France's 'talent passport' let’s highly-skilled foreign workers live and work in France for an initial four-year period.
Who's Eligible?
The 'passeport talent' is tailored for non-EU nationals who show promise for significant contributions to France's economy or culture. This includes individuals from highly qualified researchers and artists to those distinguished in science, literature, arts, academia, education, or sports. Entrepreneurs investing a minimum of €30,000 are also eligible, provided they meet specific criteria, such as possessing a Master's degree or five years of professional experience.
Applicants include employees or founders of innovative enterprises, individuals posted in France by international companies, and legal company representatives overseeing affairs in the country.
Language Requirements
While France has tightened language proficiency requirements for some residency cards, the talent passport remains unaffected. Stricter language rules, recently implemented for other cards, have raised the bar from A1 to A2 for some and from A2 to B1 for the 10-year carte de résident. However, talent passport holders are exempt from these linguistic constraints.
Family Inclusion
One of the welcoming aspects of the talent passport is that it extends its benefits to family members. Spouses and children can join the passport holder, receiving multi-year residence permits that also permit over-18s to work in the country. These permits can be acquired from local police stations upon arrival in France.
Duration and Renewal
For eligibility, both the employment contract and stay in France must exceed three months, with highly qualified employees requiring a contract of at least one year. Within two months of arrival, applicants can secure a multi-year residence permit lasting up to four years, renewable every four years, contingent upon continued compliance with salary and work type requisites.
Salary Thresholds
The salary threshold for the talent passport varies by category. From employees of innovative projects to those with national or international reputations, the requirement ranges from the legal minimum wage to 1.8 times that amount. Highly qualified employees must earn 1.5 times the average gross salary in France, while corporate appointees need a salary three times the minimum wage. Performers must exhibit financial resources equivalent to 70% of the minimum wage for each month spent in France.
