Passeport Talent in France: how to get in 2026
The Passeport Talent (Talent Residence Permit from March 2024) is a special category of visas in France, designed to attract entrepreneurs and qualified specialists, scientific researchers and artists. This is a multi-year residence permit that allows you to live and work in France for 4 years. It opens the way for talented people from outside the EU, allowing them to develop their business projects and research in France.
Passeport Talent in France benefits
The Passeport Talent programme in France provides all the same advantages as other residence permit programmes in this country. Individuals who have received a French residence permit are equal in rights and obligations to citizens of the country, with the exception of the right to political vote.
The main difference between the Passeport Talent and other French residence permits is its period: a residence permit is issued for 4 years, whereas other types of residence permits must be renewed every year.
The main advantages of the programme are:
- the opportunity to stay in France for 4 years without limits;
- residence permit for the whole family: the opportunity to include children under the age of majority;
- travel within the EU without restrictions;
- the right to work, run a business, establish a startup;
- the possibility to have accounts in EU banks;
- the possibility of obtaining a second (French) citizenship in 5 years;
- the possibility of treatment in French clinics;
- the possibility of children’s education in schools and universities in France.
The Tranio team helps the clients to become participants in the Passeport Talent programme based on an innovative project. Our managers and lawyers accompany the client until obtaining a residence permit.
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Types of Passeport Talent visa in France
There are several main types of programmes for entrepreneurs, investors, professional employees and representatives of the arts, whose participants are issued a Passeport Talent. Despite such a wide range of programmes, they are all united by the desire of the French government to get the best qualified professionals into its economic community.
Passeport Talent — Projet économique innovant
The programme is designed for those who want to get the opportunity to develop a startup in France.
Required: develop an innovative economic project (startup) and submit your business project for approval by the state business incubator cooperating with the French Tech Visa programme.
It is also necessary to confirm income sufficient for you and your family in France for at least one year. The calculation uses 1.5 times the minimum wage — which is 1,801.8 euros per month before taxes (based on 2025 figures).
Today it is one of the most affordable programmes for obtaining a French Tech Visa. Unlike other Passeport Talent programmes, the development of a startup in France does not impose any restrictions and obligations: hiring employees, proving profits, having a university diploma, etc. Which means it does not carry risks that the residence permit will be cancelled due to non-compliance with the requirements of the programme.
Passeport Talent — Créateur d’entreprise
The programme is designed for investors who want to establish a new company in France or become an owner of an existing one.
Required:
- to show a real project to establish a business in France;
- it can be a commercial or industrial enterprise;
- invest at least 43,243.2 euros in the project;
- the investor must be a certified specialist (Master degree) or have at least 5 years of professional experience.
Passeport Talent — Investisseur économique
The programme is designed for investors who want to invest in an already established business.
Required: to invest in the authorised capital of a French company in an amount exceeding 10% of the shares, provide documents on the assessment of long-term interests in the management of the enterprise.
Passeport Talent — Carte bleue européenne
The programme is designed for hired employees invited by a French company, highly qualified specialists of a narrow professional sphere.
Required:
- to have a permanent employment contract lasting at least one year;
- to have a professional diploma accepted by the French state education system, or to have at least 5 years of professional experience of a comparable level;
- the minimum annual income must exceed 53,836.5 euros.
In addition, it is necessary to attach to the visa application form 15615*01, filled out by the future employer, as well as documents on the financial situation of the French company.
Passeport Talent — Chercheur
The programme is designed for scientific researchers who plan to do their research in France.
Required: to be a certified specialist (Master degree), attach an agreement with the host institution (in French), signed by the French authorities. Such an agreement, concluded with an accredited public or private research institution or higher education institution, is a confirmation of your qualifications as a researcher, as well as the purpose and duration of your stay in France.
In addition to these programmes, there are other Passeport Talent programmes for high qualified employees, artists and athletes, such as: salarié qualifié / entreprise innovante, salarié en mission, mandataire social, renommée nationale ou internationale, profession artistique et culturelle.
Passeport Talent in France: salary requirements for applicants
The minimum wage requirements for a talent passport in France vary depending on the specific category. As of 2025, the minimum annual gross salary for the salarié en mission talent passport is approximately 38,918.88 euros, for the category mandataire social — 64,864.8 euros, for the category projet économique innovant — 32,432.4 euros. These amounts exceed the statutory national minimum wage (SMIC), which as of January 1, 2025, stood at 21,621.6 euros.
Documents to apply for a visa to Passeport Talent in France
a valid passport that will remain valid for the duration of the stay in France;
- a completed and signed visa application form;
- recent passport-sized photographs that meet the French visa photo requirements;
- cover letter, explaining the purpose of the stay in France and why the applicant qualifies for the Talent Passport;
- professional documents, which can include a CV, proof of professional qualifications, work contracts, letters of recommendation, and evidence of previous work or projects;
- documents proving financial stability, such as bank statements or a salary slip, to show that the applicant can support themselves in France;
- for investors or entrepreneurs: evidence of investment or a detailed business plan;
- for researchers: a hosting agreement (convention d’accueil) with a recognized research or academic institution in France;
- a certified diploma of higher education;
- a confirmed residence address in France.
Stages of obtaining a Talent Passeport in France
Obtaining a residence permit consists of the following stages:
- Tranio specialists and partners develop an innovative business project and register it with an accredited startup incubator in France.
- Application for a national long-stay visa D. The investor collects the necessary documents for obtaining a national visa with the help of Tranio specialists and sends them, along with the business project, to the French consulate in his country of residence.
- Applying for a residence permit. After obtaining a national visa D, the investor must enter the country and apply for a residence permit Passeport Talent to the local prefecture or online through the ANEF portal within 3 months.
- Obtaining a residence permit. A month after applying for a Passeport Talent, the investor receives a residence permit card in the prefecture.
All documents must be apostilled and translated into French by French notary translators before being submitted to the authorised bodies.
Passeport Talent for the applicant’s family members
Starting in 2025, the rights of family members of Passeport Talent cardholders have been expanded in France. Now, spouses and minor children can use the simplified procedure for obtaining a residence permit, which allows them to work in France without having to go through the standard family reunification procedure.
The investor can stay in France accompanied by his family, while family members will also be issued a multi-year foreign identity card. It gives the right to carry out professional activities to a spouse and a child (children) if he (they) must turn 18 years old within a year.
Up to three months after arrival in France, the investor and family members should contact the prefecture at their place of residence to obtain a multi-year foreign identity card.
Refusal to issue a Passeport Talent
The main reasons for the refusal to issue a Passeport Talent are an incomplete set of documents, incorrectly filled out documents, cooperation with an uncredited startup incubator, insufficient financial guarantees.
Renewal of the Passeport Talent in France
After the end of the 4-year period, it is possible to extend the French residence permit. After 5 years of living in France and subject to passing the French language exam at the B2 level, the investor can apply for French citizenship.
In addition to language requirements, starting in 2026, a mandatory examination on civic values and principles of the French Republic will be introduced for applicants for long-term residence permits. This exam is conducted within the framework of the integration contract (Contrat d'intégration républicaine, CIR).
Our specialists will help you choose an investment project and apply for a visa under the Passeport Talent programme.
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