France Passport Talent residence permit
A residence permit for skilled professionals, investors and entrepreneurs.
- Highly qualified employees
- researchers
- entrepreneurs
Checked directly against the text of the decree: the law of 26.01.2024 and Décret No. 2025-539 of 13.06.2025 (in force from 16.06.2025) replace the term “passeport talent” with “talent” and at the same time merge the six former grounds into a single “talent” title (plus a new category, “talent — medical and pharmaceutical professions”). The old name is still used in everyday speech and on some websites (including the current text of this offer — “Passport Talent”), but the legally current term is “carte de séjour Talent”.
The arrêté of 21.08.2025 set a reference salary of €39,582 gross/year for the “Talent — salarié qualifié” category; for the European Blue Card (“Talent — carte bleue européenne”) the threshold is 1.5 times higher — €59,373 gross/year (this is confirmed by several independent legal and HR sources from 2025-2026, even though a quick reading of the arrêté itself could give the impression that both categories share the same threshold — on re-checking, the 1.5 multiplier for the Blue Card was confirmed). This replaced the old 2016 base (€35,891).
What the French “Talent” card is
Carte de séjour pluriannuelle « talent » is a multi-year French resident card valid for up to four years. That is its main difference from an ordinary residence permit: there is no annual renewal and no need to assemble the whole document pack again every year.
The category brings together several grounds: qualified employees with an employment contract, company founders, investors, representatives of foreign companies, researchers and artists. Each ground has its own conditions, including an annual income threshold for the employed categories.
The card has a paired category, « talent-famille », for a spouse and children: the family receives a card for the same period and does not go through a separate reunification procedure.
Who it suits
- Highly qualified employees
- Researchers
- Entrepreneurs
- Investors; a degree or experience
- Or a contract meeting the salary threshold
- IT
- Investors
How a residence permit differs from citizenship by investment
A residence permit is the right to live in a country lawfully for a limited period, with renewals. It gives no passport, no right to vote and is almost always tied to a ground: once the ground falls away, the status is not renewed.
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For the individual that means three things. The status has to be maintained: keep the investment, the income or the housing, and file for renewal on time. The status can be lost — for breaching the conditions or for spending too long outside the country. And the status does not convert into citizenship automatically: the naturalisation clock runs separately, and some programmes do not count towards it at all.
In return, a residence permit costs several times less than citizenship by investment and opens up what people most often take it for: lawful residence, a bank account, healthcare, school for the children and travel within Schengen.
Which family members receive the “talent-famille” card
- The spouse of a “talent” card holder, over the age of 18
- The couple’s children who have reached the age of majority and entered France together with the family
The exact make-up and conditions depend on which ground the main card was issued under — we go through it at the consultation.
What the service includes
| Preparing the document pack | |
| Filing | |
| Ongoing support | |
| Language courses— billed separately |
Official terms
Financial requirement
About €30,000 for a business or start-up; raised salary thresholds (€39,582+, €59,373+ for the Blue Card)
Timelines and rights
Review time
A type D visa, then the card through ANEF or the prefecture about 2 months after entry
Right to work
Yes, usually without a separate permit
Residence conditions
Genuine residence, with France as the centre of your life
Source: service-public.gouv.fr — multi-year “talent” card · checked 2026-08-07
Documents and programme requirements
- 1High qualifications / investment / a business
How the process runs
3–6 months- Step 1We determine the “talent” sub-category: employment, founding a company, investment, research, the arts — the whole document pack depends on it.
- Step 2We check that the conditions of the sub-category are met, including the income threshold where one is set.
- Step 3We prepare the dossier and file the application for a long-stay visa or for the card.
- Step 4Issue of the card, valid for up to four years.
- Step 5Arranging “talent-famille” cards for the spouse and children.
What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship
Route to permanent residence
After 5 years of residence — a carte de résident for 10 years
Route to citizenship
Naturalisation after about 5 years
Frequently asked questions
How long is the “Talent” card issued for?
Can the spouse work in France?
Is an employment contract with a French company required?
Residence permit: other options
Compare terms in other countries and delivery formats.
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