Can Australians (non-EU) set up as Micro (auto) entrepreneurs in France?

Dear Valerie,
We are pleased to discover your excellent website, and hope that you and your forum members can assist us with questions regarding Australians setting up as micro(auto)-entrepreneurs in France.

We are Australian citizens who are able to work in the UK under a UK ancestry visa. Also, my wife’s son has an EU passport and is currently living and working in the Netherlands.

My wife and I have recently returned to Australia for family reasons, after living and working as House Managers/ Property managers in the UK and Europe. In that time we completed at least 30 house/pet sits in UK and Europe.

We do miss the northern hemisphere, and have been discussing permanently relocating back using France (if possible) as our base. We have seen some ideal properties in France which would serve our purposes.

We believe there is a business opportunity for us to set up in France that includes property & house management, and pet care, for a range of clients. We have already sourced a number of both UK and Australian owners who are looking for their French property to be managed and maintained. 

We understand that as non-EU we can visit France for 90 days out of every 180 days. Australians are also able to purchase a property in France, and even borrow from a French bank to finance the purchase.

However, we would be keen to live and work in/from France which would require a relevant visa.

If possible, we would set up a Micro-entreprenuer business, and our research has shown us there is either a “Visa commercant”  or “Visa competences et talents” that might fit our requirements.

Rowena’s son, Izaac, has an EU visa and lives in Amsterdam. If he moved to France and got a titre de sejour we could then apply for a “carte de sejour vie privee et familiale”.

We have been researching the businesses accepted under Micro status, and our skills of caretaking, cleaning, hospitality, or cooking all seem to be acceptable.

Also, our understanding is that we could apply to be a Micro in Australia, but would then need to approach our local Chambre de Commerce once settled in France.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards

Andrew & Rowena