The content of the article
- Advantages of the Talent Passport program
- Types of “talent passport” in France
- Passport of Talent — an innovative economic project (Passeport Talent, projet économique innovant)
- “Passport of Talent” — founder of the company (Passeport Talent, créateur d’entreprise)
- “Passport of talent” — investor in the economy (Passeport Talent, investisseur économique)
- Talent Passport — European blue card (Passeport Talent, Carte bleue européenne)
- “Passport of talent” — researcher (Passeport talent, chercheur)
- Salary requirements for applicants
- Documents for applying for a “talent passport” visa to France
- The stages of obtaining a “talent passport”
- “Talent passport” for the applicant’s family members
- Refusal to issue a “talent passport”
- Renewal of the “passport of talent”
The “Passport of Talent” (Passeport Talent) is a specialized category of visas (French Tech Visa) 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.
Advantages of the Talent Passport program
A residence permit under the Passport of talent program in France provides all the same advantages as any other residence permit in this country. Persons 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 “talent passport” and other French residence permits is its term: a residence permit is issued immediately for 4 years, whereas other types of residence permits must be renewed every year.
The main advantages of the program are as follows:
- the opportunity to stay in France for any number of days without restrictions;
- Residence permit for the whole family: the opportunity to include children under the age of majority;
- moving around The EU without restrictions;
- the right to work, run a business, establish a startup;
- the ability to have accounts in EU banks;
- the possibility of obtaining a second (French) citizenship in 5 years;
- treatment in French clinics;
- education of children in schools and universities in France.
The Tranio team helps its clients become participants in the Talent Passport program based on an innovative project. Our managers and lawyers accompany the client until the final receipt of a residence permit.
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Types of “talent passport” in France
There are several main types of programs for entrepreneurs, investors, professional employees and representatives of the arts, whose participants are issued a French Tech Visa. Despite such a wide range of talent passport programs, they are all united by the desire of the French government to get the best qualified personnel into its economic community.
Passport of Talent — an innovative economic project (Passeport Talent, projet économique innovant)
The program is designed for those who want to get the opportunity to develop a startup in France
It is necessary to: develop an innovative economic project (startup) and submit your business project for implementation in France for approval by the state business accelerator or startup incubator cooperating with the French Tech Visa program.
It is also necessary to confirm income or the availability of funds sufficient to support yourself and your family in France for at least one year. The calculation is based on 1.5 minimum (1766.92 euros per month before taxes (for 2024)) monthly salaries.
Today it is one of the most affordable programs for obtaining a French Tech Visa. Unlike other “passport of talent” programs, the development of a startup in France does not impose any restrictions and obligations: hiring employees, demonstrating profits, having a university diploma, etc., Which means it does not carry risks that the residence permit will be canceled due to non-compliance with the requirements of the program.
“Passport of talent” — founder of the company (Passeport Talent, créateur d’entreprise)
The program is designed for investors who want to establish a new company in France or become the full owner of an existing one.
Necessary:
- To demonstrate a real and solid project to create a business in France.
- It can be a commercial, commercial or industrial enterprise. These three categories are subject to special rules applied in French law.
- Invest at least 30,000 euros in the project.
- The investor must be a certified specialist (at least master’s level) or have at least 5 years of professional experience of a comparable level.
“Passport of talent” — investor in the economy (Passeport Talent, investisseur économique)
The program is designed for investors who want to invest in an existing business.
It is necessary: to invest in the authorized capital of an existing French company in an amount exceeding 10% of the participation shares, to provide documents on the assessment of long-term interests in the management of the enterprise.
Talent Passport — European blue card (Passeport Talent, Carte bleue européenne)
The program is designed for hired employees invited by a French company, highly qualified specialists of a narrow profile.
Necessary:
- have a permanent employment contract lasting at least one year;
- have a diploma recognized by the French state, issued by a higher educational institution and certifying that you have studied at such an institution for at least three years, or have at least 5 years of professional experience of a comparable level;
- The salary must be at least 1.5 times higher than the average basic salary (excluding contributions and deductions), established annually by the decree of the Minister of Immigration (35,891 euros from June 26, 2016).
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.
“Passport of talent” — researcher (Passeport talent, chercheur)
The program is designed for scientific researchers who plan to develop their research in France.
It is necessary to: be a certified specialist (at least a master’s degree), attach an agreement with the host party (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 programs, there are other “talent passport” programs for highly qualified employees, artists and athletes, such as: salarié qualifié/entreprise innovante, salarié en mission, mandataire social, renommée nationale ou internationale, profession artistique et culturelle.
Salary requirements for applicants
The minimum wage requirements for a talent passport in France vary depending on the specific category. As of 2024, the minimum annual gross salary for the “passport of talent” salarié en mission is approximately 38,165,4 euros, for the category “authorized representative (mandataire social)” — 63,609 euros, for the category “innovative project (projet économique innovant)” — 31,804 euros. These amounts exceed the statutory national minimum wage (SMIC), which as of January 1, 2024 was 21,203 euros.
Documents for applying for a “talent passport” visa to France
It is necessary to provide:
- a passport that will be valid for the duration of your stay in France;
- completed and signed visa application form;
- recent photos that meet the requirements of a French visa;
- a cover letter explaining the purpose of staying in France and why the applicant is eligible for a “talent passport”;
- professional documents, which may include resumes, proof of professional qualifications, work contracts, letters of recommendation and evidence of previous work or projects;
- financial guarantees such as bank statements or a salary receipt to show that the applicant can support himself in France;
- for investors or entrepreneurs: proof of investment or a detailed business plan;
- for researchers: a placement 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.
The stages of obtaining a “talent passport”
Obtaining a residence permit consists of the following stages:
- Preparation and collection of documents. At this stage, the investor receives advice from a lawyer and a specialist in the “talent passport” program for startups. Tranio specialists and partners develop a business project and register it with an accredited startup incubator in France.
- Registration of a national visa D. The investor collects the necessary documents for obtaining a national visa with the help of specialists and transmits them together with the business project to the French consulate in his country.
- Applying for a residence permit. After obtaining a national visa in France, the investor must enter the country and apply for a residence permit “talent passport” to the local prefecture within 3 months.
- Obtaining a residence permit. A month after applying for a “talent passport”, the investor receives a residence permit card in the prefecture.
All documents received on the territory of the Russian Federation must be apostilled and translated into French by French notary translators before being submitted to the authorized bodies.
“Talent passport” for the applicant’s family members
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 “talent passport”
The main reasons for the refusal to issue a “talent passport” are an incomplete set of documents, incorrectly filled out documents, cooperation with an uncredited startup incubator, insufficient financial guarantees, and an ill—conceived innovative economic project.
Renewal of the “passport of talent”
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.
Our specialists will help you choose an investment project and apply for a visa under the Passport of Talent program.
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