Country guide · France
Form a US LLC as a French citizen
Last updated: August 2026
Bottom line
Form a US LLC as a French citizen is straightforward once the France paperwork is in order. As a Hague Convention member, France issues a single apostille that the US recognizes without further legalization. Tax treaty: US-France treaty (1994) covers dividends (5·15% rate), royalties (0% on most categories), and personal services, strong protection for treaty-resident LLC owners.
French micro-entrepreneur revenue caps push solo founders to consider a US LLC for non-French clients. Confirm with a French CGA about CFC and BEPS reporting first. This is the country-specific guide for French citizens to form a us llc, apostille, banking, and treaty notes that change by jurisdiction. For the canonical procedural sequence (the steps everyone follows regardless of citizenship), see the main US LLC formation page.
A Wyoming or Delaware LLC is the cleanest holding entity for a non-resident founder. No state income tax, no minimum capital, no resident director requirement. The whole setup runs remote: file Articles online, fax Form SS-4 for the EIN, open Mercury for banking. The catch is the annual Form 5472 filing, miss it and the penalty is USD 25,000.
What French citizens need to form a US LLC
Apostille
Cour d’appel (varies by département)
~2·4 weeks, ~USD 20. As a Hague Convention member, France issues a single apostille that the US recognizes without further legalization.
Banking flow
French residents open Mercury remotely. SEPA to BNP/Société Générale is straightforward; some online banks (Boursorama, Revolut) flag US-LLC transfers if the invoice trail is thin.
Timezone
UTC+1 (CET), 6 hours ahead of IRS Austin. IRS Austin is on UTC-6 / Asunción Migración on UTC-3.
Country-specific note
Common: French content creators with US-based YouTube/Patreon earnings who need an ITIN to file Form 1040-NR and claim treaty-rate withholding.
Tax treaty: US-France treaty (1994) covers dividends (5·15% rate), royalties (0% on most categories), and personal services, strong protection for treaty-resident LLC owners.
Questions French citizens ask about us llc formation
How long does the apostille take for French citizens? +
2·4 weeks through Cour d’appel (varies by département), at roughly USD 20. As a Hague Convention member, France issues a single apostille that the US recognizes without further legalization.
How do French-resident clients usually handle banking with their US LLC? +
French residents open Mercury remotely. SEPA to BNP/Société Générale is straightforward; some online banks (Boursorama, Revolut) flag US-LLC transfers if the invoice trail is thin.
Do French citizens get US tax treaty benefits on an LLC? +
US-France treaty (1994) covers dividends (5·15% rate), royalties (0% on most categories), and personal services, strong protection for treaty-resident LLC owners.
Form your LLC, French citizen
See the full procedural sequence on the canonical US LLC formation page, or jump straight to the apply form.
Form your LLCKeep going
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