Can You Work as a Freelance Model in France?

Short answer: if you live in France or come from outside the EU, you can't legally work as a freelance model in France — you have to be employed, usually through a licensed agency. If you're a registered self-employed model in another EU/EEA country and only come to France for specific jobs, you can invoice clients directly.

This question came from our Modelsider community feed:

"So in France you're not allowed to work freelance as a model, only through agency. But then why do I see so many unsigned models working in Paris? How do they invoice the company? Which legal tax status do they have?"

It's a question a lot of models ask, so we put it to Ekaterina Ozhiganova, Founding President of Model Law. Her answer shows that it depends on one thing: where you are based and registered.

Ekaterina Ozhiganova's answer

Two situations need to be distinguished.

1. Models based in France, or non-EU models

If you live in France, or if you are a non-EU model, you cannot legally work as a freelance model. Under French law (Article L. 7123-3 of the Labour Code), any contract under which a person is paid for modelling services is presumed to be an employment contract. This means you have to be employed, usually by a licensed modelling agency, or directly by the client, instead of invoicing as a self-employed worker.

To our knowledge, some unsigned models work around this by registering as self-employed under another activity, such as hostessing, and invoicing smaller clients who are willing to work outside the usual agency–model–client framework. This is risky for the client. A court can requalify the arrangement as an employment contract, and the client may then face penalties for undeclared work.

2. Models established as freelancers in another EU/EEA country

The situation is different if you are registered as a self-employed model in another EU or EEA country, where you usually work, and you come to France temporarily for specific jobs. In that case, the presumption of employment does not apply (Article L. 7123-4-1 of the Labour Code). You can invoice clients directly or, if you are booked through an agency, ask to keep your self-employed status and invoice the agency. Agencies are required to accept such requests, but in practice this remains very difficult to put into place.

— Ekaterina Ozhiganova, Founding President, Model Law

FAQ

Is it illegal to work as a freelance model in Paris? For models based in France and non-EU models, yes — modelling work is presumed to be employment, so you need to be employed by an agency or the client.

Can I register as self-employed under another activity and invoice for modelling? Some unsigned models do this, but a court can requalify it as employment, and the client risks penalties for undeclared work.

I'm a freelance model in Germany / Spain / Italy. Can I take a job in Paris? Yes, if you're registered as self-employed there, usually work there, and come to France temporarily. You can invoice the client directly.

Can a French agency refuse to let me invoice as self-employed? Legally, agencies must accept the request from an EU/EEA-registered freelancer. In practice, it's often hard to arrange.

Thanks to Model Law

This article is based on an answer from Ekaterina Ozhiganova, Founding President of Model Law. Thank you for helping our community understand the rules.

This article is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change and every case is different — if you're planning to work in France, check your situation with a lawyer or accountant.