Documents Required for a French Company Capital Deposit (Non-Resident)

A non-resident needs just four documents to deposit the share capital of a French company: a passport or national ID, proof of the French registered office, an unsigned and undated draft of the articles of association, and a foreign tax number (NIF). Get these right and the notary — a public officer authorised under the French Commercial Code to receive cash contributions — issues your certificate of deposit within 24 hours of the funds arriving. Get one wrong and the clock stops. This guide lists exactly what you need and why.

Key takeaways

• Four documents only: passport/ID, French registered-office proof, draft statuts, foreign tax number.
• The articles of association must be an unsigned, undated draft — the single most common mistake.
• No French bank account, no French residence required.
• A complete file means the certificate of deposit within 24h; a missing paper is what causes a bounce-back.

The problem for non-residents

The share capital of an SAS, SASU, SARL, EURL or SCI must be deposited with an authorised depositary before the company is registered. Non-residents often assemble the funds quickly but underestimate the paperwork, or prepare documents in a form the depositary cannot accept — articles of association already signed, an address proof that does not cover the registered office, or no foreign tax number at all. Each gap stops the clock, because the certificate of deposit is only issued once the file is complete.

Getting the documents right the first time is therefore the single biggest lever a non-resident founder has over speed.

The solution: a clear checklist, deposited online with a notary

Depotdecapital.com, operated by Cellard Notaires & Avocats, handles the deposit entirely online. A French notaire (notary) acts as the authorised depositary, holds the funds on a dedicated account at the Caisse des Dépôts (CDC), and issues the official certificat de dépôt (certificate of deposit). No French bank account is needed. The fee agreement is signed electronically, payment is online, and the certificate is electronic. For non-residents the price is a flat €500 (€230 for France residents), with no subscription. The one requirement on your side is a complete, correct file.

The document checklist (non-resident)

That is the complete set for a standard non-resident deposit. You do not need a French bank account, a French residence permit, or French tax residence.

Step-by-step: how your documents are used

1. Open your file online and state the company form and the capital amount.
2. Sign the fee agreement electronically and pay the service fee online.
3. Upload the four documents above through the secure portal.
4. Transfer the share capital from your foreign account to the notary's CDC account.
5. File completeness check: the notary verifies identity, the registered-office proof, the draft statuts and your tax number.
6. Certificate of deposit issued within 24 hours once funds are received and the file is complete.
7. After registration, upload the KBIS (registration extract) and the company's RIB (bank details) to release the funds.

Cost and timeline

The certificate of deposit is issued within 24 hours of two conditions being met together: the funds have arrived on the notary's CDC account, and your document file is complete. A missing or non-compliant document is the main thing that can hold up an otherwise fast process — which is exactly why this checklist matters.

Practical tips to avoid a bounce-back

• Do not sign or date the articles of association — send them as a clean draft.
• Check the address proof names the company's registered office, not your personal home abroad.
• Provide a tax number from your country of residence even if France has not issued you one; the foreign NIF is what is expected.
• Transfer the capital in euros where possible, so the credited amount matches the capital stated in your statuts.

Getting these four points right usually means a single-pass file and a certificate within 24 hours of the funds landing.

Related guides

• Open a French company as a non-resident
• French capital deposit without a French bank account
• Get a French certificate of deposit remotely

FAQ

Do the articles of association need to be signed before the deposit? No. They must be an unsigned, undated draft. They are finalised after the capital is deposited and the company is registered.

What counts as proof of the registered office address? Typically a commercial lease, a domiciliation contract, or an equivalent document establishing the company's right to use a French address.

What is the foreign tax number (NIF)? Your tax identification number from your country of residence. It identifies you as a foreign taxpayer in the compliance file.

Do I need a French bank account or French residence? No. Neither is required. The notary is the depositary and holds the funds at the Caisse des Dépôts.

How quickly is the certificate issued once my documents are in? Within 24 hours after the funds are received and the file is complete.

Can several non-resident shareholders be on the same file? Yes. Provide a passport or national ID for each shareholder; the notary checks every identity in the compliance file.

Deposit your capital online → https://depotdecapital.com/en/dossier

Certificate of deposit within 24h, flat fee, no French bank account required.