29/10/2025
Question that inspired this post(posted on 29/10/2024):
Hey all, help, please! I’m trying to get a working visa, but have been refused twice in London as I don’t have a job offer.
I’m a skilled worker and a UX Designer, and I also have the possibility of teaching software in English. Someone mentioned I should apply for an auto-entrepreneur visa. Can anyone let me know the process to do this, please? I’m currently in Bordeaux but just on the Schengen Agreement using my passport.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Top Answers
"There’s no such thing as applying for a working Visa. As a 3rd country national, you need to be sponsored by a company and they apply for a work permit. It’s very difficult to get sponsored but you have to apply for a job and get a job offer first. An auto entrepreneur is a feasible route also."
"Without a job, you cannot obtain a Visa to work for an employer.
If you want to become self-employed you need to present a viable business plan. Remember this will not allow you to work for an employer either, you will only be able to open a business and work for clients, so depends if you have any possible clients."
"If you want to be an auto-entrepreneur, then you need to create a comprehensive business plan, showing the creation, low start and income increase over three years. It must show that you will earn unsupported, at least the French minimum wage, which goes up in November to 1800 odd euro gross per non-EU adult. This is reviewed every year for the renewal of your residence permit, so as to show the business is still making minimum wage for you and starting to grow."
"You need a job offer and then your future employer needs to obtain a work permit for you. When they have obtained it if issued, then the job offer, plus the work permit, will support your working visa claim. No longer can someone immigrate to then look for a job. No job offer and or work permit, no visa."
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Based on your situation, applying for an auto-entrepreneur visa (also known as the France entrepreneur visa or profession libérale visa) could be a good option for you. Here's an overview of the process:
Eligibility:
You must have a viable business plan that can generate income at least equivalent to the French minimum wage (currently €20,814.73 per year)
Your business idea should contribute positively to the French economy
Visa Application:
You'll need to apply for a long-stay visa valant titre de séjour (VLS-TS) with the mention "entrepreneur/profession libérale"
Apply at the French consulate in your home country (in your case, the UK)
Required Documents:
A valid passport
Completed visa application form
Recent passport-sized photos
A detailed business plan
Proof of financial resources
Proof of qualifications and relevant experience
Evidence of Accommodation in France
Business Plan:
Include your mission statement, services offered, target audience, predicted income and expenditure, and any initial investments
Financial Requirements:
Show that you can support yourself financially (at least €21,203 per year)
Application Process:
Submit your application and attend an interview at the French consulate
Processing time can take 1-3 months
After Arrival in France:
Within 3 months of arrival, validate your visa online
Register your business with the appropriate authorities.
Renewal:
The initial visa is valid for one year. Before it expires, you can apply for a temporary residence permit for 2-4 years
Important Notes:
As you're currently in France on a Schengen visa, you may need to return to the UK to apply for the entrepreneur visa
Consider seeking assistance from a legal professional or business advisor familiar with French immigration laws.
Your skills as a UX Designer and potential to teach software in English could strengthen your application, so emphasize these in your business plan.
Remember, the process can be complex and requirements may change, so always verify the most current information with official French government sources.
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