Temporary Residence — Entrepreneur / Liberal Profession

The Entrepreneur/Profession Libérale card is a temporary residence permit for non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals who want to run their own business or practise a liberal profession in Martinique. Martinique is a French overseas department, so French immigration law applies in full. There is no diploma requirement and no minimum capital. The activity has to be economically viable and earn at least the minimum wage. The card is valid for 1 year at a time, and after the first card you can move on to a 4-year card.

• A commercial, industrial, craft or liberal-profession activity as your main occupation. It must be registered in the national business register or be a regulated profession
• The activity must be economically viable and earn at least the gross SMIC (minimum wage): €1,867.02/month (€22,404.20/year) since 1 June 2026
• The activity must match your qualifications and experience. Regulated professions need the required authorisation
• Before applying, you need a favourable opinion on the economic viability of the activity
• The activity must be compatible with public security, health and order

For the economic viability opinion (list set by the Arrêté du 13 mai 2026):

• New activity: business plan with a budget forecast, bank statement, proof of premises and equipment, proof of qualifications and experience, plus documents specific to your legal structure (sole proprietorship, French company, branch of a foreign company, etc.)
• Existing activity: tax situation statement, company bylaws if applicable, and accounting records showing income at least equal to the SMIC

For the card: passport, proof of address in Martinique, photos, visa or current permit, tax stamps, and the viability opinion.

The card is valid for up to 1 year and can be renewed. Temporary cards in this category can't be renewed more than 3 times in a row. After the first card, you can get a 4-year multi-year card. This requires complying with the Republican Integration Contract, French at level A2, and a pass in the civic exam (required since 1 January 2026; people aged 65 and over are exempt). After 5 years of regular residence, you can apply for a 10-year EU long-term resident card. That requires B1 French and the resident-card civic exam.

Family members don't get permits automatically. Your spouse and minor children can join you through the standard family reunification procedure once you have lived legally in France for 18 months. You need stable and sufficient resources (about €1,867/month for a 2–3 person household) and suitable housing. A decision is made within 6 months of a complete file.

Residents are taxed in France on their worldwide income. Taxpayers living in Martinique get a 30% reduction of income tax, capped at €2,450. Businesses may also qualify for Zone Franche d'Activité Nouvelle Génération (ZFANG) profit abatements.

1. Viability opinion. Request an opinion on the economic viability of your activity from the foreign labour service responsible for Martinique.
2. Visa or permit. If you are abroad, apply for a long-stay visa on France-Visas and go to a consulate appointment (€99). If you are already in Martinique, apply online through ANEF. You don't need an appointment to file. Missing documents must be provided within 15 days, otherwise the file is closed.
3. On arrival. Validate your VLS-TS long-stay visa online within 3 months and pay the €300 VLS-TS tax.

Fees (since 1 May 2026): €350 for the first card (€300 tax + €50 stamp duty), €250 for a temporary renewal, €350 for a multi-year card, plus €180 if you renew late. The long-stay visa costs €99.

Processing: If the Préfecture doesn't respond within 4 months, the application is implicitly refused. Free digital help points (PAN) are available at the Préfecture in Fort-de-France and at the sub-prefectures of Le Marin and La Trinité. The ANEF contact centre number is 0806 001 620.

The Talent – Porteur de Projet card is valid for up to 4 years from the start and includes talent-famille permits for your family. It is also exempt from the integration-contract conditions. However, it requires a Master's degree or 5 years of experience plus €30,000 in financing, or recognition of an innovative project. The Entrepreneur/Profession Libérale card is easier to get but starts at 1 year.

Martinique is not part of the Schengen Area. If you are coming from abroad, you need a visa issued for the French overseas departments, not a Schengen visa. The card only covers the self-employed activity you declared. Salaried work requires a different permit.