Talent ‘Business investor’
Date of update
Foreign executives from outside the EU, the EEA or Switzerland who wish to invest in the French economy and settle in France, have to apply for a specific residence permit : the multi-year Talent ‘Business investor’ residence permit.
Foreign company investors who are nationals of the EU, EEA or Switzerland are automatically entitled to pursue their activity in the same way as a French national, without any other formality.
Algerian citizens are subject to the stipulations of the French-Algerian Agreement (refer to the fact sheet on the topic).
Eligibility
Foreign investors wishing to settle in France to undertake a planned investment can apply for a Talent marked ‘Business investor’ if they proceed to a direct investment either:
- Personnally; or
- Via a company they control; or
- Via a company in which they have at least a 30% shareholding.
They also need to meet the following cumulative criteria:
- They are creating or protecting, or committing to create or protect, jobs within the four years following the investment;
- They are investing, or committing to invest, at least €300,000 in fixed tangible or intangible assets.
Direct investments include share capital investments, reinvested earnings or ‘loans between affiliated companies’. Exclusively financial investments are therefore outside the scope of the scheme.
Length of stay
The maximum duration is four years on a renewable basis.
The validity period of this permit is variable and depends on the nature, characteristics and duration of the planned investment in France.
Helpful tip: If the planned length of stay is less than a year, foreign investors can apply for a long-stay visa equivalent to a residence permit (‘VLS-TS’) marked Talent.
This 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
Applying for a residence permit
Residence outside France
Investors 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 company leader is initiated on the official France-visas website.
More information on France-visas
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 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 desired residence permit.
The procedure should be initiated 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.gouv.fr
As an indication, here is a list of documents that must be submitted with an application for a ‘Talent’ residence permit for a business investor.
Cost of the residence permit
Foreign investors 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. Th tax and the stamp can be paid on line.
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 and 2 months before the residence permit expires on the dedicated website.
The investor must present documents proving that he or she continues to meet the conditions for the issuance of the permit. There are two different situations:
- if the investor continues to invest, he/she must provide all documents justifying the continuation of the investment, the amounts already committed (initial or additional) with the maintenance or creation of employment;
- if the investment project can be considered completed, any document justifying a new investment project in the territory.
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 taken.
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 in the three months before the residence permit expires if the talent applies for another Talent permit. They will be required to prove eligibility for the new residence permit requested. It will be two months in the other cases.
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 members
The spouse and dependent children of the holder of a Talent 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.