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«Talent — family» card in France

A visa for close relatives of foreign nationals holding a «talent» card in France. Family members can work on the same terms as the main card holder and live in France for as long as that status lasts. After five years of continuous residence on the card, renewal is guaranteed.

Source: Service-Public.fr — the official French administration portal

How to file, depending on where you are

The procedure differs depending on where you are at the time of filing.

If you are abroad

  • Apply for a visa at a French consulate
  • On arrival in France, file online through ANEF
  • The timelines are set by the consulate in your country of residence

If you are already in France

  • File online through ANEF within 2 months of entry
  • Or between 4 and 2 months before the VLS/TS or current card expires
  • Choose a convenient time within the filing window you are given

When the programme is not a fit

You are a French or EU citizen and have no connection to a «talent» card holder

A visitor visa or family reunification on the general grounds

You are under 16 and do not plan to carry out professional activity

A standard family reunification visa through the ordinary procedure

What it costs

Fee (droit de timbre)50 EUR
Tax300 EUR
Total government feesThe sum of the mandatory rows in the table. Charges with no official price list are in the list below.350 EUR

Paid separately

  • E-photo — Obtained from an accredited photographer for a separate charge
  • Translation and apostille of foreign documents — If the documents come from abroad, a notarised translation and a Hague Convention apostille are required

Documents to gather

The list of documents depends on your family situation. Some documents are required at the filing stage, others when the card is collected at the prefecture.

  • A valid long-stay visa or residence title in France
  • Passport with copies of all pages (details, dates, entry stamps, visas), or a consular certificate with a photograph, or an identity document with a photograph
  • A certificate of residence no more than 6 months old: a utility bill, a tenancy agreement, a payment receipt, a hotelier's certificate or a letter from a private individual with a copy of their identity document
  • The «talent» card of the spouse or parent (or a copy of their identity document)
  • For reunification with a spouse: an extract from the marriage certificate with the latest marginal note
  • For reunification with a parent: a full copy of the birth certificate stating the parentage (filiation)
  • An e-photo with a code from an accredited photographer
  • A signed undertaking to respect the principles of the Republic (engagement à respecter les principes de la République)
  • Receipts for the tax stamps (paid when the card is collected at the prefecture)

How the process runs

Obtaining the card depends on where you are, but involves several mandatory stages.

  1. 1

    Work out how to file

    Establish whether you are abroad or already in France. If you are abroad, start with the visa at the consulate. If you are in France, file directly online.

  2. 2

    Prepare and collect the documents

    Collect the passport, the certificate of residence (no more than 6 months old), the marriage or birth documents and the card of the spouse or parent. Obtain an e-photo with a code from an accredited photographer.

  3. 3

    Pay for the tax stamps

    Pay €50 for the fee and €300 for the tax in tax stamps. The receipts will be needed when the card is collected at the prefecture.

  4. 4

    Online filing through ANEF

    2 months

    File the application online through the ANEF portal within 2 months of entering France, or between 4 and 2 months before the current document expires. Upload all the scanned documents.

  5. 5

    Consideration by the administration

    up to 4 months

    The prefecture considers the documents. If no answer is received within 4 months, that counts as an implied refusal. It is advisable to renew the receipt online if it expires before the decision arrives.

  6. 6

    Collecting the card at the prefecture

    If the decision is positive, attach the receipts for the tax stamps and collect the card at the prefecture or sub-prefecture for your place of residence. The card is valid for as long as the «talent» card of your spouse or parent remains valid.

Timelines and rights

Work

It permits employed and/or self-employed professional activity. The employer does not need to obtain a work permit, and is also exempt from the tax on hiring a foreign worker.

Who you can bring with you

Only people falling within one of the following categories count as family members.

Spouse
Over 18, lawfully married to the holder of the «talent» card
Adult child of the couple
An adult at the time of filing, who entered France as a minor
A child who wishes to work
Aged 16-18, intending to carry out professional activity in France
The family of a holder of the «talent — carte bleue européenne» card
A spouse and children who lived with them in a European Union state; the application is filed within one month of entering France

Renewal and the grace period

If you have lived in France for at least five years on a «talent-famille» card, its renewal for four years cannot be refused — that is guaranteed by law. This right also applies to family members of holders of the «talent — carte bleue européenne» card, provided they have five years of residence across different European Union states, of which at least the last two years must be in France itself.

Frequently asked questions about «Talent — family» card

Can I work on a «talent-famille» card?
Yes, the card permits both employed and self-employed professional activity. The employer does not have to obtain a work permit (autorisation de travail), and is exempt from the tax on hiring a foreign worker.
How long is the «talent-famille» card valid for?
The card is valid for as long as the «talent» card of your spouse or parent remains valid. The term is set at the moment the card is issued and depends on the status of the main holder.
What are the deadlines for filing after arriving in France?
If you are in France, file online through ANEF within 2 months of entry. If you already hold a VLS/TS or a current card, file between 4 and 2 months before it expires. Family members of holders of the «talent — carte bleue européenne» card coming from European Union states file within one month of entry.
What does the card cost in total?
The sum is €350: €50 for the fee (droit de timbre) and €300 for the tax. Payment is made in tax stamps (timbres fiscaux) when the card is collected at the prefecture. There may also be consular charges if you obtain the visa at a consulate abroad.
What happens if I file after the set deadlines?
If you filed within 2 months of entry, there is no problem. If you missed that deadline but hold a valid VLS/TS, file between 4 and 2 months before it expires. Otherwise you risk breaching the law on residence and should contact the prefecture to clarify your status.
What is the simplified «famille accompagnante» (accompanying family) procedure?
It is a procedure that allows family members to obtain their documents without going through the standard family reunification process. A spouse and children up to the age of majority can join more quickly if one of the spouses holds a «talent» card, an «ICT» card or another qualifying status. The procedure applies even if the family arrives after the main holder or if the marriage was celebrated after arrival in France.
What documents are required when the card is collected at the prefecture?
When you attend the prefecture, bring: the original passport, the original certificate of residence, the originals or certified copies of the marriage or birth certificate, the card of the spouse or parent, the receipts for the tax stamps (€50 and €300), the e-photo with its code and the signed undertaking to respect the principles of the Republic.
How do I file the documents from abroad?
If you are abroad, first apply for a visa at the French consulate for your place of residence. The consulate will grant a long-stay visa (visa de long séjour). Then, after arriving in France, file online through ANEF within 2 months. Both procedures are combined in the single simplified «famille accompagnante» procedure.

Other ways to move to France

Every route in one list — migration programmes: France.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 7 August 2026.