How to form a company in France from India

Yes. France has no nationality or residence condition for shareholders. On the Indian side, the investment is an overseas direct investment, so your authorised dealer bank must file Form FC and issue a UIN before you send money.

Everything is filed online through the guichet unique run by INPI. The greffe of the commercial court checks the file and enters the company in the trade register, and INSEE issues the SIREN number.

Once the file is complete, the Kbis usually arrives within one to two weeks. From India, three to six weeks end to end is realistic because of translations, the deposit account and Form FC.

No. Statuts can be signed electronically or through a power of attorney, and the filing is online. A visit can still help with banking.

Company law is national. The city affects rent, the local business tax called CFE, the court registry that handles the file and access to customers and staff.

The official proof that the company exists, showing its name, number, address, capital and leaders. You will be asked for it by banks, landlords, customers and public bodies.

Its rules are written by the shareholders, a company can be its président, and new investors or share classes are easy to add. The SARL imposes more fixed rules and requires an individual as gérant.

For an SAS at least half of the cash capital is paid at formation, with the rest called within five years. For an SARL the minimum paid at formation is one fifth.

It is lawful, but it signals weakness to banks and suppliers. Most subsidiaries put in enough capital to fund the first months of operation.

Only the number of shareholders. An SASU has a single owner, which suits a wholly owned subsidiary; it becomes an SAS automatically when a second shareholder joins.

When you need a formal board and wide share ownership, or plan a listing. It needs €37,000 of capital, at least two shareholders and a statutory auditor.

No. An SAS needs a commissaire aux comptes only when it passes size thresholds for balance sheet, turnover and staff, or when it controls or is controlled by other companies in certain group situations.

Yes. A legal person may be président. It appoints an individual as its permanent representative, usually a director of the Indian company.

It is taxed in France. If all real decisions are made in India, India could argue the company is resident there, so keep board decisions and records consistent with French management.

No. A visa is needed only to live or work in France. The passeport talent for business creation is the usual founder permit and asks for at least €30,000 of investment; see our France visa guide.

Up to USD 250,000 per financial year across all purposes. TCS applies to remittances above ₹10 lakh a year and is credited against your income tax.

The Annual Performance Report by 31 December and the FLA return to the RBI by 15 July, plus Form FC again for any later capital injection.

Yes. A licensed domiciliation company can host the registered office under a written contract, which is attached to the registration file.

Yes. Investments in sensitive sectors such as defence, energy, health and certain technologies can need prior approval from the French economy ministry.

A passport copy, a sworn statement of no disqualification, and their parents' names as French forms require. A foreign passport does not need translating.

A recent registry extract and constitutional documents, a board resolution approving the investment and naming the representative, and details of its beneficial owners, apostilled and translated.

An apostille from India's Ministry of External Affairs is enough for France. Add a translation by a sworn French translator.

Any individual holding more than 25% of capital or voting rights, directly or indirectly, or controlling the company in another way. The declaration is filed with the registration.

French law requires every new company to be announced in an authorised legal journal. The greffe will not register the company without the certificate.

No. The forms and statuts are in French. English documents from India are accepted with a sworn French translation.

For an SAS, about €199 for the legal notice, €37 for the greffe and €21 for the beneficial owner declaration. For an SARL the legal notice is about €148. Read our France company costs guide for running costs.

The standard rate is 25%. Qualifying SMEs pay 15% on the first €42,500 of profit, but only when at least 75% of the capital is owned by individuals.

The standard rate is 20%, with reduced rates of 10%, 5.5% and 2.1%. Returns are monthly under the normal regime, or yearly with instalments under the simplified regime.

Yes. The crédit d'impôt recherche refunds 30% of eligible R&D spending up to €100 million, whoever owns the company. See our France corporate tax guide.

France withholds tax on outbound dividends, limited to 10% under the India France treaty. India gives credit for the French tax.

Not in its first financial year. From the second year, instalments are due quarterly on 15 March, June, September and December.

Shareholders approve them within six months of year end, and they are filed with the greffe within one month of approval, or two months when filed online.

For a 31 December year end, the return is due in early May, with about two extra weeks when filed online, alongside the balance of corporate tax.

A local business tax based on the premises used. A new company is exempt in its first calendar year, and it is normally paid by 15 December.

From 1 September 2026 every French business must be able to receive electronic invoices. Small and medium companies must issue them from 1 September 2027.

A salaried SAS président carries employee level social charges. Many founders combine a modest salary with dividends, which an accountant can model.

Our France compliance guide lists the French tax, accounts and payroll dates alongside the Indian APR and FLA.

Structure advice, statuts, the capital deposit, the legal notice and the guichet unique filing with French partners, through to the Kbis, plus Form FC with your bank. Details are on our France registration page.

French SAS formation starts from ₹55,000. Support with research tax credit claims starts from ₹75,000. Official fees are charged at cost.

Yes. Compare options in our France, UK and Germany guide, then book a call to model your costs and tax.