French Tech Visa for Employees
To attract international talent, France offers the French Tech Visa, a simplified procedure enabling foreign employees of innovative businesses to obtain a multi-year residence permit, equivalent to a work permit.
In a nutshell
- The “French Tech Visa for Employees” procedure facilitates the recruitment of international talent by innovative French businesses.
- It allows for the issuance of a multi-year “Talent – Qualified Employee” residence permit, valid for up to four years, and it is renewable.
- This permit serves as a work authorization, without any additional prior procedures.
- The employing firm must be recognized as innovative by the French government.
Who does it apply to ?
The “French Tech Visa for Employees” procedure is for nationals of countries outside the European Union, the European Economic Area and Switzerland who want to work in France for more than three months.
It grants the “Talent – Qualified Employee – Employee recruited in an Innovative Company” status.
Algerian citizens are subject to a separate, specific status.
French Tech Visa procedure
The French Tech Visa is part of the French Tech strategy, which aims to support successful startups by facilitating the relocation of international talent to France.
There are three versions of the French Tech Visa:
- French Tech Visa for Founders, for founders of international startups.
- French Tech Visa for Employees, for employees recruited by innovative businesses.
- French Tech Visa for Investors, for international investors.
What are the eligibility requirements?
To obtain “Talent – Qualified Employee” residence status as an employee recruited in an innovative business, the applicant must demonstrate:
- A gross annual salary at least equal to the average annual reference gross salary, i.e. €39,582 as of August 31, 2025.
- A permanent or fixed-term employment contract of at least three months with an employer established in France.
- Duties directly related to the business’s research and development project or its economic, social, international or environmental development.
How to have your business recognized as innovative?
To be recognized as innovative, a business must meet at least one of the following criteria:
- Have received public support for innovation within the last five years (list available here).
- Have all or part of its capital held by an investment entity specializing in financing innovative businesses.
- Have received support, within the last five years, from an organization dedicated to supporting innovative businesses.
The firm must apply for a certificate of recognition of innovative status, valid for three years, via the dedicated platform.
This certificate, valid for three years, is required for visa or residence permit applications for foreign employees. It is renewable.
What activities are permitted?
The “Talent – Employee recruited in an Innovative Company” status authorizes its holder to reside in France and undertake paid employment.
The multi-year “Talent” residence permit serves as a work permit for its entire validity period.
Recruit international talent in France
It is possible to recruit an international candidate already present in France under the “Talent – Employee recruited in an Innovative Company” status without initiating any new procedures, provided that the new position offered continues to meet the eligibility requirements of this permit and that the new employer also has the status of an innovative business.
What is the length of the authorized stay ?
The permitted length of stay for a holder of the “Talent – Qualified Employee” permit is four years, which is renewable.
Long-stay visa equivalent to a residence permit
When the intended stay is less than one year, the applicant can obtain a long-stay visa equivalent to a residence permit (VLS-TS) Talent, valid for up to 12 months. This visa must be validated online after arrival in France and then enables the applicant to apply for a “Talent” residence permit, which is valid for four years, provided that they remain in France.
How to obtain “Talent – Employee recruited in an Innovative Company” status?
When the employee resides outside of France, the application must be submitted to the competent French consular authorities in their country of habitual residence.
- The long-stay “Talent” visa application is submitted online on the official France-Visas website. While the visa application process is handled personally, the employer must assist their future employee with the process.
- The process can be initiated up to three months before arrival in France.
- Upon arrival in France, the visa authorizes the employee to work.
- The “Talent” residence permit application is then finalized on the dedicated platform. While the visa application process is handled personally, the employer must assist their future employee with the process.
A certificate of approval is issued while the applicant waits for the residence permit to be issued by the Prefecture.
When an employee already resides in France with another residence permit, they must apply for a change of status on the dedicated platform.
- The application must besubmittedbetween two and four months before the expiry of the current permit. While the visa application process is handled personally, the employer must assist their future employee with the process.
- The applicant mustdemonstratethat they meet all the eligibility requirements for the “Talent” permit.
Good to know
Between submitting the application and receiving the residence permit, the foreign talent can check the status of their application on their online account, respond to any requests to complete their file and learn about the decisions made.
The exact list of required documents is provided to the applicant by the authority responsible for processing the application and is available on the France-Visas website.
For reference, you can find the list of required documents.
The administrative cost includes:
- An administrative fee of €300.
- Stamp duty of €50 upon collection of the residence permit at the Prefecture.
In addition to these fees, there is the cost of the long-stay visa, which is €99.
How to extend the stay in France ?
The renewal application must be submitted no earlier than four months and no later than two months before the expiry of the residence permit via the dedicated online platform.
The applicant must demonstrate that they continue to meet the eligibility requirements, notably by providing proof of recent employment, which can be uploaded to the website mesdroitssociaux.gouv.fr.
The renewal fee is €250.
In the event of a change in professional circumstances, a change of status can be requested via the dedicated platform for a “Talent” permit, or at the Prefecture of the applicant’s place of residence for other categories of residence permits, no earlier than four months and no later than two months before the expiry of the previous residence permit, provided that the requirements of the new permit are met.
After five years of continuous and legal residence in France, an application for a residence permit can be submitted.
This permit authorizes residence and the carrying out of any professional activity (subject to the applicant having the qualifications required for regulated professions).
It is issued for a period of 10 years and is renewable.
What about accompanying family members?
The spouse and dependent minor children of the holder of the “Talent” status can benefit from accompanying family status.
The spouse can obtain a “Talent – Family” residence permit, authorizing the stay and the exercise of any salaried activity for the duration of the validity of the employee’s permit.
At a glance
This page explains the French Tech Visa for Employees procedure, which facilitates the recruitment of international talent by innovative companies in France. It is based on institutional sources such as French Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry for the Economy, the DGE, the French Tech Mission, France-Visas and Business France. It presents information covering eligibility conditions for this immigration status, recognition of the innovative nature of the company and the steps to follow. It uses the example of a start-up recruiting a foreign employee, whether they are already in France or abroad.