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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Your questions, answered.

Are you looking to set up a subsidiary, recruit employees or expand your business in France? Find answers to the questions most frequently asked by foreign companies, particularly Spanish businesses.

01 / Setting up in France

Establish and grow your business in France.

A Spanish company can establish a French subsidiary to develop its business in France. The main steps include choosing the legal structure, establishing a registered office, drafting the articles of association, depositing share capital and registering the company with the French authorities.

DA Communication supports you throughout the process, from selecting the appropriate structure to obtaining your registration documents and SIRET number.

View the formalities for setting up a company — Service Public

A subsidiary is a French company that is legally separate from its Spanish parent company. It has its own legal personality. A branch, by contrast, is an establishment of the Spanish company operating in France without separate legal personality. The choice depends on your activities, business objectives and preferred organisational structure. DA Communication helps you identify the most suitable option for your project.

Learn more about the options for establishing a business in France — Service Public

Costs depend on the legal structure and the formalities involved. You should budget for registration fees, publication of a legal notice and, where applicable, professional fees. Share capital requirements must also be considered according to the chosen structure. DA Communication helps you identify the necessary procedures and anticipate the costs of establishing your business.

View the costs of setting up a company — Service Public

The timeframe depends on the legal structure, the preparation of the application and the processing of registration formalities. Gathering documents and opening a bank account may also affect the schedule. It is therefore advisable to plan these steps before starting business activities in France. DA Communication assists with their preparation and follow-up.

Learn about the company registration process — Service Public

Requirements vary according to the legal structure and the company’s circumstances. Documents generally include the articles of association, proof of the registered office, evidence of share capital deposit where required and identification documents for company directors. Additional documents may be required for a Spanish business depending on its proposed structure. DA Communication helps you prepare your application and complete the administrative formalities.

View the required documents — Service Public

02 / Recruitment in France

Recruit and support your employees in France.

Yes. A Spanish company can employ someone in France without necessarily establishing a French subsidiary or branch.

Where the employee is subject to French social security, the company must fulfil the relevant obligations with Urssaf, notably through its Foreign Companies Service (Service Firmes étrangères).

DA Communication assists with these procedures to make recruitment in France easier.

View official information from Urssaf

A Spanish company without an establishment in France that hires an employee covered by French social security must register with the Urssaf Foreign Companies Service. Registration enables the company to submit the necessary social security declarations and pay the applicable contributions. DA Communication helps you complete the registration process and organise your employment-related obligations in France.

Learn about the Foreign Companies Service — Service Public

Recruitment involves several administrative and employment obligations. Employers must generally submit a pre-employment declaration (DPAE), comply with applicable employment contract requirements and arrange occupational health monitoring. Additional social protection obligations may apply depending on the circumstances of the employee and employer. DA Communication supports you throughout these procedures, from employer registration to ongoing employee administration.

View the hiring formalities — Service Public

03 / Administration and payroll

Make day-to-day employee administration easier.

Companies employing staff in France must issue payslips that comply with French regulations, including the required details of remuneration, social security contributions and statutory information.

DA Communication provides payroll preparation services for employees in France, either on an occasional or monthly basis, depending on your company’s needs.

View the rules on payslips — Service Public

When a foreign company employs staff covered by the French social security system, it must report their remuneration and the corresponding contributions.

Depending on its circumstances, the company may use the Déclaration sociale nominative (DSN) system or the Titre firmes étrangères (TFE) scheme.

DA Communication assists with these declarations and the ongoing management of your obligations.

Understanding the Déclaration sociale nominative (DSN) — Urssaf

Learn about the Titre firmes étrangères scheme — Urssaf

Yes. DA Communication offers tailored services for the occasional or recurring needs of foreign companies operating in France. You can outsource payslip preparation, social security declarations or specific administrative procedures without committing to a comprehensive support package. This flexibility allows you to choose the services that best suit your business and organisation.

View our tailored services.

04 / Posted workers

Temporarily send your employees to France.

A Spanish company may temporarily send employees to France to provide services or in other posting situations covered by the relevant regulations. The company must comply with applicable French requirements, particularly concerning working conditions, remuneration and administrative formalities. A prior posting declaration may be mandatory, depending on the circumstances. DA Communication assists with these procedures and, where required, can act as your company’s administrative representative in France.

View the rules on posting workers — French Ministry of Labour

Where a prior posting declaration is mandatory, it must be submitted before the employee begins their assignment in France.

The declaration is generally completed online through the SIPSI portal, although exemptions may apply in certain situations.

DA Communication helps you establish which requirements apply and prepare the necessary declarations.

Access the official SIPSI portal

Read the guidance from the French Ministry of Labour

For postings subject to this requirement, the foreign company must appoint a representative in France.

The representative acts as a point of contact for the French inspection authorities and may be responsible for providing the documents required by law.

Some situations are exempt from this obligation. DA Communication helps you determine the applicable requirements and can act as your company’s representative in France.

View the obligations of foreign companies — French Ministry of Labour

Employees posted to France must benefit from the applicable French remuneration rules during their assignment. These requirements may depend on the business sector, the employee’s role and the relevant collective agreement. Spanish employers should therefore check the applicable pay conditions before the posting begins. DA Communication assists you in identifying the administrative obligations associated with posting employees to France.

View the rights of posted workers — French Ministry of Labour

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