France Talent Passport:
Qualified employee
French visa route for skilled employees
France’s Talent Passport – Qualified Employee is a multi-year work and residence permit for foreign nationals who want to work in France for more than 3 months. This permit may be granted to skilled employees who hold a diploma earned at an institute of higher learning accredited at the national level at least equivalent to the grade of master or comparable.
Eligibility requirements
To be eligible for a Talent Passport – Qualified Employee, you must:
- Have obtained in France a diploma of Specialized Master’s Degree / Master of Science (labeled by the conference of the colleges) or at least equivalent to the master’s.
- Have an employment contract of more than 3 months that provides for annual gross earnings equal to or greater than €43,243,20 as of 1 November 2024.
How to apply
Applicants living outside of France should apply to the French consular authorities in their usual place of residence.
The application process for a Talent Passport – Qualified Employee consists of the following steps:
- Preparation of the visa and residence permit applications by the international talent.
- Visa application submitted by the international talent to the consulate or French embassy.
- Visa issued.
- Arrival in France.
- Residence permit requested online by the international talent on the dedicated website.
- Residence permit issued by the prefecture where the employee resides in France.
- Stay may be extended by request at the prefecture of the place of residence in France.
If the applicant is already living in France under a different type of residence permit, they will have to apply for a change of status on the dedicated website.
How much it costs
Applicants will need to pay the following fees when applying for a Talent Passport – Qualified Employee:
- The long-stay visa authorizing entry into France costs €99.
- A tax of €200 must be paid to the French Immigration and Citizenship Office (Office français de l’immigration et de l’intégration – OFII) when the permit is issued.
- A stamp duty of €25 is also charged on residence permits.
Processing times
Most applications for this category are processed within 90 days from the date of submission. Please note, the actual processing time remains at the discretion of local authorities and may vary.
How long you can stay
The maximum duration for a Talent Passport – Qualified Employee is 4 years, on a renewable basis.
note:
This page is intended for informational purposes only. Immigration rules are subject to change and may vary based on your individual circumstances. For up-to-date advice and guidance, please contact Smith Stone Walters.
How we can help
If you are looking to relocate to France and require support with the visa process, Smith Stone Walters can help.
Our global immigration team can help assess your eligibility for various routes and support with the preparation and submission of your visa application. To speak to an advisor, please contact us today.
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