Qualiopi for foreign training organizations: who needs it and how to get it

Updated 29 September 2026

Training OrganizationsCertification

Qualiopiforeign training providersactivity declarationrepresentative in Francecertification

A foreign training organization needs Qualiopi, the French quality certification for training providers, only when its services for learners in France are paid for by public or pooled funds: skills operators (OPCO), the personal training account (CPF), France Travail, the regions, the State or Agefiph. Before the audit, it files an activity declaration in France and, if its head office is abroad, appoints a representative domiciled in France. From 1 November 2026, audits rely on the framework updated by decree no. 2026-728: seven criteria, 33 indicators.

What Qualiopi is

Article L6316-1 of the French Labour Code (Code du travail) requires quality certification from providers of skills development actions funded by an OPCO, a Transitions Pro commission, the State, the regions, the Caisse des dépôts (which runs the CPF), France Travail or Agefiph. The obligation has applied since 1 January 2022. It covers four categories of actions (article L6313-1): training, skills assessments (bilans de compétences), validation of prior experience (VAE) and apprenticeship training.

The certification is issued for three years (article R6316-2). The requirement is assessed on the date of the agreement with the funder, on the date of its funding approval or, for the CPF, on the date the Caisse des dépôts finds that the provider meets the terms of use of the CPF platform (article R6316-8).

Qualiopi is not a licence to train. Without it, an organization can still train in France, but not with this funding.

When a foreign provider needs it

Situation	Qualiopi required
Training for learners in France funded by an OPCO, the CPF, France Travail, a region, the State or Agefiph	Yes
Training paid by a client company from its own budget, with no funding from these bodies	No
Training delivered abroad, with no French funding	No

Prerequisites for a foreign organization

The activity declaration (déclaration d'activité). Any provider of training actions files a declaration with the regional prefect within three months of its first training agreement (article R6351-1). The registration number, often called the NDA, is issued within two months of a complete file. Until then, the organization is deemed declared (article R6351-6).

A representative in France. A training organization active in France with its head office outside France must appoint a representative domiciled in France. The representative is authorised to meet the legal obligations on its behalf and must be registered with the French single business formalities body. The declaration is then filed with the regional prefect of the representative's place of residence (article R6351-3). This does not apply to organizations based in another EU or EEA state that operate in France only occasionally.

Establishment or representative. The official declaration form offers two options: declare an establishment in France, or designate a representative. For a foreign organization, the representative signs the declaration. The form asks for a SIRET number and supporting documents: proof of SIREN number, the director's criminal record extract, the first training agreement, the list of trainers. Confirm with the regional labour administration (DREETS) which identifier applies to your set-up.

The representative's role in the audit. According to France compétences, the representative in France is responsible for compliance with the quality criteria on behalf of the foreign organization. Audits are conducted with the representative, who collects the evidence from the foreign organization.

Before the initial audit, the certification body collects the SIREN number and the activity declaration number or proof of filing (order of 6 June 2019). The declaration comes first.

Certification bodies

Qualiopi is issued by a certification body accredited by Cofrac, the French accreditation committee, or by another accreditation body that has signed the European multilateral agreement (article L6316-2). In some specialised sectors, a labelling body recognised by France compétences can issue it instead. You choose it and sign a contract with it. The audit takes place in the organization's premises. Where there are no dedicated premises, the certification body and the representative in France can agree on the audit location.

The 2026 framework

Decree no. 2026-728 of 1 August 2026 updates the national quality framework (Référentiel national qualité). It comes into force on 1 November 2026. The seven criteria remain; the number of indicators goes from 32 to 33, set out in the decree's annex. The seven criteria cover:

public information on services, lead times and results;
identification of objectives and adaptation to beneficiaries at the design stage;
adaptation of services and support to beneficiaries;
adequacy of teaching, technical and supervisory resources;
qualification and skills development of staff;
involvement of the provider in its professional environment;
collection and use of stakeholder feedback.

A foreign organization starting its process now will be audited against this version. The details are in our article on decree 2026-728.

Do higher education institutions need Qualiopi?

France compétences' answer is no for institutions covered by paragraph II of article L6316-4. They are deemed to meet the obligation and do not use the Qualiopi mark. This covers:

public higher education institutions accredited after evaluation by the HCERES;
private institutions of public interest (EESPIG) evaluated by the advisory committee for private higher education (CCESP);
institutions accredited to award an engineering degree after evaluation by the CTI.

The list refers only to these French evaluation procedures. A foreign university that operates in France outside them is not covered by the exemption. To access the funding above, it follows the ordinary route described here.

Steps

Check the funding. No public or pooled funding, no Qualiopi obligation.
Choose the set-up. An establishment in France or a representative domiciled in France. See opening a school or training programme in France.
File the activity declaration. Within three months of the first training agreement. The number is issued within two months of a complete file.
Build the quality system. Evidence for each indicator, accessible to the representative.
Contract with a certification body and prepare the initial audit.
Keep the certification alive. A surveillance audit takes place between the 14th and 22nd month, then a renewal audit before the end of the three years.

Frequently asked questions

Can a foreign organization be Qualiopi certified? Yes. France compétences describes the case of a provider with its head office abroad and a training site in France: it files an activity declaration and appoints a representative in France.

Do we need to create a French subsidiary? No text cited here requires one. The declaration form allows either an establishment in France or a representative domiciled in France.

Does Qualiopi make our qualifications recognised in France? No. Qualiopi certifies the provider's processes. Recognition of a qualification goes through the RNCP: see RNCP certification for foreign institutions.

Key takeaways

Qualiopi is required only for training funded by an OPCO, the CPF, France Travail, the regions, the State, Agefiph or Transitions Pro.
A foreign organization first files an activity declaration and, with a head office abroad, appoints a representative in France.
The certification body is accredited by Cofrac or by another signatory of the European multilateral agreement.
From 1 November 2026: seven criteria, 33 indicators.
French higher education institutions evaluated by the HCERES, the CCESP or the CTI are exempt; foreign ones are not on that list.

Sources

A foreign organization has two files to build at once: the set-up in France and the quality system. Mentivis supports both: activity declaration, evidence file, audit preparation. See Qualiopi support

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