French SAS / SASU Formation for Non-Residents

A non-resident can form a French SAS or SASU from abroad — hold the shares, act as president, and complete the one step that blocks most foreign founders, the share capital deposit, entirely online. A notary (notaire), a public officer authorised under the French Commercial Code to receive cash contributions, holds your capital at the Caisse des Dépôts and issues your certificate of deposit within 24 hours of the funds arriving and your file being complete. No French bank account. For non-residents the service is a flat €500.

Key takeaways

• Non-residents can be shareholder and president of an SAS or SASU; shareholders may be individuals or companies, French or foreign.
• The capital deposit is the usual blocker; a notary clears it 100% online, no French bank account.
• €500 flat for non-residents (€230 for France residents), no subscription.
• SAS and SASU are deposited the same way — the only difference is one shareholder versus several.

The problem for non-residents

Forming an SAS or SASU follows a set order: draft the articles of association (statuts), deposit the share capital, obtain the certificate of deposit, register at the one-stop shop, and release the funds. The deposit comes before registration — the company does not yet legally exist when you deposit — and for non-residents it is the weak link.

Why? Because the deposit has traditionally been made at a bank, and French banks are reluctant to open accounts for non-resident, non-EU founders they cannot meet in person. The chain stalls:

• Without an account there is no deposit.
• Without a deposit there is no certificate.
• Without a certificate the SAS cannot be registered.

Everything about your new company waits on this single, bank-shaped obstacle.

The solution: deposit your SAS / SASU capital with a notary, 100% online

Under the French Commercial Code (Code de commerce), a notaire (notary) is a public officer authorised to receive the deposit of cash contributions, so you can bypass the bank entirely. Depotdecapital.com, operated by Cellard Notaires & Avocats, lets you deposit the capital of your SAS or SASU online. The notary holds the 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) you need to register. You sign the fee agreement electronically, pay online, and receive an electronic certificate.

Step-by-step: deposit your SAS / SASU capital

1. Open your file online and state SAS or SASU and the capital amount.
2. Sign the fee agreement electronically and pay the service fee online.
3. Upload your documents through the secure portal.
4. Transfer the share capital from your foreign account to the notary's CDC account — no French IBAN of your own needed.
5. Receive the certificate of deposit within 24 hours once the funds are received and the file is complete.
6. Register the SAS / SASU at the one-stop shop (guichet unique / INPI).
7. 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 (non-resident)

• A valid passport or national ID for each shareholder.
• Proof of the registered office address in France (lease or domiciliation contract).
• A draft of the articles of association (statuts), unsigned and undated.
• Your foreign tax number (NIF) from your country of residence.

No French bank account and no French tax residence are required.

Cost and timeline

We do not promise an overall registration timeline — the one-stop shop registers the SAS/SASU itself — but the capital deposit, the usual sticking point, is fast and predictable.

SAS vs SASU for a non-resident founder

A quick orientation, without giving tax advice:

Both offer limited liability and flexible governance that founders tailor in the statuts — a major reason non-residents prefer them over the more rigid SARL/EURL. The president of an SAS or SASU can be a non-resident, and shareholders can be individuals or companies, French or foreign. There is no legal minimum imposing a high figure, so you can set a capital that fits your project, deposit it through the notary, and move to registration.

For questions about your personal tax position, consult a qualified adviser — this guide covers the formation mechanics, not individualised tax planning. Whichever form you choose, the capital-deposit step is identical and is the one this service solves.

Related guides

• Open a French company as a non-resident
• French capital deposit without a French bank account
• Documents required for the capital deposit

FAQ

Can a non-resident be the president and shareholder of a French SAS or SASU? Yes. Non-residents can hold shares and act as president. The capital deposit can be completed online through a notary.

What is the difference between an SAS and a SASU? An SAS has two or more shareholders; a SASU is the single-shareholder version of the same structure. The deposit process is the same for both.

Do I need a French bank account to deposit the SAS / SASU capital? No. The notary is the authorised depositary and holds the funds at the Caisse des Dépôts.

How much does the deposit cost? A flat €500 for non-residents, no subscription. France residents pay €230.

How fast is the certificate of deposit issued? Within 24 hours after the funds are received and the file is complete.

Is there a minimum capital for an SAS or SASU? There is no high legal minimum; you set a capital that fits your project and deposit it through the notary.

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

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