Registration as an auto-entrepreneur with URSSAF follows one standard procedure. It is the same for residents and non-residents. The same website, the same form, the same steps. This works well in typical situations, when your life and income are tied to one country. If you live in another country, recently moved, have income abroad, or work with foreign clients, the task changes. In these cases, it is not only about registering with URSSAF, but about understanding what this registration means for taxes, social contributions, and reporting in more than one country. The instructions explain how to submit the form, but they do not explain how the authorities interpret your situation afterwards.

• The URSSAF registration procedure is identical for residents and non-residents.
• There is no special form or separate path for foreigners.
• The real difference appears after registration, in how your status is applied for taxes and social contributions.
• You can register correctly and still face problems later because of cross-border rules.
• In international situations, the key issue is not the form, but the consequences of the registration.

Steps

1. Understand that the procedure is the same for everyone

   Whether you live in France or abroad, you use the same official website and submit the same declaration of activity. There is no alternative process for non-residents.

2. Complete the standard URSSAF registration

   Go to autoentrepreneur.urssaf.fr and follow the normal steps: identity details, activity declaration, and bank information. From a technical point of view, this is all that is required to register.

3. Receive your SIRET and keep all confirmations

   Wait for the confirmation from URSSAF and INSEE. Keep copies of emails, letters, and any documents you submitted. These are your proof of registration.

4. If your situation involves another country, check what this registration triggers

   The main risk is not the registration itself, but how your status is interpreted afterwards. In cross-border situations, the authorities effectively determine:

   • where you are considered resident,
   • which social system applies,
   • which country has priority to tax your income.

Tips

• Do not look for a "non-resident version" of the URSSAF procedure. It does not exist.
• The form is simple; the consequences can be complex in cross-border cases.
• The most risky situation is when registration is completed smoothly, but your status is misunderstood.
• The right moment to clarify everything is right after registration, not when a problem appears.
• Keep documents proving where you live, where you work, and where your clients are from the very beginning.

FAQ