APPENDIX 1-1 (APPENDIX TO ARTICLES A. 123-45, A. 123-47, A. 123-50, A. 134-2)

Articles in this section · 11

Article Annexe I

French Commercial codeIn force

Updated 4 Nov 2023

PERSONAL REGISTRATION APPLICATION

1. Information relating to the person

1.1. Identification of the person required to register.

1.1.1. French nationals and nationals of an EU Member State.

Copy of valid national identity card or passport.

1.1.2. Person who is a national of a member state of the European Economic Area or a state with which agreements have been concluded.

Copy of valid national identity card or passport.

1.1.3. Foreign nationals.

1.1.3.1. Person not resident in France:

Copy of valid national identity card or passport.

1.1.3.2. Person residing in France:

-copy of the long-stay visa valid as a residence permit (VLS/ TS) bearing the wording "talent passport" issued on the basis of 5°, 6°, 7°, 8° or 10° of article L. 313-20 du code de l'entrée et du séjour des étrangers et du droit d'asile;

-or a copy of the long-stay visa valid as a residence permit (VLS/ TS) bearing the words "entrepreneur/ liberal profession" or "private and family life";

-or a copy of the temporary or multi-annual residence permit or Algerian residence certificate, bearing the words "private and family life" (or a copy of its renewal receipt) ;

-or copy of the temporary or multi-annual residence permit bearing the wording "entrepreneur/liberal profession", or Algerian residence certificate bearing the wording "merchant" (or copy of their first application receipt);

-or copy of the "competence and talent" residence permit;

-or copy of the multi-annual residence permit bearing the wording "talent passport" issued on the basis of 5° of article L. 313-20 of the Code de l'entrée et du séjour des étrangers et du droit d'asile (or a copy of their first application receipt);

-or a copy of the multi-annual residence permit bearing the wording "talent passport" issued on the basis of 6°, 7°, 8° or 10° of article L. 313-20 du code de l'entrée et du séjour des étrangers et du droit d'asile;

-or a copy of the resident's card (or a copy of its renewal receipt);

-or a copy of the provisional residence document provided for in article L. 581-3 of the Code de l'entrée et du séjour des étrangers et du droit d'asile for beneficiaries of temporary protection;

- or a copy of the multi-annual residence permit bearing the words "beneficiary of subsidiary protection" or "family member of a beneficiary of subsidiary protection", issued on the basis of articles L. 424-9 and L. 424-11 of the Code de l'entrée et du séjour des étrangers et du droit d'asile;

1.2 Identification of the spouse who has opted for a status pursuant to article L. 121-4.

Collaborating spouse, employed spouse: proof of identity showing marriage.

1.3. Conditions of practice.

1.3.1. For all persons mentioned in 1.1, certificate on honour, on plain paper, relating to the absence of conviction or civil or administrative sanction of such a nature as to prohibit the exercise of a commercial activity, showing parentage.

1.3.2. Non-sedentary commercial activity.

1.3.2.1. (deleted)

1.3.2.2. Fairgoers.

Copy of the certificate valid as a temporary circulation permit issued by the prefectoral authority.

1.3.3. Regulated activity.

Copy of the provisional or definitive authorisation, diploma or title, in accordance with article R. 123-95.

1.3.4. Person with authority to bind the taxable person.

Persons with authority in the establishment to bind the taxable person on a regular basis by their signature: documents prescribed by headings 1.1,1.3 and, where applicable, 1.3.3 of this appendix.

1.4. Declaration of non-seizability.

Notarised certificate relating to non-seizability.

2. Information relating to the establishment

2.1. Proof of occupancy of the premises or proof of the address of the business fixed to the residential premises, by any document drawn up in the name of the person required to be registered that makes it possible to prove the reality of the address declared.

2.2. Origin of a business acquired or received:

- by purchase, auction, allotment by way of partition: copy of the registered deed and certificate of publication in a legal gazette or copy thereof;

- by way of gift: copy of the deed of gift;

- by devolution of the estate, without partition or auction: copy of the deed of notoriety or the inventory heading;

- by management lease: for the tenant-manager, copy of the management lease contract and certificate of publication in a legal gazette or copy thereof;

- by management-appointment: for the agent, copy of the management-appointment contract and certificate of publication in a legal gazette or copy thereof;

- under a transfer plan, for the management of a transferred business: copy of the judgment ordering the transfer plan.

2.3 Establishment located in a Member State of the European Union.

Extract of registration or equivalent document.

Mariela Petrova

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Common Questions

Working with a corporate lawyer in France — Q&A

Any time a strategic decision changes how the company is owned, governed or contractually bound — incorporation, fundraising, M&A, restructuring, shareholder agreements, or major commercial contracts. Earlier engagement always costs less than later remediation.

A notary (notaire) is a public officer who authenticates specific deeds (mainly real-estate transfers and certain family-law acts). A corporate lawyer (avocat) advises on strategy, negotiates and drafts company documents, and represents you in disputes. The two roles complement rather than overlap.

Yes — most of our clients are foreign suppliers, investors or holding entities. We bridge the gap between French law and your home jurisdiction's expectations and deliver everything bilingually.

The SAS (Société par Actions Simplifiée) is the default choice for most international structures: flexible governance, single shareholder allowed, no minimum capital, and works cleanly with foreign holding entities. We assess SARL, SA, SCI on the merits when the situation calls for it.

Yes — communications with a French avocat are protected by the secret professionnel (Article 66-5 of the Law of 31 December 1971). This protection is broader than the common-law attorney-client privilege and applies to written and oral exchanges.

We work on fixed fees for clearly scoped engagements (incorporation, contract drafting, audits) and on monthly retainers for ongoing advisory. Hourly billing is the exception, not the default. You always know the cost before work starts.

Typical timeline is 2–3 weeks from KYC kick-off to RCS registration, assuming standard documentation. Holding-company structures, foreign-shareholder identification or in-kind contributions can extend this — we flag the gating items at the first meeting.

Absolutely. We routinely coordinate with your in-house counsel, expert-comptable or notaire — pragmatic collaboration is the norm, not the exception. We send them everything they need to do their part without duplicating work.

Mariela Petrova

Mariela Petrova

Avocate au Barreau de Paris

Toque #C2396

15+ Years In Corporate Practice

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Communications protected by professional secrecy — secret professionnel de l'avocat, Article 66-5 of the Law of 31 December 1971.

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