French Tech Visa for Founders

Startup founders may be granted a multiyear residence permit marked «Talent Passport innovative project » if they provide evidence of:

• An innovative business project they want to develop in France.
• Recognition of the project by a public-sector body ;
• Sufficient annual financial means corresponding to the statutory national minimum wage (SMIC), i.e. €21, 621.60  as of November 1, 2024.

The validity period of this permit depends on the nature, characteristics and duration of the proposed project.

The maximum duration is four years on a renewable basis.

International start-up founders can apply for a “Talent Passport – innovative business project” under the French Tech Visa for Founders Procedure.

Key steps

Step 1

Application to one (or several) of the French Tech Visa partner incubators and accelerators, through their regular process of selection, an incubator or accelerator supported by the French Tech Capital, or request of the support from two members of the French Tech ecosystem (research organizations, laboratories, qualified individuals, companies, etc.) who will each issue a letter of support.

Step 2

After being selected by an incubator or accelerator partner of the French Tech, by an incubator or accelerator supported by the French Tech Capital or obtaining the support of two actors of the French Tech ecosystem, the startup founder must apply for the recognition of the innovative nature of his or her project on the dedicated website: demarches-simplifiees.fr/french-tech-visa-for-founders 

If the DRIEETS IDF (Direction générale interdépartementale de l’économie, de l’emploi, du travail et des solidarités Ile-de-France) acknowledges the innovative character of your project according to different criteria, you will receive an acknowledgement letter from the Ministry of the Economy.

Step 3

The DRIEETS IDF will issue an official letter of acknowledgement of the innovative nature of the project.

Step 4

Where to apply

You live outside France

Applicants living outside France should apply to the French consular authorities in their usual place of residence.

The application for a “Talent Passport” long-stay visa authorising entry into French territory for the foreign company leader is initiated on the official France-visas website. Read on to find out all the details.

Upon arrival in France, you will be entitled to work immediately with this visa.

More information on France-visas.gouv.fr

Once in France, the foreign talent must apply upon arrival for the relevant Talent passport 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. 

You are already living 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 to be issued a ‘Talent Passport – Innovative business project’ on the dedicated website. They will be asked to prove their eligibility for the desired 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. 

When should I begin the procedure?

The procedure should be initiated no earlier than three months before the date of arrival in France.

If the applicant is already living in France, the procedure should be initiated three months before the previous residence permit expires.

Applicants must pay a tax of €200 to the French Immigration and Citizenship Office (Office français de l’immigration et de l’intégration – OFII) when the permit is issued. In addition to this tax, stamp duty of €25 is also charged on residence permits.

In addition to this administrative cost of €225, the long-stay visa authorizing entry into France costs €99.

Renewal

Renewal applications must be submitted in the three months before the residence permit expires on the dedicated website.

If the applicant indicates that he/she is continuing with his/her creation project, he/she must be able to:

• justify the reality and the seriousness of his work (state of progress, work accomplished, actions remaining to be carried out…) justifying the extension of the project beyond the planned duration;
• justify sufficient financial means corresponding to the statutory national minimum wage (SMIC), i.e. €21,621.60 as of November 1, 2023.

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 3 months before the expiration of the residence permit in the case of an application for a Talent Passport on the dedicated platform or two months for any other type of residence permits at the Prefecture of his or her place of residence. It will be necessary to meet the eligibility requirements of the new residence permit requested.

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.

The spouse and dependent children of the holder of a Talent Passport permit have accompanying family status.

The spouse should apply, and will be issued with a ‘Talent Passport – 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.