France Talent – Qualified Employee residence permit

Non-European nationals who meet the pay threshold and qualify under one of the three employment routes.

• Be a non-European national

  The guidance addresses foreign nationals who are not European nationals.

  service-public.fr · checked 5 days agoSource

• Meet the pay threshold

  Annual gross pay must be at least €39,582.

  service-public.fr · checked 5 days agoSource

• Qualify under one employment route

  Meet the conditions for qualified employee, employee of an innovative company, or employee on an intra-group assignment, as set out below.

  service-public.fr · checked 5 days agoSource

• Qualified employee routeSometimes needed

  For this route, have a qualification obtained in France that is at least equivalent to a master's degree, or a nationally authorised higher-education institution's level-1 qualification labelled by the Conférence des grandes écoles; also have an employment contract lasting more than three months.

  service-public.fr · checked 5 days agoSource

• Innovative-company routeSometimes needed

  For this route, be recruited by a young innovative company or a company recognised as innovative by the Ministry of the Economy, for duties directly linked to its research and development project.

  service-public.fr · checked 5 days agoSource

• Intra-group assignment routeSometimes needed

  For this route, be employed by a company established abroad, move to France for salaried work between establishments of the same company or companies in the same group, have at least three months' service in the group, and have an employment contract with the company employing you in France.

  service-public.fr · checked 5 days agoSource

• Meet professional rules if applicableSometimes needed

  If the occupation is regulated, provide evidence that you meet its conditions for practising.

  service-public.fr · checked 5 days agoSource

• Long-stay visa applicationfrance-visas.gouv.fr · checked 5 days agoSource€99 per person
• First residence card: €300 tax and €50 stamp dutyservice-public.fr · checked 5 days agoSource€350 per person
• Decision timeFrance-Visas says visa decisions generally take 15 days and can take up to 45 days in particular cases. Its FAQ says processing varies with nationality, reason for travel and local conditions; it does not publish a separate time for this route.2 weeks to 6 weeks

1. Get ready

   • Check which employment route applies

     Check the conditions for qualified employees, innovative-company employees or intra-group assignees, including the €39,582 annual gross-pay threshold.

     You’ll need: Employment contract, Evidence for the applicable employment route

   • Prepare your visa documents

     Use France-Visas to identify the supporting documents for your situation and prepare your travel document, photographs and evidence for your application.

     You’ll need: Travel document, Two recent identity photographs, Supporting documents identified by France-Visas

2. Apply

   • Complete the visa application online

     Start the visa application online through France-Visas.

     You’ll need: Travel document, Supporting documents

3. Visa

   • Attend your visa appointment

     Take your completed application to the consulate or its service provider for document checks, payment and biometrics.

     You’ll need: Completed visa application, Supporting documents, Passport

   • Collect your passport

     Follow the application and collect your passport when the visa centre notifies you.

     You’ll need: Passport

4. Travel

   • Travel to France

     When you arrive

     Travel with your passport and long-stay visa.

     You’ll need: Passport, Long-stay visa

5. Settle in

   • Prepare the residence-card application

     When you arrive

     Gather the documents listed for your employment route, including identity and address evidence, an e-photo, employer evidence and a signed commitment to respect the principles of the Republic.

     You’ll need: Valid long-stay visa, Identity document, Proof of address less than six months old, E-photo code, Employer evidence, Signed commitment to respect the principles of the Republic, Route-specific evidence

   • Apply for your residence card online

     When you arrive

     If your intended stay is at least one year and you hold a long-stay visa, apply online within two months of entering France.

     You’ll need: Long-stay visa, Residence-card supporting documents

   • Pay the tax and collect your card

     If the card is granted, pay €350 in fiscal stamps and present proof of payment when collecting it from the prefecture or sub-prefecture.

     You’ll need: Proof of payment of the tax and stamp duty

A multi-year residence card; a spouse and minor children may use the accompanying-family procedure to obtain « talent-famille » residence cards.

• La démarche d'obtention de visa - France-Visasfrance-visas.gouv.frOfficial
• france-visas.gouv.fr/web/france-visas/faqOfficial
• Carte talent : carte de séjour pluriannuelle d'un étranger en France | Service Publicservice-public.frOfficial

Japper is an AI immigration assistant. It gives general information from official sources, not legal advice, and it can be wrong. For your own case, ask a licensed advisor.