France’s Talent Passport | An Incomplete Guide

Overview:

The French Talent Passport (VLS-TS Passeport Talent) program, which started in 2017, is issued to overseas elites who can make significant contributions to the French economy, society, or culture. Although the visa is named “Talent Passport,” the requirements in some areas are not very high.

Specifically, the Talent Passport is issued to outstanding individuals in the following 11 categories:

1. Highly Skilled Employees: Applicants need to have at least a master’s degree or equivalent professional certificate, sign an employment contract of more than 3 months with a company in France, with an annual salary not less than 41,933 euros.

2. High-Tech Startup Employees: Applicants must be employed in an R&D position at a French high-tech startup, with an annual salary not less than 41,933 euros.

3. EU Blue Card: There are two paths for this category:

• You have obtained an EU Blue Card in another EU region and have lived there for over 18 months, preparing to move to France;

• Or, you directly apply for an EU Blue Card in France.

The criteria for the French EU Blue Card include being highly skilled with a university degree or over five years of relevant industry experience, with an annual salary not less than 53,856.50 euros.

For detailed information about the EU Blue Card, you can refer to our summary: EU Blue Card | An Incomplete Guide.

4. Multinational Company Overseas Employees: You are employed by a multinational company and assigned to France, having worked at the company for more than 3 months, with an annual salary not less than 377,395.20 euros.

5. Researchers: You have at least a master’s degree, going to France for research work or university teaching, and have signed a contract with a recognized French research institution or higher education institution, with materials proving your status as a researcher and your research direction.

6. Entrepreneurs: You have at least a master’s degree or over five years of relevant industry experience, planning to establish a company in the business, arts, or industrial sectors in France, and provide a detailed, credible business plan proving the prospects of your company.

7. Investors: You need to directly invest in a French company, with an investment amount not less than 300,000 euros, and create or maintain a certain number of French jobs.

• If you invest in a French company personally, owning at least 10% of the company shares and having the final dividend rights;

• If you invest on behalf of a company, you need to personally operate this French company or own at least 30% of its shares.

8. Innovative project recognised by a public body: You need to bring to France an innovative business system recognized by the public.

9. Corporate Legal Representatives: You are a corporate legal representative of a French company, having signed a work contract of more than three months, with an annual salary not less than 62,899.20 euros.

10. Artists and cultural profession: You are an artist, actor, or writer, with sufficient prestige or qualifications.

11. Internationally Renowned Personalities: You work in the fields of science, arts, literature, sports, education, etc., and are preparing to go to France, with a very high reputation or prestige.

Application Process:

Once you confirm that you meet the eligibility criteria and are willing to move to France, you can apply for the French Talent Passport.

The first step in the application process is to prepare all the required documents, fill out the application form through the French Visa website, pay the visa fee, and submit the visa application.

Then, you need to go to the nearest French consulate for an in-person interview for the Talent Passport at the scheduled time.

Required documents for this program include:

• Applicant’s Identity Documents: This includes all main and secondary applicants’ passports valid for more than three months, with at least two blank pages; two passport-sized photos; birth certificates, marriage certificates, and other documents proving the relationship between main and secondary applicants.

• Application Form: You need to fill out a visa application form online.

• Integration into France Declaration: You need to sign a Republican Integration Contract (RIC) document.

• Proof of Health Insurance: You need to purchase health insurance for each main and secondary applicant, valid in the Schengen Area, with a coverage of at least $30,000 per year.

• Proof of Eligibility: The main applicant must provide a series of documents proving eligibility for the Talent Passport in a certain area.

• Criminal Record Certificate: Each adult main and secondary applicant must provide a criminal record certificate issued by law enforcement agencies where they live.

• Proof of Paid Visa Fee: The visa fee is 225 euros.

All documents from outside France must be notarized; all non-French documents must be translated into French.

The official processing time for the Talent Passport is only 10 days, and you can track the progress of your application online.

Dependents:

For the French Talent Passport, the main applicant’s spouse, and children under 18 can apply for a family visa to settle in France together.

Other direct relatives of the main applicant, such as parents and adult children, can also apply for a family visa independently, but the approval of this type of visa will vary from person to person.

Visa Validity:

The VLS-TS Passeport Talent is valid for a period ranging from three months to one year. Before the visa expires, you need to enter France and apply at the French Immigration Office (OFII – Office Français de l’Immigration et de l’Intégration) to cancel the VLS-TS and apply for a residence permit (Carte de Séjour) at a local French police station.

The first Carte de Séjour temporaire you receive is a temporary residence permit valid for only one year.

After the temporary residence permit expires, you can continually renew the Carte de Séjour pluriannuelle under the original conditions, which is a long-term residence permit with a maximum validity of four years.

After living in France for a while, if you want to settle here permanently, there are four possible paths:

1. Ten-Year Residence Permit (Carte de Résident de 10 ans): If you have legally resided in France for three years, have a French language proficiency of A2 or higher, and meet one of the following three conditions, you are eligible to apply for a French ten-year residence permit:

• Holding a family reunion visa;

• Or, wanting to retire in France and live here permanently;

• Or, your country has an agreement with France (from former French colonies, etc.).

2. EU Long-Term Residence (Carte de Résident Longue Durée – UE): If you hold an EU Blue Card, or have legally resided in France for five years, not leaving for more than six months each year and not exceeding ten months in total; have a normal job and buy health insurance valid in the Schengen Area; have an annual income not less than 21,203 euros; have a French language proficiency of A2 or higher; and hold a work visa, Talent Passport, or family reunion visa, then you are eligible to apply for EU permanent residence in France.

The EU permanent residence is valid for ten years and can be renewed upon expiration.

3. Permanent Residence in France (Carte de Résident permanent): Applying for permanent residence in France requires a long wait. You are only eligible to apply for permanent residence when your ten-year residence permit or EU long-term residence is about to expire, i.e., after a full ten years.

However, if you are over 60 years old and have had two consecutive Carte de Séjour expire, you can automatically obtain permanent residence in France.

French permanent residence is a permit valid for life in the Schengen Area without further procedures.

4. French Citizenship: If you have legally resided in France for five years, meet the conditions of being at least 18 years old, have not committed any crimes, have continuously paid taxes locally for five years and have sufficient income, and have a French language proficiency of B1 or higher, you are eligible to apply for naturalization in France.