Obtain Special Permits and Licenses in France

Certain activities in France require special permits, licenses or certificates. Sole traders and other legal entities must obtain such licenses for the activities they conduct that must comply with certain environmental and health regulations.Operating without a business license in France can lead to several legal repercussions. Whatever the situation, entrepreneurs can discuss all the legal aspects with our lawyers in France.

Import and export special licenses in France

French companies are also required to have special licenses for the trading activities they conduct. Whenever a company is involved in a trading activity, such as importing or exporting products, there are some special licenses to be obtained depending on some factors:

the type of products to be imported/exported,
the products commodity code,
the country of origin of the products,
where the products are coming from or going to.

Economic operators will usually use a Single Administrative Document (SAD) that will be filled and submitted through the French customs clearance system (DELTA).

When importing or exporting, certain agricultural products will need a special license issued by FranceAgriMer. Also, special permits issued by French customs (DGDDI) or the competent ministry are required for some textiles, fire guns and metals.

We can help you obtain a trade license in France for import/export activities.

The online gambling license in France

Gambling activities are monitored by the independent authority called ANJ (Autorité nationale des jeux), which replaced ARJEL in June 2020, according to the French Gambling Act issued in 2010. According to the ANJ, special licenses must be obtained for online poker games and sports and horse betting. The types of licenses required for this type of activity are:

the type 1 license for online poker games that has a five-year validity,
the type 2 license required for online sports betting that has a five-year validity,
the type 3 license issued for online horse racing betting that also has a five-year validity.

Those applying for a gambling permit must meet some special requirements, such as demonstrating financial capability and having a clean criminal record.

Our lawyers can help with the gambling business licenses in France.

Licenses for financial institutions in France

According to the Banking Law in France, banks and other financial institutions are required to obtain special licenses depending on the type of financial activity they are engaged in. First of all, an authorization by the Prudential Supervision and Resolution Authority (ACPR) – or by the ECB for credit institutions – must be issued for financial institutions. Investment services companies must apply for a special permit with the ACPR and with the Financial Market Authority (Autorité des Marchés Financiers, AMF), as well.

Obtaining a trade license in France for financial institutions might be difficult for some entrepreneurs. Our team offers support in this process.

License for selling alcoholic beverages

Companies that sell alcoholic beverages need to obtain a special business license in France, whether it is their primary or secondary activity. This is required if the alcoholic drinks are consumed on-site or if they are sold and consumed away. Our French lawyers will further detail the important characteristics of this license.

Various types of businesses need to obtain this license, including: cafes, bars, pubs, discos, restaurants, hotel restaurants, supermarkets, grocery stores, wineries, and online marketplaces. The sale of alcoholic beverages through vending machines is prohibited. No license is required for selling non-alcoholic drinks.

There are multiple types of special business licenses in France for selling alcohol, including:

License III issued for beverages with an alcohol content below 18% vol. (such as beer, cider, or wine). This license allows for on-site consumption and take-away sales;
License IV issued for beverages with an alcohol content above 18% vol. (such as distilled alcohols) This trade license in France allows on-site consumption and take-away sales.

To acquire the license, you must complete a training, submit a formal declaration to the local authorities, and register with the National Company Register (RNE).

There are some exceptions for obtaining this trade license in France. Temporary shops, such as those operating at fairs or public celebrations, are exempt from needing this license. However, these temporary shops must still make a formal declaration and obtain a permit from the Mayor’s Office.

Selling tobacco products

Tobacco retail in France is a state monopoly reserved to licensed tobacconists (débitants de tabac) holding a contract with French Customs. However, you must comply with some requirements.

To sell tobacco products, you must sign a management contract with French Customs and complete the mandatory training. You must also purchase tobacco products exclusively from suppliers approved by the state. Your business premises must be adapted for selling such products. Since tobacco can only be sold by an approved débitant de tabac, these requirements are important.

Additionally, businesses must comply with local health and safety standards and anti-smoking regulations. Companies must not sell tobacco products to minors and respect the advertising requirements for such products.

Companies must pay the excise taxes on tobacco products and VAT. Tobacco products must be sold at prices established by the Official Journal of the French Republic (JORF). Our attorneys in France can offer more details about the taxes that apply to tobacco products.

Specific-industry licenses in France

The type of business and respectively the activities of a firm dictate what kind of trade license in France is needed. There is a so-called category of specific-industry licenses in France, and among them, we list:

Those who want to open a restaurant/bar/coffee shop/catering firm in France must obtain a health and safety certificate. This document is issued by the Direction Départementale de la Protection des Populations (DDPP).
Agence Régionale de Santé (ARS) issues business licenses for company owners who want to operate in the healthcare sector in France.
Tourism business can only be carried out if the operator is registered with Atout France (register of travel and holiday operators).
In the construction sector, permits issued by the local municipal planning department are needed.

We recommend those interested in obtaining a trade license in France to contact our specialists with confidence. Our attorneys in France are at your disposal with legal assistance in this important step for a business.

What are environmental permits in France?

The environmental impact assessment (EIA) is issued for businesses with environmental projects or that affect this sector. The environmental authorisation is generally issued by the prefect of the department. Those who deal with recycling and waste management need a specific permit issued by local agencies. This is known as the waste management permit.

We can help you with the environmental business licenses in France.

What other business licenses/permits are required before starting activities in France?

There are permits that are issued at the local level for those who want to carry out certain activities. Here are some examples:

signage permits,
zoning permits,
municipal business license.

We also specify that FranceAgriMer issues import/export licences for those who work in agriculture and sell their products. On the other hand, French customs (DGDDI) issues licenses for import and export items. We recommend the services of our lawyers to clarify the procedures for obtaining a business license in France.

Renewal procedures of a trade license in France

Certain business licenses in France must be renewed after one year, while others have a longer validity. On the other hand, there are business licenses that can only be renewed after certain controls/inspections are carried out by the relevant local authorities. Whatever the situation, it is good to request specialized legal assistance if you want to renew your trade license in France. The legal services offered by our French lawyers are at your disposal if you want to renew your business license in France.

Statistics about French companies

If you are interested in more details about the French companies and the industries they operate in, our lawyers in France have prepared some interesting statistics. The information is from 2023 and refers only to non-financial businesses:

727,536 businesses were in the wholesale and retail trade (including the repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles);
597,021 businesses were engaging in professional, scientific, and technical activities;
524,112 were construction companies;
Only 1,009 businesses were operating in the mining and quarrying sector.

Besides support for obtaining a trade license, we can also assist individuals who want to buy a house in France.

Feel free to contact our law firm in France and discover our legal services. Our lawyers can also help you start a business in France in approx. 2 weeks, with no minimum share capital for the private limited liability company.