Moving premises, a growing business, or simply wanting an address that better fits your image. Transferring your registered office is a common step in the life of a French company, and far less daunting than it seems.
This guide walks you through the French procedure step by step: the documents to gather, the formalities to complete, the costs to anticipate and the timeframes to expect. All in plain language, with no unnecessary administrative jargon.
📋 Contents
- Why change your company’s registered address?
- Transfer within the same region or to another department: what changes?
- The 3 essential main steps
- Your checklist: the exact list of documents to provide
- The specific rules depending on your company type
- What does a registered-office transfer cost?
- How long does a registered-office transfer take?
- Simplify your formalities with Paperboy’s business address
Why change your company’s registered address?
The reasons for changing a company’s address are many and entirely legitimate.
The most common are the end of a lease, the director moving home, or simply wanting to show a more representative address. Other entrepreneurs see it as a chance to optimise their fixed costs, notably by opting for a professional business address.
Changing your company’s registered address takes a little organisation — there’s no denying it. But with a good checklist and the right contacts, it’s a process anyone can handle.
Registered-office transfer within the same region or to another department: what changes?
The answer depends on what’s known as the jurisdiction of your commercial court — that is, its geographical area of competence.
If you stay within the same department, and therefore the same court’s jurisdiction, the procedure is lighter. A single legal notice is enough, and the file is processed centrally.
If you change department, the process has an extra step: you’ll need to publish two legal notices — one in the department of the old office, one in that of the new one. You’ll also need to provide the list of successive addresses your company has occupied.
Don’t worry: it’s a simple administrative formality, not a complex procedure. In practice, it means a slightly higher cost and a few extra days.
The 3 essential main steps (registered-office transfer formalities)
Before getting into the details specific to each legal form, here’s the general logic of the process. All registered-office transfer formalities revolve around three key moments.
1. Making the decision (and the registered-office transfer minutes)
It all starts with an official decision, made at a meeting of the partners or by the manager depending on your structure’s legal form.
This decision is recorded in a key document: the registered-office transfer minutes (the “PV”). This document is the legal basis for the whole procedure. It must be dated, signed and kept safely.
2. Publishing the legal notice
Once the decision is made, you are legally required to inform third parties. This is done by publishing a notice in an authorised legal-notices journal (JAL) in the relevant department.
This notice states the essential information: the company’s name, legal form, old address, new address and the date of the decision. The publisher then gives you a certificate of publication, which is essential to build your file.
3. Filing the application on the INPI portal
The final step is to file your complete application on the INPI one-stop shop.
This centralised portal, mandatory since 2023, replaces the old procedures at the commercial court registry. You fill in the registered-office transfer form online, attach your supporting documents, and your request is automatically forwarded to the relevant bodies (registry, URSSAF, tax office…).
To find out more, the French public-service website also gives a clear summary of your obligations on the page dedicated to official transfer procedures.
Your checklist: the exact list of documents to provide
Here’s what you need to gather before filing your application on the INPI portal. Prepare these documents in advance: it will save you unnecessary back-and-forth.
- The meeting minutes recording the transfer decision, dated and signed
- The updated articles of association, including the new registered-office address, dated and signed
- The certificate of publication of the legal notice, provided by the legal-notices journal
- The proof of occupancy of the new premises: commercial lease, residential lease, a recent electricity bill in your name, or a business-address contract
This last document is particularly important. It proves you have the right to use the declared address. A professional business-address contract is fully recognised for this purpose.
The specific rules depending on your company type
The main steps stay the same for everyone. But depending on your structure’s legal form, the voting rules and required majorities vary slightly.
Changing the address of an SCI
The SCI (property company) follows the rules set out in its articles to decide on a change of address. Absent a specific clause in the articles, the decision is taken unanimously by the partners — or by majority, if the articles expressly provide for it.
Updating the articles is mandatory, and the manager is usually responsible for completing the formalities. It is they who sign the minutes and file the application.
Transferring the registered office of an SARL
For an SARL registered-office transfer within the same department, the manager can sometimes decide alone — if the articles give them that power. In all other cases, a partners’ meeting is required, and the decision must be taken by simple majority (more than 50% of the shares).
If you change department, formal approval by the partners is required in all cases.
Changing the registered office of a SAS or SASU
The SAS and SASU offer great flexibility here. The decision to change a SAS’s or SASU’s registered office falls under the rules freely set by the articles: often the president alone can decide, without a meeting.
This flexibility is one of the major advantages of these legal forms for entrepreneurs. Just check your articles’ clause, draft minutes or a unilateral decision, then follow the usual process.
The special case of associations
Registered associations have a simplified procedure. To change an association’s registered office, there’s no need to go through the commercial court registry.
The decision is taken according to the rules in your articles (general meeting or committee), then declared to the associations registry of the new department’s prefecture. Publication in the Official Journal of Associations may also be required. The whole process can be completed online, on the dedicated official portal.
What does a registered-office transfer cost?
Here’s a transparent estimate of the costs to expect. Amounts may vary slightly depending on your department and your provider.
Legal notice:
- Transfer within the same department: about €130 to €150 incl. VAT
- Transfer with a change of department: about €260 to €300 incl. VAT (two publications required)
Mandatory registry fees (via INPI):
- About €177 incl. VAT for the change to the Trade and Companies Register
Support from a provider or a business-address service:
- Variable depending on the plan chosen, from a few dozen euros to several hundred for full handling
In total, budget between €300 and €500 for a transfer within the same department, and between €450 and €700 if you change department. The cost of changing your registered office is therefore quite manageable — especially if you plan ahead and prepare your file calmly.
How long does a registered-office transfer take?
From the first to the last step, here’s a realistic estimate of the timeframes to expect:
- Making the decision and drafting the minutes: 1 to 3 days
- Publishing the legal notice: 3 to 5 working days (depending on the journal chosen)
- Processing of the file by INPI and the registry: 5 to 10 working days
- Obtaining the new Kbis or updated INPI extract: a few extra days
In total, allow between 2 and 4 weeks for the whole transfer to be officially registered.
The registered-office transfer time can be shortened if you prepare your complete file before filing it. A missing document can delay the whole procedure — hence the importance of the checklist above.
Simplify your formalities with Paperboy’s business address
Changing your company’s address is also a chance to rethink your business address for the future.
With Paperboy, you get a stable, recognised professional address in France and simple, secure mail management you can view online at any time. No more lost documents, uncertain delivery times, or personal addresses mixed up with your business.
Whether you run a family SCI, are a fast-growing entrepreneur or a retiree managing your assets from afar, Paperboy adapts to your situation. You can discover our business address in Narbonne, France or read our guide on registering your business at home to compare your options.
To go even further, Paperboy supports you from today. With our turnkey partner service, all your transfer formalities are handled. From drafting the minutes to filing on the INPI portal, including publishing the legal notice, you no longer have to worry about it. Feel free to contact us directly to learn more about this service, our prices and our turnaround times.
Get ahead: choose a Paperboy business address today, and let us watch over your address while you focus on what matters.
