Eligibility quiz
Have you invested at least €300,000 in France, or made a binding promise to do so?
Benefits
Benefits for youBenefits for you
Live in France
You can live in France for the length of your card, up to four years.
Work in France
You can carry out the commercial activity connected to your project without a separate work permit.
Travel and return
Your valid residence card helps you return to France when you travel with your valid passport.
How to apply
From outside FranceFrom outside France
Find your visa office
Use France-Visas to find the French visa office or application centre that serves the place where you live.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “Which French visa office handles a France-Visas long-stay talent investor visa application from your city?”
Fill in the application
Create a France-Visas account and fill in the long-stay visa application online. You can save it and return to it later.
Fill in the formSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I fill in a France-Visas long-stay talent investor visa application online?”
Validate your visa form
Validate your online application, then print the completed form and your personal document list.
Validate the visa formSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I validate and print my France-Visas long-stay talent investor visa application?”
Gather your documents
Prepare the required documents for your visa and residence applications.
See required documentsBook an appointment
Use the link provided by France-Visas for the country where you live to book your visa appointment.
Book an appointmentSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I book a France-Visas long-stay talent investor visa appointment?”
Go to your appointment
Bring your printed application, passport, photographs, and the required documents and copies to the visa office or application centre. Pay the visa fee as instructed by the office or centre.
Prepare for your appointmentSearches DuckDuckGo for “What do I bring and how do I pay at a France-Visas long-stay talent investor visa appointment?”
Wait for your visa
Wait for the visa decision and answer any requests from the visa office or application centre.
See how long it takesSearches DuckDuckGo for “How long does a France-Visas long-stay talent investor visa decision take?”
Travel to France
If your visa is granted, use it to enter France.
Plan your arrivalSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I enter France with a France-Visas long-stay talent investor visa?”
Once in FranceOnce in France
Validate your visa
If you plan to stay for less than 12 months and have a long-stay visa marked VLS-TS, validate it online within three months of arriving in France.
Validate your visaSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I validate a France long-stay talent investor VLS-TS visa online?”
Fill in the residence application
If you plan to stay for at least 12 months, create or sign in to your account on France's online service for foreign nationals and fill in the talent investor residence application. Upload the requested documents as readable files.
Fill in the applicationSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I fill in a France talent-porteur de projet investor residence card application on the online service for foreign nationals?”
Submit your application
Submit your residence application online within two months of arriving in France. Keep the receipt from the online service.
Submit your applicationSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I submit a France talent-porteur de projet investor residence card application on the online service for foreign nationals?”
Pay the residence fee
Pay the residence-card tax and stamp duty when the online service asks you to, using the payment method it gives you.
Find payment instructionsSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I pay the tax and stamp duty for a France talent-porteur de projet investor residence card?”
Wait for the decision
Wait while your residence application is examined and answer any requests for more information. Keep the receipt or certificate from the online service while you wait.
See how long it takesSearches DuckDuckGo for “How long does a France talent-porteur de projet investor residence card decision take?”
Attend an appointment
If you are called to an appointment, go to the prefecture where you live to give your fingerprints or collect your card.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “Which France prefecture serves your city for a talent-porteur de projet investor residence card appointment?”
Collect your card
When you are notified, collect your residence card at the prefecture. It lets you stay in France and carry out the business activity connected with your investment project.
Find collection instructionsSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I collect a France talent-porteur de projet investor residence card at the prefecture?”
Documents needed
Required to applyRequired to apply
Identity photos
Provide recent identity photographs for your visa application or an e-photo number for your residence-card application. An approved digital-photo provider can give you an e-photo number.
Application forms
The long-stay visa application is the France-Visas form, also called Cerfa 14052. The residence-card application is the online investor application.
Copy of your passport or ID
Copy the passport pages showing your personal details, validity dates, visas and entry stamps. If you do not have a passport, an identity or consular document, or a nationality certificate with a photograph, may be accepted.
Proof of investment
Provide evidence that you have invested at least €300,000 in tangible or intangible fixed assets in France, or a binding undertaking to invest it. Include business or project documents showing your lasting interest in the business receiving the investment.
Proof of jobs
Provide evidence that your investment creates or preserves jobs, or an undertaking to create or preserve jobs. The evidence or undertaking must cover the four years after the investment.
Proof of current residence *
Provide proof of your address dated within the last six months, such as a utility or phone bill, lease, rent receipt or housing-tax document. If you stay at a hotel, provide its certificate and your last month's invoice; if someone hosts you, provide their identity or residence document and, if their identity document is not current, proof of their address.
* Only if you apply for a residence card in France.
May need translationVisa or residence document *
Provide your valid long-stay visa or current residence document. Make sure your copy is readable.
* Only if you apply for a residence card in France.
May need translationSigned principles undertaking *
Provide your signed undertaking to respect the principles of the French Republic. Make sure your signature is on it.
* Only if you apply for a residence card in France.
Proof of company role *
Provide documents showing that you direct the investing company or hold at least 30% of its capital. Make sure the documents show your role or share in the company.
* Only if you invest through a company.
May need translationConsiderations
Things to think aboutThings to think about
Project and renewal
Your work must stay connected to your project; unrelated work may require a different residence card.
Apply for renewal in time and keep meeting the conditions for your project and activity.
After your card expires, you must stop work unless a receipt or certificate extends your right to work.
Residence can be lost
Your status ends if your card expires without renewal or you obtain another status.
It can also end if your project or activity no longer meets the conditions, or your card is withdrawn for fraud, serious threats to public safety or other legal reasons.
Your spouse’s and children’s cards can be withdrawn if yours is withdrawn.
Discuss
Online communitiesOnline communities
CAPAGO Algérie / Visa France 🇫🇷
Facebook group for people interested in French visas (French & Arabic)
Request to joinExpats move to France
English Facebook group for people living in France interested in French visas
Join on FacebookCAPAGO Algérie - VISA FRANCE SHENGEN CANADA
French Facebook group for people interested in French visas
Join on FacebookConsultation
Talk to a professionalTalk to a professional
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