Temporary Residence — Entrepreneur / Liberal Profession

The Carte de Séjour Temporaire Entrepreneur/Profession Libérale is a temporary residence permit for non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals who wish to operate an independent business or liberal profession in Reunion. Established under CESEDA Article L421-5, it covers commercial, industrial, craft, and liberal profession activities. Reunion is a French overseas department where French immigration law applies in full, but it is not part of the Schengen Area — a standard Schengen visa does not authorize entry to Reunion. Unlike the Talent - Porteur de Projet card, this permit requires no Master's degree or minimum €30,000 investment, making it accessible to a broader range of entrepreneurs.

• Non-EU/EEA/Swiss national
• Economically viable business activity generating income of at least the SMIC (€1,823/month gross, or €21,876/year as of January 2026)
• Business plan with multi-year financial projections
• Proof of professional capacity relevant to the intended activity
• Registration with appropriate business registries and URSSAF
• Regulated professions require proper authorization or registration
• Passport valid for at least 6 months
• Proof of accommodation in Reunion
• Criminal record extract from country of origin

• Valid passport
• 3 identity photographs
• Proof of domicile in Reunion (less than 6 months old)
• Long-stay visa (VLS-TS) or current residence permit
• Fiscal stamps (€225 total)
• Signed commitment to respect republican principles
• OFII medical certificate
• Business plan with multi-year financial projections
• Proof of professional capacity
• Criminal record extract from country of origin
• Business registration documents or URSSAF proof
• Commercial lease or domiciliation contract
• Bank account proof or credit guarantee

The initial permit is valid for 1 year and can be renewed up to 3 consecutive times. After the first temporary card, holders may apply for a 4-year multi-year card, subject to Republican Integration Contract requirements including French language proficiency at A2 level. Renewal applications must be submitted 2 months before expiry via the ANEF online portal. Continued business activity and income at least equal to the SMIC must be demonstrated. Late applications incur a €180 surcharge.

From abroad, apply for a long-stay visa (VLS-TS) marked "entrepreneur/profession libérale" through the France-Visas portal, then attend a consulate appointment. Since Reunion is outside the Schengen Area, the visa must specifically cover Reunion or all French territories. The consulate forwards the application to the Préfecture de La Réunion for economic viability assessment by the DEETS (Direction de l'Économie, de l'Emploi, du Travail et des Solidarités). From within Reunion, apply online via the ANEF platform. Processing takes approximately 2–3 months; silence after 4 months constitutes implicit refusal. Within 3 months of arrival, the visa must be validated online and OFII fees paid.

Family members do not benefit from the "talent-famille" fast-track system. Standard family reunification applies: the main applicant must have been legally resident for at least 18 months, meet income requirements (at least the SMIC), and have adequate housing before family members can join.

• Residence permit: €225 (€200 tax + €25 stamp duty)
• Long-stay visa from abroad: €99
• Late renewal surcharge: €180

France taxes residents on worldwide income. Reunion residents benefit from a 30% income tax reduction (capped) for DOM residents under Article 197 I.3 of the Code Général des Impôts.

After 5 years of legal, uninterrupted residence, holders may apply for a 10-year carte de résident (resident card), which permits any professional activity. A 4-year multi-year card is available after the first temporary card.

• The permit only authorizes the specific self-employed activity for which it was granted; any change of activity requires a new application
• Salaried employment is not authorized under this permit
• Reunion is not part of the Schengen Area, so a Schengen visa is insufficient for entry
• Residence permits issued in Reunion are valid throughout all French territories where CESEDA applies
• Algerian nationals are subject to separate provisions under the French-Algerian Agreement of 1968
• The temporary card cannot be renewed more than 3 consecutive times before transitioning to a multi-year card