More than half of the share capital in an architectural firm must be held by architects. As a general rule, only French and EU nationals can be registered as and bear the title of architect. Non-EU nationals can be registered on the basis of reciprocity. If the reciprocity condition is not fulfilled, a non-EU national can nonetheless practice the profession under certain limited conditions, according to a procedure set by decree.
"Article 2
For the application of this law, the natural persons listed in articles 10 and 11, the companies defined in article 12 as well as the natural persons admitted to bear the title of approved architect in application of the article 37 below.
[...]
Article 9
Only natural persons registered with a regional association of architects in accordance with the provisions of Articles 10 and 11 below may bear the title of architect.
Legal persons registered with a regional association of architects in accordance with the provisions of article 12 below may only bear the title of architectural firm.
Registration on a regional roll confers the right to practice throughout the national territory.
Article 10
Natural persons of French nationality or nationals of a Member State of the European Economic Community who enjoy their civil rights, present the necessary guarantees of morality and fulfill the one of the following conditions:
[...]
Article 11
Natural persons who are nationals of States not members of the European Economic Community are registered, on their request, in a regional register under the same conditions of diploma, certificate, architectural or qualification title, enjoyment of civil rights and morality as the French, if they can take advantage of reciprocity agreements or international commitments.
If this last condition is not fulfilled, they may nevertheless be authorized to practice the profession of architect, according to a procedure fixed by decree.
The same decree specifies the conditions under which a foreign architect may, without being registered with a regional register, be authorized to carry out a specific project in France.
Article 12
With a view to the joint exercise of their profession, architects may establish architectural firms among themselves or with other natural persons. These societies can group architects registered with different regional boards of architects.
[...]
Article 13
When an architectural firm is incorporated in the form of a public limited company or a limited liability company, it must comply with the following rules: [...]
2 ° More than half of the share capital must be held by architects; [...]
4 ° None of the partners can hold more than 50%. 100 of the share capital;
This provision does not apply when the architectural firm is incorporated as a sole proprietorship with limited liability. [...]" (Law n ° 77-2 of January 3, 1977 on architecture, consolidated version of 1 January 1997, Articles 2, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 [google translation])
Law n ° 77-2 of January 3, 1977 on architecture, consolidated version of 1 January 1997, Articles 2, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13
[<a href="https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/loda/id/JORFTEXT000000522423/1997-01-01/">Law</a>]