Your accountant sees €24,000 of turnover. The préfecture may see €15,840. Same business, same year. That gap can decide whether your French residence card gets renewed.
If you hold an “entrepreneur / profession libérale” card, this one is for you.
What the law says, and what it doesn’t
Article L421-5 CESEDA gives this card to someone whose self-employed activity is “economically viable” and provides “sufficient means of living”. That is all. There is no figure in the law.
In practice, préfectures usually measure “sufficient” against the full-time minimum wage (SMIC). Since 1 June 2026, that is €1,867.02 gross a month.
Turnover or real income?
Here is the catch. No national text says which figure counts. Many préfectures look at what the activity actually leaves you, not your gross turnover.
For a micro-entrepreneur in the BNC regime, the tax office applies a flat 34% allowance for expenses (CGI, art. 102 ter). €24,000 of turnover becomes €15,840 of taxable income: under the SMIC.
Plan for the strict reading. Hoping for the generous one is not a strategy.
What helps a borderline file
- monthly URSSAF declarations showing growth
- signed contracts or quotes for the coming months
- a simple income and expense statement if your real costs are far below 34%
- clean filings: a missing declaration hurts more than a slightly low number
And the multi-year card?
Since 1 January 2026, a multi-year card requires, among other things, French at A2 level and a passing result in the civic exam (CESEDA, art. L433-4). You must still meet the conditions of your current card. Otherwise, expect another one-year card.