is mandatory for all US-based French long-stay visa applicants. The only exception I’ve heard of is for large family relocations, where you might be able to arrange for a VFS agent to come to you (though this likely involves an additional fee). For most people, though, this means traveling to one of the designated VFS Global centers, which are only located in certain major US cities. I had to fly from Cleveland to Chicago for my appointment, so be sure to factor in any necessary travel when planning your application timeline.
VFS appointments can be scarce, especially in more popular locations, and slots tend to get booked quickly once they’re released. Applying early gives you a much better chance of securing an appointment that works with your timeline.
I made the mistake of waiting until about two months before my planned move to submit the initial online application. When I tried to book my VFS appointment right after that, I ran into technical issues with their website (which, based on reading others’ experiences, seems to be very common) that delayed me further. In the end, I was only able to secure an appointment about three weeks before my departure. It worked out, but I definitely wouldn’t recommend cutting it that close!
When booking, I highly recommend paying the extra $35 to have your visa photo taken at the appointment and to use the return mail service. If you skip the photo service, you’ll need to bring passport photos to your VFS appointment that meet France’s specific requirements. And if you skip the return mail option, you’ll have to physically return to the VFS center to pick up your passport — definitely not ideal if you don’t live nearby.
Paying for these services may seem like a small add-on, but it can save you significant time, stress, and even additional travel.
Attending the VFS Appointment
I’ll be honest — walking into the VFS appointment felt a little nerve-wracking at first, but it turned out to be a pretty straightforward process. The VFS agents aren’t there to evaluate whether or not you’ll be granted the visa; they’re simply responsible for asking questions, collecting documents, taking your biometrics, and sending everything off to the French consulate for review.
Here’s what to expect:
• Upon arrival, you’ll check in and wait to be called.
• Once it’s your turn, you'll sit with a VFS agent who will ask you some questions, review all your documents, collect your fingerprints, and take your photo (if you opted for the photo service).
• If you paid for the return mail service, be sure to ask the VFS agent for the tracking number before you leave. Their internal system doesn’t always update properly, and you’ll need to be home to sign for the package when your passport is returned.
Altogether, the appointment took about 30 minutes, and it was much less stressful than I anticipated.
Documents I Submitted
The application requirements and supporting documentation needed for the Profession Libérale visa can feel extensive, but being organized can make this part much smoother.
Here’s everything I personally submitted – keep in mind, this may look different for you based on your unique situation!
Valid passport (valid for at least three months beyond the one-year expiration of your visa)
VFS appointment confirmation
French visa application confirmation
Personal cover letter explaining why I wanted to relocate to France
Professional cover letter detailing my qualifications and how I planned to integrate my business into France
Resume (CV)
College diplomas (Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees)
Relevant qualifications can strengthen your application, so be sure to include copies of any diplomas, professional certifications, etc. if you have them.
Business plan
I used the French Entrepreneur Visa Business Plan Template by Olivier Consultancy, which I found to be incredibly helpful in understanding what to include. My business plan came out to around 20 pages including the financial projections – it’s important to be thorough, but no need to overwhelm them with information.
Business financial projections for the next three years
Business profit & loss statements for the previous two years
If you plan to start your business upon arrival to France, you obviously won't have this type of documentation yet; I just included this to demonstrate that the business was healthy and that my income from it could support me.
Current client contracts & invoices
Letters/emails expressing interest from potential French clients
Although not explicitly stated on the official French visa site (that I saw, anyway), I gathered from multiple sources that in order to qualify for the Profession Libérale visa, you must show business viability in France by demonstrating that you either already have French clients, or have interest from French clients.
Proof of emergency health coverage
I used Atlas World Trips for under $300 for the year; any time you don't end up using (AKA when you eventually receive government health coverage) is also refundable.
Even without insurance, non-emergency healthcare (such as doctor's visits) is much more affordable in France compared to the US, but the process for applying for government healthcare coverage can take substantial time once you arrive, so you may want to consider getting private health insurance that also covers non-emergency medical costs for the time in-between.
Lease agreement for my Paris apartment, which I found through Paris Attitude (or proof of temporary accommodation if you plan to find a place upon arrival)
Bank statements from the last three full months
While researching the visa, I saw a few people mention that for those with existing businesses, French authorities will look to see that you've had at least the monthly French minimum wage amount coming into your bank account across the last three months (a quick Google search will tell you the current figure).
If you plan to start your business upon arrival in France and therefore cannot yet show business revenue as proof of income, they would likely expect to see that you had the equivalent of one year of French minimum wage in savings so you could support yourself while building your business. That said, it’s probably not realistic to expect that the French minimum wage would be enough to comfortably support you in a place like Paris (or France’s other bigger cities), so be sure to take the cost of living into consideration if you plan to go this route.
Since I saw some information floating around online to the contrary prior to applying, it's also worth mentioning that I did not need to submit a copy of my birth certificate or a background check when applying for the Profession Libérale visa.
How Long It Took to Receive My Approved Visa
Once my VFS appointment was over, I was shocked by just how quickly things moved. My passport, complete with my approved visa tucked inside, was back in my hands exactly one week after my VFS appointment. Two weeks after that, I was off to start my new life in France!
While that timeline is not guaranteed for everyone, it was a huge relief after the stress of getting my appointment scheduled. Still, I recommend applying as early as possible to give yourself plenty of time to navigate the full application process – you never know what hiccups may occur.
What to Expect After You Arrive in France
The visa process might feel complicated, but if you ask me, it’s the simplest part of moving to France. Once you arrive, be prepared to deal with slow and complex French bureaucracy when it comes to things like obtaining your tax & social security numbers, registering your business, and applying for Carte Vitale (government healthcare coverage). French administrative systems aren’t exactly known for their efficiency, and things that seem simple can take much longer than you’d expect.
Life here is also quite different from the US in a cultural sense, even in major French cities like Paris or Marseille. While you can definitely get by without speaking much French at first — especially if you hang around touristy neighborhoods and or make connections with other English-speaking expats — it can still feel isolating. Everyday interactions like asking for help in stores, dealing with apartment maintenance issues, or chatting with neighbors can feel intimidating with a language barrier. Making friends can also be a slower, more intentional process. In the US, friendships form casually and quickly, but French people seem to maintain tight-knit, long-standing social circles that develop through shared experiences rather than casual meet-ups or small talk. This means you might have to step outside your comfort zone to join language classes, professional networking groups, or social clubs to meet people. Showing genuine effort to learn the language and embrace French culture can go a long way in building meaningful connections.
But despite the bureaucratic headaches and cultural adjustments, I wouldn’t trade the experience I've had thus far for anything. Moving to France has challenged me in ways I never expected, but it’s also been incredibly rewarding. Every small victory — whether it’s successfully handling French administrative paperwork or having your first full conversation in French — makes the transition feel worth it.
Is the Profession Libérale Visa Right for You?
If you’re a freelancer, a small business owner, or dreaming of starting your own business while living abroad, the Profession Libérale visa could be the perfect path to turning your dream of moving to France into reality.
It requires careful planning and patience, but it’s absolutely possible. I won’t sugarcoat it — it’s a process, and there will be challenges. But if living and working in France is something you’ve been dreaming about, it’s more achievable than you might think.
So, if you’re serious about making this move, start planning now. You never know — this might just be the best decision you ever make!
