5 Steps to Apply for the French Tech Visa for Employees
The French Tech Visa for Employees unlocks opportunities for both your career and your family life in France.
France is fast becoming one of the world's premier hubs for foreign tech talent. In 2025, the country is welcoming record levels of investment, with Paris ranking among the top five cities in Europe for startups.
This boom created a greater demand for skilled individuals from around the world, and the French government saw it. France started the French Tech Visa for Employees to make it easier for skilled workers from other countries to join this wealthy ecosystem.
This plan makes it easy for skilled workers to live and work in France while helping new businesses grow. With the French Tech Visa, you can live in one of Europe's most dynamic economies for several years. This makes France a great place for people who are ready to take the next step in their careers.
What Is the French Tech Visa for Employees?
The French Tech Visa for Employees is part of France’s Talent Passport initiative. It applies to foreign nationals hired by French-based companies recognised as innovative by the Ministry of Economy and Finance.
Eligible professionals can obtain a multi-year “Talent – Qualified Employee” residence permit, which allows them to live and work in France for up to four years, with the possibility of renewal depending on their eligibility.
One of the biggest advantages of this visa is that it extends to family members. The spouse and dependent children of a “Talent” residence permit holder are granted accompanying family status.
The spouse may apply for a “Talent – Family” residence permit, which authorises them not only to stay in France but also to take up any paid employment for as long as the employee’s residence permit remains valid.
What are the Eligibility Requirements for the French Tech Visa for Employees?
To qualify for this visa, both the employee and employer must meet specific conditions:
- Employer recognition: The hiring company must be officially recognised as innovative by the Ministry. It must meet at least one of the following criteria:
- Received public innovation support within the last five years.
- Partially or wholly funded by an investment entity aimed at innovative firms.
- Supported by a structure dedicated to innovative companies.
- Employee qualification: You must hold a permanent contract or a minimum three-month fixed-term contract with the French employer. Your gross annual salary must be at least twice the French minimum wage (SMIC), which is €43,243.20 as of November 2024.
- Role relevance: Your job should have a big impact on the company's research and development (R&D) or its overall growth in the economy, society, internationally, or the environment.
What are the Steps to Apply for the French Tech Visa for Employees?
Step 1: Employer Files for Innovation Recognition
Your employer is required to submit an online application on the official démarches-simplifiées.fr website to apply for its certificate of innovative status. This confirms that it is qualified to hire foreign Tech Visa workers.
Step 2: Obtain Employment & Meet Salary Threshold
Have your permanent or 3+ month fixed-term employment contract in hand with an employer who is based in France, and have a gross annual salary of more than the €43,243.20 benchmark.
Step 3: Apply for the Talent Passport Visa or Permit
When outside of France, apply for the long-stay visa (VLS-TS) on the France-Visas portal. Begin this no later than three months before your intended date of arrival. If already in France on some other permit, apply for a change of status at the local Prefecture.
Step 4: Secure Your Talent Passport (a multi-year resident permit)
When you get to France with your visa or change of status in progress, fill out your residence permit application, which is marked "Talent – Qualified Employee (Innovative Company)," through the Prefecture or admin portal.
Step 5: Get Registered with French Social Security
Your employer must officially register you with URSSAF (Unions de Recouvrement des Cotisations de Sécurité Sociale et d'Allocations Familiales) before your start date to activate your cover under France’s universal health system. Within 8 days of hire, your social security registration begins. Once processed, you register with your local CPAM (Caisse Primaire d'Assurance Maladie) to receive your Carte Vitale (health card).
Conclusion
The French Tech Visa for Employees gives international professionals more than a chance to work in France. It offers a clear path to joining one of the fastest-growing tech scenes in Europe, with thousands of startups and a surge of investment fueling demand for global talent.
At the same time, it supports family life, since spouses can get the “Talent – Family” permit and children can settle into a new environment with ease.
For ambitious professionals, this visa combines career opportunity with personal stability. It is an invitation to grow with France’s thriving tech ecosystem while building a life in one of the most dynamic countries in the world.
Oluwaseun Bamisile
