France Talent residence card (carte de séjour talent) 2026

The Talent residence card is a multi-year permit for foreign nationals from outside Europe who want to work in France for more than three months. It is explained on Service-Public.fr, the official information site of the French administration, and it allows the holder to live in France and work as an employee without the employer having to request a work authorisation.

The qualified-employee card is issued on one of three grounds: a qualified employee holding a French master's-level degree, an employee recruited by a young innovative company or one recognised as innovative, or an employee sent to France within the same company or group. Each ground requires an employment contract with a minimum gross annual salary. A separate track, the talent card for the European Blue Card, is open to holders of a degree after at least three years of higher education, or with five years of comparable professional experience, who have a contract of at least six months and a higher salary.

People living abroad apply for a long-stay visa at the French consulate in their country of residence and then complete the residence card application online after arrival. Spouses and minor children can join through a simplified family procedure.

The card is valid for the length of the employment contract, up to 48 months. Applications are accepted all year.