A foreign national holding a student residence permit may apply for the change of student visa status to entrepreneur visa. In reality, strictly speaking, there is no longer a residence permit bearing the mention “trader”.
The residence permit that allows the exercise of an independent activity, in a company or as self-employed carries the mention “entrepreneur/liberal profession” or “talent passport”.
A foreign student holding a student residence permit can apply for a change of status to a liberal profession trader entrepreneur either during his studies or at the end of his training or studies, having graduated. You must also request this change within the two months preceding the expiry date of your student residence permit.
If it is a request for a change of status as employee or temporary worker, it is necessary to request a work permit beforehand. The request must be made by the employer to a dedicated online platform. The work permit granted will be sent electronically to the employer and the beneficiary of the process.
Outside of employment, Several scenarios can therefore arise:
I. The change of status from student to entrepreneur liberal at the end of studies with RECE residence permit – job search or business creation (formerly APS)
A foreign student who has obtained, in a nationally authorized higher education establishment, a diploma at least equivalent to a master’s degree or appearing on a list fixed by decree, may request the issuance of a residence permit bearing the mention job search or business creation (RECE).
The RECE card allows you to register your company and start exercising your professional activity.
He can then apply for either a residence permit bearing the mentions entrepreneur/liberal profession or a talent passport residence permit, as the case may be.
II. The change of status from student to trader entrepreneur liberal profession at the end of the studies without requesting the RECE card
It is possible to consider requesting the change of status from student to liberal profession entrepreneur at the end of the studies even when the project of which the applicant is the bearer is not necessarily related to the studies followed, the diploma obtained.
It will then be advisable not to apply for the RECE residence permit but directly for the change of status to entrepreneur/liberal profession.
III. The change from student status to merchant entrepreneur liberal profession during studies
The foreigner who holds a student residence permit can apply for a change of status from student to self-employed entrepreneur during their studies, i.e. even when they have not obtained a diploma.
Each situation has its own characteristics and dynamics.
A change file from student to merchant status requires solid preparation in order to avoid a refusal which, when it happens, is very generally accompanied by an obligation to leave the territory – OQTF.
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