“Talent – Qualified employee”
Recruiting young international graduates in France is possible with a dedicated status. The “Talent – Qualified Employee” status enables a foreign employee holding a master’s degree or equivalent qualification obtained in France to live and work in France.
In a nutshell
- This status is for qualified employees with a master’s degree or equivalent obtained in France, recruited for a position commensurate with their qualifications.
- It is issued subject to the applicant having an employment contract of at least three months and a minimum gross annual salary of €39,582 (amount in effect as of August 31, 2025).
- The “Talent – Qualified Employee” residence permit enables the holder to reside and work in France for up to four years, which is renewable.
- It serves as a work permit for the salaried activity that justified its issuance.
- The spouse and minor children may accompany the permit holder, with the spouse authorized to work in France.
Who does it apply to?
Nationals of a country outside the European Union, the European Economic Area and Switzerland who wish to work in France for more than three months must hold a residence permit authorizing them to work.
The “Talent – Qualified Employee” residence permit may be issued to the following:
- Recent graduates holding a degree at least equivalent to a master’s degree from an accredited higher education institution.
- Employees recruited by a “innovative new company” (JEI) or by a company recognized as innovative by a public body.
- Employees on assignment, moving between subsidiaries within the same business or between businesses within the same group.
Algerian citizens are subject to a specific scheme, separate from the “Talent” one.
Recognized degrees
Recognized degrees include specialized master’s or Master of Science degrees (accredited by the French Association of Higher Education Establishments – Conference of Grandes Écoles) or at least equivalent to a master’s degree (engineering or accounting degrees, etc.).
The “Talent – Qualified Employee” residence permit only enables the holder to engage in the salaried professional activity that justified its issuance.
What are the eligibility requirements?
The qualified employee must demonstrate:
- An annual gross salary at least equal to the average annual gross reference salary set by decree, i.e. €39,582 as of August 31, 2025.
- A permanent employment contract or a fixed-term contract of at least three months with an employer established in France.
- A master’s degree or equivalent obtained in France, or a specialized master’s degree or Master of Science accredited by the French Association of Higher Education Establishments – Conference of Grandes Écoles.
The multi-year “Talent” residence permit serves as a work permit.
What activities are permitted ?
The “Talent – Qualifie Employee” status authorizes its holder to reside in France and carry out a paid professional activity.
Did you know ?
It is possible to recruit an international candidate already present in France under the “Talent – Qualified Employee” status without beginning any new procedures, provided that the new job offered continues to meet the eligibility conditions of this status.
What is the length of the authorized stay ?
The length of the authorized 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 (VL–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 – Qualified Employee” status?
When the employee resides outside of France, the application must be submitted to the French consular authorities in their place 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 procedure can be initiated up to three months before their arrival in France.
- Upon arrival in France, the visa authorizes a professional activity to be carried out.
- 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.
Good to know
Between submitting the application and receiving the residence permit, the foreign national can check the status of their application on their online account, respond to any requests to complete their file and view 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.
- Stampduty 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 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.
At a glance
This page explains the conditions for accessing the “Talent – Qualified Employee” status to recruit international talent who have completed higher education studies in France. It is based on institutional sources such as the French Ministry of the Interior, France-Visas, Campus France and Business France. It presents information covering eligibility criteria, recruitment arrangements and the related administrative procedures. It uses the example of a company in France recruiting an international graduate after they have completed higher education studies in France.