The Department for International Trade in France helps UK companies to expand into France and also help French companies to trade with the UK.
The Department for International Trade in France offers expertise and contacts through its extensive network of specialists in the UK, and staff in the British Embassy in Paris, Consulate-General in Bordeaux and Trade Office in Lyon.
DIT offices in France
| Capital | Paris |
| DIT office 1 | Department for International Trade France British Embassy 35, rue du Faubourg St Honoré 75383 Paris Cedex 08 France |
| Telephone | +33 (0) 1 44 51 34 00 |
| commercialenquiries.paris@fco.gov.uk |
DIT office in Lyon
| DIT office 2 | Department for International Trade Lyon Le Lugdunum 5, place Jules Ferry 69006 Lyon France |
| Telephone | +33 (0) 1 44 51 34 00 |
| commercialenquiries.paris@fco.gov.uk | |
| Opening hours | Visits are by appointment only, please call +33 (0)4 72 62 99 55 for a meeting. |
DIT office in Bordeaux
| DIT office 3 | Department for International Trade Bordeaux British Consulate 353, Boulevard du Président Wilson 33073 Bordeaux Cedex France |
| Telephone | +33 (0) 1 44 51 34 00 |
| commercialenquiries.paris@fco.gov.uk | |
| Opening hours | Monday to Friday: 9 am to 5 pm To enter the Embassy you must have a pre-arranged appointment and photographic ID |
Overseas companies in the UK
An overseas company wants to set up a place of business in the UK must register with Companies House. You must register your overseas company within one month of opening for business in the UK.
If you do not have a base in the UK then you do not need to register.
Our accountants can help you to register your overseas company.
Get information about a British company
You may get information about a British Company from the Companies House in the UK. The information you can get include the following:
- Signed and approved Company accounts
- Confirmation statement
- The company date of incorporation
- Company names including company name change history, if applicable.
- Current and past company registered office addresses
- company registration numbers issued by Companies House.
- Current and past company directors and secretary’s details
- The company’s current trading status – active or dissolved
- insolvency information, if applicable.
Certificate of good standing for a British company
The certificate of good standing certifies that your company has been in continuous, unbroken existence since its incorporation and that no action is currently being taken to strike it off the Companies House register.
When a certificate of good standing is needed?
If you would like to register a branch overseas such as in Hong Kong or Malaysia or Singapore, the Registrar of Companies in the home country would require the certification that your UK company is in compliance and still active. Banks, lenders, a business corporation based overseas that collaborate with your UK company would require you to provide them with a certificate of good standing to prove the existence of your company at the time of entering into a business transaction with you.
Department for International Trade offices worldwide
Click here for other Department for International Trade offices worldwide contact information.
Good luck with your business venture.
