The Capital Deposit Certificate and the French Guichet Unique
To register a French company you need a capital deposit certificate — the certificat de dépôt proving that the share capital has been deposited with an authorised depositary. The one-stop shop (guichet unique, run by INPI) will not register the company without it. You can obtain this certificate entirely online through a partner notary, with no French bank account and no trip to France, for a flat fee of €500 for non-residents.
Key takeaways
- The capital deposit certificate proves the share capital was deposited before registration.
- The guichet unique (INPI) requires it to register an SAS, SASU, SARL, EURL or SCI.
- A French notary is a public officer authorised to receive the deposit — like a bank.
- €500 flat for non-residents (€230 for France residents), 100% online, certificate within 24h.
- No French bank account and no French tax residence are required.
What the capital deposit certificate is
When you form a French company, the shareholders commit a share capital. That capital must be deposited with an authorised depositary before the company is registered — it cannot simply be declared on paper. Once the funds are held, the depositary issues a document attesting that the money is in hand: the certificat de dépôt (certificate of deposit of share capital).
The certificate names the company being formed, the depositary, and the amount deposited. It is the official evidence that the capital exists and is held in trust until the company legally comes into being. Without it, the company has no proof to show the registry.
Why the guichet unique requires it
Since the one-stop shop (guichet unique) became the single portal for business formalities, every French company registration passes through it, and the INPI transmits the file to the registry. The sequence is fixed:
- Draft the articles of association (statuts).
- Deposit the share capital with an authorised depositary.
- Obtain the certificate of deposit.
- Register the company at the guichet unique (INPI).
- Release the funds to the company after registration.
The deposit comes before registration by design: the registry must see that the declared capital has actually been paid in. So the certificate of deposit is a required piece of the registration file. No certificate, no registration — which is why founders who cannot easily open a French account get stuck at exactly this point.
How to get the certificate remotely, via a notary
Under the French Commercial Code (Code de commerce), a notaire (notary) is a public officer legally entitled to receive the deposit of cash contributions, just like a bank. That is what makes a fully remote deposit possible: you do not need a French bank account to obtain the certificate.
Depotdecapital.com is a commercial platform operated in partnership with Cellard Notaires & Avocats. A partner notary acts as the depositary, holds your funds on a dedicated account at the Caisse des Dépôts (CDC) — the French state deposit institution — and issues the official certificate of deposit required by the guichet unique. You sign the fee agreement electronically, pay online, and receive an electronic certificate. The certificate is issued within 24 hours of the wire being received and the file being complete.
Step-by-step: obtaining your certificate
- Open your file online and specify the company form and the capital amount.
- Sign the fee agreement electronically and pay the service fee online.
- Upload your documents through the secure portal.
- Wire the share capital to the notary's CDC account — no French IBAN of your own is needed.
- Receive the certificate of deposit within 24 hours once the funds are received and the file is complete.
- Register the company at the one-stop shop (guichet unique / INPI) using the certificate.
- Release the funds by uploading the KBIS (registration extract) and the company's RIB (bank details) so the notary transfers the capital to the company.
Documents you need
| Document | What it is | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Passport | Identity of each shareholder | Valid and legible |
| Proof of the French registered office | Lease or domiciliation contract | Must name the company's siège social |
| Draft articles of association (statuts) | Unsigned and undated | Finalised only after registration |
| Foreign tax number (NIF) | Tax ID from your country | For non-resident shareholders |
No French bank account and no French tax residence are needed to obtain the certificate.
Cost and timing
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Deposit fee (non-resident) | €500 flat, no subscription |
| Deposit fee (France resident) | €230 |
| Certificate of deposit | Issued within 24h of funds received + complete file |
| Overall registration | Handled by the guichet unique — timescales vary, no promise given |
We do not promise a total registration timeline — the guichet unique registers the company itself — but issuing the certificate of deposit, the step that blocks most remote founders, is fast and predictable.
When the funds are released
The capital stays held until the company is registered. Once you have the KBIS (the registration extract proving the company exists) and the company's RIB, the notary releases the deposited funds to the company's own account. The certificate's job is done at that point: it was the proof that let the registration happen in the first place.
Related guides
- Open a French company as a non-resident
- Documents required for a French company capital deposit (non-resident)
- Get a certificate of deposit of share capital in France remotely
FAQ
What is a capital deposit certificate? It is the certificat de dépôt, the official document attesting that your company's share capital has been deposited with an authorised depositary before registration.
Why does the guichet unique need it? Because French law requires the share capital to be deposited before the company is registered. The certificate is the proof the registry needs, so it is a required part of the registration file.
Who can issue the certificate? An authorised depositary. A French notary is a public officer entitled to receive cash contributions, so a partner notary can issue it — without you needing a French bank account.
How long does it take? The certificate is issued within 24 hours once the funds are received and the file is complete.
What does it cost? A flat €500 for non-residents and €230 for France residents, with no subscription.
Do I need to be in France or have French tax residence? No. The whole process is online — electronic signature, online payment and an electronic certificate — and no French tax residence is required.
What happens to the money after registration? The notary releases the deposited funds to the company once you provide the KBIS and the company's RIB.
Get your certificate of deposit online → https://depotdecapital.com/en/dossier
Certificate of deposit within 24h, flat fee, no French bank account required.
Start a deposit →Information only — not personalised legal or tax advice.