How to Become a Freelance English Teacher
in Lyon, France
Everything you need to know to become a freelance English teacher in Lyon — from visa status and SIRET registration to your mandatory NDA from DREET.
Check Your Residency & Visa Status
Your starting point depends entirely on your nationality. This determines whether you can register immediately or must first secure the right to work as a self-employed person in France.
Choose Your Legal Business Structure
French law offers several structures for freelancers. To become a freelance English teacher in Lyon, the Micro-entrepreneur regime is by far the most popular choice thanks to its simplicity and low administrative burden.
| Structure | Best For | Revenue Cap (Services) |
|---|---|---|
| Micro-entrepreneur | Beginners & part-time teachers | €77,700/year |
| Entreprise Individuelle (EI) | Higher or variable income | No cap |
| EURL / SARL | Established businesses with employees | No cap |
Register Your Activity & Obtain Your SIRET
You must be legally registered before you issue your first invoice. Registration provides you with a SIRET number — your unique legal business identifier in France.
For intellectual and teaching professions (profession libérale), registration is done online through URSSAF at autoentrepreneur.urssaf.fr. Your SIRET is typically issued within 7 to 15 days.
Obtain Your NDA Declaration from DREET
This step is essential and specific to language training professionals — and is frequently overlooked. Anyone who wants to become a freelance English teacher in Lyon and provide paid language training services is legally required to declare their activity as a prestataire de formation (training provider) to the DREET (Direction Régionale de l'Économie, de l'Emploi, du Travail et des Solidarités).
This declaration results in the issuance of a Numéro de Déclaration d'Activité (NDA) — a training provider registration number that is mandatory to:
Once registered, you must submit an annual bilan pédagogique et financier (activity report) to keep your NDA active.
Pay Your Social Security Contributions
As a self-employed professional in France, you contribute to the national social security system, which covers healthcare, retirement, parental leave, disability, and family allowances.
| Activity Type | Social Charge Rate |
|---|---|
| Sales / Commercial | 12.8% |
| Services / Teaching (standard) | 22% |
| Regulated private-practice professions | 22.2% |
Declarations and payments are made quarterly or monthly through your URSSAF account.
Open a Dedicated Business Bank Account
French law requires freelancers whose annual turnover exceeds €10,000 to maintain a separate bank account for their business transactions. It does not need to be a formal "professional" account — a separate personal account in your business name is sufficient.
Verify Your Qualifications (Regulated Professions)
While English teaching itself is not a regulated profession in France, certain adjacent roles may be. To become a freelance English teacher in Lyon, you don't need a formal teaching licence — but you do need the right qualifications to be credible with clients and employers.
The most relevant legal requirement remains the NDA from DREET (Step 4). If you intend to teach children or work in an educational institution, additional checks (such as a criminal record extract) may be required by the hiring organisation.