French Tech Visa for Employees
Date of update
La French Tech is dedicated to enabling successful start-ups to emerge, through initiatives from members of its ecosystem. French Tech runs numerous initiatives to attract foreign talent. The most recent of these is the French Tech Visa.
The French Tech Visa is a simplified procedure, dedicated to the Tech ecosystem, for three types of international tech talent for the obtention of a multi-year residence permit, known as the “Talent” :
- The French Tech Visa for Founders, dedicated to founders of international start-ups, selected by partner incubators and accelerators.
- The French Tech Visa for Employees, dedicated to international talent recruited by companies based in France and recognised as innovative by the Ministry of the Economy and Finance.
- The French Tech Visa for Investors, dedicated to international investors establishing themselves in France.
Foreign nationals from a third State to the European Union, the European Economic Area or Switzerland who whish to work for a more than 3 months for company based in France have to apply for a residence permit.
Specific requirements apply to Algerian citizens.
Various categories of employees holding an employment contract with an employer established in France may be eligible for a multi-year “Talent” residence permit.
This applies in particular to employees in highly qualified positions who are eligible for the “Talent – Qualified employee” residence permit as employee of an innovative company.
Recognition for the company’s innovative nature
To be recognised as innovative, the company must meet one of the following criteria:
- Criterion 1: be or have been a beneficiary in the last 5 years of public support for innovation; the list of the relevant support mechanisms can be found here.
- Criterion 2: have its capital held, wholly or partly, by an investment entity whose main purpose is to finance or invest in innovative companies.
- Criterion 3: be or have been supported over the last 5 years by a support structure dedicated to innovative companies.
Any innovative company wishing to recruit foreign talent may benefit from this system and request a certificate recognising its innovative nature so as to more easily recruit candidates who are citizens of countries outside the European Union, the European Economic Area or Switzerland.
This application is filed online via the dedicated platform: démarches-simplifiées.fr
This certificate, valid for 3 years, must be attached to the visa and/or residence permit applications for foreign employees in addition to the other supporting documents.
This application is filed online via the dedicated platform démarches-simplifiées.
This certificate, valid for 3 years, must be attached to the visa and/or residence permit applications for foreign employees in addition to the other supporting documents.
Conditions of eligibility
To be eligible for the “Talent – Qualified employee” residence permit as employee of an innovative company, the employees of a company recognised as innovative by the Ministry of Economy must show evidence of:
- Gross annual pay of at least twice the statutory national minimum wage (SMIC), i.e. €43,243.20 as of November 1, 2024.
- A permanent employment contract or a fixed-term employment contract for at least three months with an employer established in France.
- An an active participation in the R&D project and development of the company or any active link with the economic, social, international and environmental development of the project.
The multi-year “Talent” residence permit is equivalent to a work permit.
Length of stay
The maximum duration is four years on a renewable basis.
Helpful tip: If the planned length of stay is less than a year, foreign employees can apply for a long-stay visa equivalent to a residence permit (‘VLS-TS’) marked “Talent”. The VLS-TS must be validated online upon arrival in France via the dedicated platform.
The VLS-TS is valid for up to 12 months. If foreign nationals wish to stay in France beyond this period, they may apply for a four-year “Talent” residence permit.
Procedure
Key Steps
Step 1
The employer requests online a letter certifying the innovative nature of the company via the platform. A number of supporting documents must be provided with the application to prove that one of the criteria is met.
Step 2
Employees apply for their long-stay visa and/or residence permit, attaching the certificate and other supporting documents. The procedure differs when the applicant is already residing in France.
Residence outside France
Applicants living outside France should apply to the French consular authorities in their usual place of residence.
The application for a “Talent” long-stay visa authorising entry into French territory for the foreign employee is initiated on the official France-visas website.
The procedure should be initiated no earlier than three months before the date of arrival in France.
Once in France, the foreign talent must apply upon arrival for the relevant Talent passport on the dedicated platform in order to finalize the application for the residence permit.
Once the application is validated by the Prefecture via the platform, the foreign talent will receive a certificate of approval which will be equivalent to a residence permit until the talent goes to the appointment at the Prefecture to get the definitive residence permit.
Between the application and the delivery of the residence permit, the foreign talent can check the status of his or her application on his or her online account, answer to any request to complete his or her file, and check the decisions made.
Residence in France
If applicants are already living in France under a different type of residence permit, they will have to apply for a change of status on the dedicated website. They will be asked to prove their eligibility for the residence permit requested.
The procedure should be initiated between 4 to 2 months before the previous residence permit expires.
Between the application and the delivery of the residence permit, the foreign talent can check the status of his or her application on his or her online account, answer to any request to complete his or her file, and check the decisions made.
Documents required
Applicants can obtain a list of exactly which documents are required from the authority responsible for handling the application and on France-visas website.
As an indication, hereafter a list of documents that must be submitted with an application for a “Talent – Qualified employee” residence permit as employees of a company recognised as innovative by the Ministry of Economy“.
Cost
Applicants must pay a tax of €200 when the permit is issued. In addition to this tax, stamp duty of €25 is also charged on residence permits. The payment of the Tax and the stamp can be submitted online.
In addition to this administrative cost of €225, the long-stay visa authorizing entry into France costs €99.
Extending the stay
Renewal
Renewal applications must be submitted between 4 to 2 months before the residence permit expires on the dedicated website.
Applicants must produce documents showing that they continue to meet the conditions of issuance of their permit as well as a certificate of activity from their employer or a certificate of professional activity for the last 12 months uploaded by the employee to the website mesdroitssociaux.gouv.fr.
Administrative cost: €225
Change of status
In the event of a change in the professional situation of the talent, a change of status may be considered 3 months before the expiration of the residence permit in the case of an application for a Talent Passport on the dedicated platform or two months for any other type of residence permits at the Prefecture of his or her place of residence. It will be necessary to meet the eligibility requirements of the new residence permit requested.
Residence card
At the end of 5 years of legal and uninterrupted residence in France, workers in this category may apply for the resident card entitling the bearer to reside on French soil and engage in any professional activity (provide they hold the necessary diplomas, if working in a regulated professions).
Residence cards are issued for 10 years we have a renewable basis.
Accompanying Family
The spouse and dependent children of the holder of a “Talent” residence permit have accompanying family status.
The spouse should apply, and will be issued with a “Talent – Family” residence permit. This permit authorizes the family to stay and undertake any paid employment in France as long as the foreign employee’s residence permit is valid.
Administrative cost: €225 for the spouse’s residence permit and €99 per visa issued to each member of the accompanying family.