“Talent Highly qualified– European Union Blue Card” status
In France, employers can recruit international talent to meet a specific expertise requirement. Highly qualified employees from non-EU countries can obtain “Talent –European Union Blue Card” status to work and reside in France for more than three months, subject to conditions regarding their qualifications, employment and salary.
In a nutshell
- The “Talent – European Union Blue Card” status is for highly qualified employees recruited by an employer established in France.
- It enables them to reside and work in France for up to four years, which is renewable.
- It is issued subject to requirements regarding qualifications or experience, employment contract and salary level.
- This residence permit serves as a work permit.
- Accompanying family members can also obtain a talent residence permit authorizing them to work.
Who does it apply to?
The “Talent – European Union Blue Card” status is for nationals of countries outside the European Union, the European Economic Area and Switzerland who are recruited by an employer established in France for a highly skilled position.
Algerian citizens, however, are subject to the specific provisions of the Franco-Algerian agreement.
European blue card holders
Holders of a European Union Blue Card issued by another EU member state can apply for this card in France, subject to a minimum period of prior residence in the EU (12 months minimum). They must apply within one month of entering France. This residence period is reduced to six months starting with their second visit to an EU member state.
What are the eligibility requirements?
A foreign employee can obtain the multi-year “Talent – European Union Blue Card” residence permit if they meet the following conditions:
- Have a permanent or fixed-term employment contract of at least six months with an employer established in France.
- Hold a diploma equivalent to at least three years of higher education or have five years of professional experience at a comparable level.
- Earn an annual gross salary at least equal to 1.5 times the average annual gross reference salary, i.e. €59,373 as of August 31, 2025.
What activities are permitted?
The “Talent – European Union Blue Card” status enables the holder to reside in France and work in paid employment
Candidate already in France
It is possible to recruit an international candidate already present in France under the “Talent – European Union Blue Card” status without taking any further steps, provided that the new job offered continues to meet the eligibility requirements of this status.
However, before hiring, the new employer must verify the validity of the residence permit.
What is the length of the authorized stay?
The duration of the residence permit depends on the length of the employment contract:
- When the contract is for at least two years, the residence permit is issued for a maximum of four years.
- When the contract is for less than two years, the permit is issued for a period equivalent to the contract’s duration plus three months, up to a maximum of two years.
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), 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 – European Union Blue Card” status?
When the employee resides outside of France, the application must be submitted to the relevant French consular authorities.
- 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 procedure can be initiated up to three months before their 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.
- A certificate of approval is issued while the applicant is waiting for the residence permit to be issued by the Prefecture.
If the employee already resides in France with another residence permit, they must submit a change of status application on the dedicated platform.
The application must be submitted no earlier than four months and no later than two months before the expiry of the current permit. If the residence permit application is submitted individually, the employer must assist their future employee with the process.
The applicant must demonstrate that they meet all the eligibility requirements for the “Talent” permit.
Bon à savoir
Entre le dépôt de la demande et la remise du titre de séjour, le talent étranger peut consulter sur son compte en ligne l’état de sa demande, répondre à d’éventuelles demandes pour compléter son dossier et prendre connaissance des décisions prises.
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 is payable upon submission of the residence permit at the Prefecture.
In addition to this fee, there is the cost of the long-stay visa, which is €99.
How to extend your 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 “Talent” permit applications, or at the Prefecture of the applicant’s place of residence for other categories of residence permits, provided that the requirements of the new permit are met.
After five years of regular and uninterrupted residence in France, employees can, under certain conditions, apply for a renewable 10-year residence permit.
Holders of a “Talent – European Union Blue Card” permit may also, under certain conditions, be eligible for a renewable 10-year EU long-term residence permit, provided they can demonstrate two years of residency in France under this permit and three years of continuous and legal residence in the European Union under an eligible permit: European Union Blue Card, national residence permit issued to foreign nationals in highly skilled employment, “Researcher” residence permit, or a residence permit issued under refugee status or subsidiary protection.
What about accompagnying family members?
The spouse and dependent minor children of a holder of a “Talent” residence permit can benefit from accompanying family status.
The spouse can obtain a “Talent – Family” residence permit, authorizing them to reside and work for the duration of the employee’s permit.
For further information, please visit our dedicated page: Accompanying Family (Link to dedicated page)
At a glance
This page explains the recruitment of highly qualified employees and the rules applicable to the “Talent – EU Blue Card” immigration status in France. It is based on institutional sources such as the French Ministry of the Interior, the MEAE, France-Visas, European legal texts and Business France. It presents information covering eligibility conditions for this immigration status and the procedures to be completed by both the talent and their employer. It uses the example of a company established in France recruiting a highly qualified international talent.