Deposit Share Capital for a French Company from Saudi Arabia
You can deposit the share capital of a French company from Saudi Arabia fully online, with no French bank account and no trip to France. A French notary (notaire) — a public officer authorised to receive cash contributions — holds your funds on a dedicated account at the Caisse des Dépôts and issues your certificate of deposit within 24 hours of the wire arriving and your file being complete. For Gulf-based investors the flat fee is €500, clearing the one step where remote founders most often stall.
Key takeaways
- No French bank account needed — the notary acts as the authorised depositary.
- €500 flat for non-residents (€230 for France residents), no subscription, 100% online.
- Certificate of deposit within 24h once your wire is received and your file is complete.
- Wire in euros from your Saudi bank; your Saudi tax reference serves as the foreign tax number.
Why the capital deposit stops Gulf investors
A French company is formed in a set sequence: draft the articles of association, deposit the share capital, obtain the certificate of deposit, register at the one-stop shop, then release the funds. The deposit comes before the company legally exists — and for investors based in Saudi Arabia it is the weak link.
French company formation requires the share capital of an SAS, SASU, SARL, EURL or SCI to be deposited with an authorised depositary before registration. Historically that meant a French bank. But French banks increasingly decline remote account openings for non-EU residents, which leaves Gulf investors in a familiar deadlock:
- No certificate of deposit without funds held.
- No funds held without an account.
- No account without travelling to France or waiting indefinitely.
Flying to Paris for a single appointment is neither practical nor necessary when the deposit can be made at a distance.
The solution: a French notary as depositary, 100% online
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. Depotdecapital.com is a commercial platform operated in partnership with Cellard Notaires & Avocats; a partner notary acts as the depositary and handles the process remotely for Gulf-based founders. The notary holds your funds on a dedicated account at the Caisse des Dépôts (CDC) — the French state deposit institution — and issues the official certificat de dépôt (certificate of deposit) required to register your company. You sign the fee agreement electronically, pay online, and receive an electronic certificate.
Step-by-step: deposit from Saudi Arabia
- 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 from your Saudi bank 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).
- 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 (Saudi-based founder)
| Document | What it is | Note for Gulf investors |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Your Saudi tax reference |
No French bank account and no French tax residence are needed to complete the deposit. Depending on the company's structure, certain supporting documents issued abroad may need to be legalised before they are accepted in France — ask the partner notarial office which of your documents, if any, require this step.
Cost and timeline
| 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 one-stop shop registers the company itself — but the deposit step, the usual sticking point for Gulf investors, is fast and predictable.
Saudi-specific angle: wiring SAR to EUR and legalising documents
A few points for founders based in Saudi Arabia:
- Wire in euros. The Saudi riyal (SAR) is not the currency of the deposit: convert and send in euros so the exact credited amount matches your stated capital and is not eroded by FX on the French side.
- Plan the conversion. Ask your bank how it handles the SAR-to-EUR conversion, the margin applied, and any intermediary-bank fees, so the sum that lands on the CDC account is the full capital.
- Anticipate legalisation. Some documents issued in Saudi Arabia may need to be legalised before use in France. Requirements depend on the document and the company structure, so confirm with the partner notarial office early rather than assuming.
- Time zones are not an obstacle. Everything is asynchronous: upload and sign when it suits you; the notary processes on receipt.
- Tax number. Provide your Saudi tax reference as the foreign tax number (NIF).
None of this requires you to hold anything French before you deposit.
Related guides
- French SAS / SASU formation for non-residents
- French capital deposit without a French bank account
- Deposit French share capital from the UAE / Dubai
FAQ
Can a Saudi resident deposit French share capital without a French bank account? Yes. The partner notary is the authorised depositary and holds the funds at the Caisse des Dépôts; you wire directly from your Saudi bank.
What does it cost from Saudi Arabia? A flat €500, no subscription. France residents pay €230.
How quickly is the certificate of deposit delivered? Within 24 hours after the funds are received and the file is complete.
In which currency should I send the capital? In euros. Convert your SAR before the transfer so the credited amount matches your stated capital exactly.
Do my documents need to be legalised? Possibly, depending on the document and the company structure. Ask the partner notarial office which of your documents require legalisation before you send them.
Do I have to travel to France? No. The fee agreement is signed electronically, payment is online, and the certificate is electronic.
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.