The prefecture rejected a status change because the translation of a Ukrainian sole proprietorship charter was done by a “regular translator” instead of a traducteur assermenté. Two more months of waiting, another 150 euros for a new translation - and the business plan is falling apart. On a forum for Ukrainians in France, one entrepreneur shared: “I thought the hardest part would be the business idea. Turns out the hardest part was collecting the right documents and figuring out which business form to choose.” Let’s break down how to register a business in France, what documents you need, and which ones must be translated.
Who Can Start a Business in France¶
Short answer - pretty much any Ukrainian legally residing in France. But the details depend on your status.
Temporary protection (protection temporaire)¶
If you’ve received a carte de séjour marked “bénéficiaire de la protection temporaire” - you have the right to work in France, including as an entrepreneur. The EU Council extended temporary protection until March 4, 2027, so this status is still valid. The key requirement is having an active social security number (numéro de sécurité sociale) - without it, you can’t register a business.
Carte de séjour “entrepreneur / profession libérale”¶
If you want to start a business on a permanent basis, you can apply for a specific residence permit marked “entrepreneur / profession libérale”. It’s issued for 1 year with the option to renew. To get it, you need to prove the economic viability of your project - basically, present a business plan and show you can support yourself.
Passeport Talent: business creation¶
For those investing or creating an innovative project, there’s a Passeport Talent category called “création d’entreprise”. Requirements are stricter - you need an investment plan of at least 30,000 euros, but the residence permit is issued for 4 years right away.
Business Forms in France: Which One to Choose¶
This is where many people get confused. France has several main business forms, and each one fits different situations.
Auto-entrepreneur (micro-entrepreneur)¶
The simplest form - the French equivalent of a sole proprietorship. Registration is free, no startup capital needed, simplified accounting. But there are revenue limits: 77,700 euros per year for services and 188,700 euros for commerce (as of 2026). If you’re a freelancer, consultant, translator, or designer - this is the fastest way to start.
EURL / SASU (single-owner)¶
EURL (Entreprise Unipersonnelle à Responsabilité Limitée) is essentially a single-owner SARL. SASU (Société par Actions Simplifiée Unipersonnelle) is a single-owner SAS. Minimum capital is 1 euro (symbolic). Good if you’re planning to scale or want to separate personal finances from business.
SARL / SAS (with partners)¶
SARL (Société à Responsabilité Limitée) is the most popular form for small and medium businesses. SAS (Société par Actions Simplifiée) is more flexible in terms of management. Both work well if you have a partner or plan to attract investors.
| Form | Capital | Revenue limit | Complexity | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auto-entrepreneur | 0 € | 77,700 / 188,700 € | Minimal | Freelancers, small business |
| EURL | from 1 € | No limit | Medium | Single founder, scaling |
| SASU | from 1 € | No limit | Medium | Single founder, flexibility |
| SARL | from 1 € | No limit | High | With partners, classic business |
| SAS | from 1 € | No limit | High | With partners, investors |
Required Documents and What Needs Translation¶
Here’s where it gets interesting. All documents not issued in French must be translated by a sworn translator (traducteur assermenté). This isn’t a recommendation - it’s a legal requirement.
For auto-entrepreneur¶
| Document | Translation needed? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Passport or ID card | Yes | Sworn translation |
| Titre de séjour (APS) | No | Issued in France, already in French |
| Proof of address in France | No | Utility bill, rental contract |
| Criminal record certificate | Yes | Sworn translation + apostille |
| Diploma or certificate (for regulated professions) | Yes | Sworn translation |
For SARL / SAS / EURL / SASU¶
Everything above plus additional documents:
| Document | Translation needed? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Articles of association (statuts) | Drafted in French | If you have statutes from Ukraine - sworn translation needed |
| Minutes of founders’ meeting | Drafted in French | For companies with multiple founders |
| Proof of capital deposit | No | Issued by French bank |
| Legal notice (JAL) | No | Done online, in French |
| Declaration of beneficial owners (DBE) | Partially | Founder data - passport translations |
| Criminal record certificate | Yes | Sworn translation + apostille |
| Extract from Ukrainian business registry | Yes | If you had a previous business in Ukraine |
Step-by-Step Registration via Guichet Unique¶
Since January 1, 2023, all business registration formalities in France go through a single window - the Guichet Unique at formalites.entreprises.gouv.fr. The process for foreigners is the same as for French nationals, just with additional documents.
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Collect and translate documents. All Ukrainian documents go to a sworn translator. The criminal record certificate also needs an apostille (obtained in Ukraine through CNAP or the Ministry of Justice).
