The micro-entrepreneur regime is the light way to invoice legally: simplified registration, social charges as a % of turnover, no VAT below the franchise thresholds. Non-EU nationals must hold a titre allowing independent activity (e.g. entrepreneur/profession libérale, passeport talent, vie privée et familiale — a student permit does NOT allow it by default).
Éligibilité / Qui est concerné
- Any adult with the right to work independently in France; activity must fit the regime (some regulated professions excluded); turnover under the micro thresholds (~77k € services / ~188k € commerce — confirm current figures).
Étapes
- Declare the activity on the guichet unique: formalites.entreprises.gouv.fr (INPI). Free — beware paid intermediaries.
- Receive the SIREN/SIRET (INSEE) — invoicing can start.
- Create the autoentrepreneur.urssaf.fr account; declare turnover monthly or quarterly (even 0 €) and pay the cotisations percentage.
- Open a dedicated bank account if turnover exceeds 10k € two years running; keep a recettes register; put the required mentions on invoices.
Pièces justificatives
- ID + titre de séjour authorising the activity, justificatif de domicile, déclaration sur l'honneur de non-condamnation; artisans: proof of qualification where required.
Délais et échéances
- First turnover declaration: after ~90 days, on the URSSAF schedule chosen.
- Income also goes into the annual déclaration de revenus (2042-C-PRO) — micro regime or versement libératoire.
Portail / Où faire la démarche
- Creation: formalites.entreprises.gouv.fr · Declarations: autoentrepreneur.urssaf.fr. Both free.
Pièges connus
- Paying a "création auto-entrepreneur" site for a free formality.
- Forgetting 0 € declarations (penalty per missing declaration).
- Assuming a student permit allows it — it usually doesn't without a status change.
Sources
- service-public.gouv.fr — « Micro-entrepreneur » (checked 2026-07)
- autoentrepreneur.urssaf.fr (checked 2026-07)