France Talent Card (Qualified Employee)

The talent card for qualified employees ("talent, salarié qualifié") is a multi-year residence card for non-EU graduates hired in France (Service-Public). It was formerly called the Talent Passport: a 2025 reform dropped the word "passeport" and grouped the categories under one talent card.

• Salary: at least €39,582 a year gross
• Card length: as long as the contract, up to 4 years
• Work: the job under the contract, with no separate work permit
• Family: spouse and minor children get a "talent famille" card

It's an employer route, not a remote-work visa. The France guide compares it with the other options.

Either a degree at least equivalent to a master's obtained in France and a work contract of more than 3 months, or a job with a young innovative company or a company recognized as innovative by the economy ministry; in both cases a gross salary of at least €39,582 a year.

The salary threshold, €39,582 a year, is the average gross reference salary set by the French government (Service-Public). It applies to the main applicant only.

Employees of innovative companies can also apply through the French Tech Visa track, and hires who meet the higher Blue Card salary can use the EU Blue Card.

• a valid passport and the long-stay visa application
• an employment contract of more than 3 months with a gross salary of at least €39,582 a year
• a degree at least equivalent to a master's obtained in France, or proof that the employer is a young innovative company or one recognized as innovative by the economy ministry

The consulate and the ANEF online form set the rest of the file, such as photos, proof of address and family documents (Service-Public).

• Long-stay visa: €99 (France-Visas fee list), plus any visa center service charge
• Residence card: €350 (€50 stamp duty plus €300 tax), paid when the card is issued

The card fee rose to this level on May 1, 2026 (Service-Public). Translations, insurance and legal help are extra.

Long-stay visa from the French consulate in the country of residence, then the card online on the ANEF portal within 2 months of arrival.

1. Apply for a long-stay visa marked "talent" at the French consulate in the country of residence (France-Visas).
2. Within 2 months of entering France, apply online for the card on the ANEF portal.
3. Collect the card at the prefecture and pay the fee by tax stamp.

Residents of France switching from another permit file online between 4 and 2 months before it expires. Service-Public says silence from the prefecture after 4 months counts as a refusal (Service-Public).

The card is issued for the length of the work contract, up to 4 years (Service-Public). It can be renewed online between 4 and 2 months before it expires while the job and salary still meet the conditions.

• Long-term residence: Yes, under the general rule: after 5 years of continuous legal residence a holder can apply for the 10-year EU long-term resident card, with French at level B1 and stable resources at least equal to the SMIC.

The 10-year card rules are on Service-Public.

Holding a talent card doesn't change how France taxes income. Service-Public lists no special tax regime for it.

France treats a person as a tax resident when any one of four tests is met: the household or main home is in France, the person spends at least 183 days there in the year, the main professional activity is in France, or the center of economic interests is there (Service-Public). Meeting one test is enough, so staying under 183 days doesn't guarantee non-residence. A tax treaty between France and another country can set different rules.

Anyone who keeps income or a home in another country should check the treaty and ask both tax authorities before the first French return.