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Open a bank account in France. For auto-entrepreneur, a regular account works. For SARL/SAS, you need a business account and must deposit the share capital. The bank will issue an attestation de dépôt de fonds (capital deposit certificate).
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Register on Guichet Unique. Create an account at formalites.entreprises.gouv.fr. Fill in the business creation form. Upload scans of documents and their sworn translations.
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Publish a legal notice in JAL (SARL/SAS only). This is done online through specialized websites. Cost for SARL is 147-171 euros, for SAS it’s 197-231 euros.
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Receive your SIRET and Kbis. If everything is filled out correctly, you’ll get your SIRET number (business identifier) and Kbis extract (registration certificate for SARL/SAS) within 1-3 weeks.
How Much Does It Cost¶
| Expense | Auto-entrepreneur | SARL / SAS |
|---|---|---|
| Guichet Unique registration | Free | 35.59 € (greffe) |
| Beneficial owners declaration (DBE) | - | 20.34 € |
| Legal notice (JAL) | - | 147-231 € |
| Sworn translation of passport | 35-55 € | 35-55 € |
| Sworn translation of criminal record | 35-55 € | 35-55 € |
| Sworn translation of diploma | 45-80 € | 45-80 € |
| Sworn translation of Ukrainian statutes | - | 80-200 € (depends on volume) |
| Apostille for certificate | 10-30 € | 10-30 € |
| Accountant / lawyer (optional) | - | 1,500-2,500 € |
| Total minimum | ~80-140 € | ~400-700 € (without lawyer) |
If you hire a lawyer or accountant to help set up a SARL/SAS, add another 1,500-2,500 euros. For auto-entrepreneur, that’s usually not necessary.
Common Mistakes Ukrainians Make When Registering a Business in France¶
Using a “regular” translator instead of a sworn one. The Guichet Unique and prefecture only accept traduction assermentée - a translation stamped and signed by a translator registered with the Cour d’appel. A regular translation, even if it’s perfect quality, won’t be accepted.
Forgetting the apostille on the criminal record certificate. The apostille is obtained in Ukraine, not in France. If you’re already here, you’ll either need someone in Ukraine to handle it or go through the consulate. Without the apostille, your translation won’t be accepted.
Choosing the wrong business form. One entrepreneur on the DOU forum shared that he registered a SARL for freelance programming work - and now pays an accountant 150 euros per month, when an auto-entrepreneur setup would have been essentially free to maintain.
Not accounting for auto-entrepreneur limits. If you exceed the revenue limit (77,700 euros for services), you’ll automatically be switched to the standard tax regime. Plan ahead.
Submitting documents without translating attachments. You need to translate not just the main document, but all appendices, stamps, and seals - everything that’s not in French.
Where to Find a Sworn Translator for Business Documents¶
France has about 190 registered sworn translators for the Ukrainian language. You can find them:
- On the official website annuaire-traducteur-assermente.fr - the registry of all 36 Cour d’appel in France
- Through ChatsControl - if you need a quick translation of simple documents (passport, certificates)
- At the Ukrainian consulate in France - they can sometimes recommend verified translators
The average rate for a sworn translation from Ukrainian to French starts at 32 euros per page. For complex documents (articles of association, contracts), the price can go up to 0.17 euros per word. The minimum cost for translating a single document is usually 45 euros.
FAQ¶
Can a Ukrainian with temporary protection start an auto-entrepreneur in France?¶
Yes. Beneficiaries of temporary protection have the right to work in France, including as entrepreneurs. You need a valid APS (autorisation provisoire de séjour) and an active social security number. Temporary protection has been extended until March 2027.
How much does it cost to register a business in France as a foreigner?¶
For auto-entrepreneur, registration is free. For SARL or SAS, minimum administrative costs are 200-290 euros (greffe + JAL notice). Plus document translations - from 80 to 300 euros depending on how many documents you need. If you hire a lawyer, add another 1,500-2,500 euros.
Which Ukrainian documents need translation for business registration?¶
Required: passport, criminal record certificate (with apostille), diploma (for regulated professions). For SARL/SAS, also: registry extract if you had a business in Ukraine, and your previous company’s statutes if relevant. All translations must be done by a sworn translator.
Is there a minimum capital requirement to start a company in France?¶
For auto-entrepreneur, no capital is needed at all. For SARL, SAS, EURL, and SASU, the legal minimum capital is 1 euro. In practice, banks and partners take companies with 1,000-5,000 euros in capital more seriously, but legally 1 euro is enough.
How long does business registration take in France?¶
Auto-entrepreneur takes a few days to 2 weeks after submitting a complete document package. SARL or SAS takes 2-4 weeks if all documents with translations and apostilles are ready. The main delay is usually collecting and translating documents, not the registration itself.