Talent Porteur de Projet — Direct Economic Investment

The Talent Porteur de Projet (Direct Economic Investment) is a multi-year residence permit for non-EU nationals making a substantial direct investment in the French economy. Also accessible through the French Tech Visa for Investors simplified procedure, it is established under Article L421-16(3°) of CESEDA. The program requires a minimum €300,000 investment in fixed assets and a commitment to create or preserve employment within four years. No educational qualifications are required.

• Direct economic investment of at least €300,000 in tangible or intangible fixed assets on French territory
• Investment made personally or through a company the applicant manages or holds at least 30% of the capital
• Commitment to create or preserve employment within 4 years of the investment
• Annual resources at least equal to the gross SMIC (€21,876.36/year as of 1 January 2026, rising to €22,404.24/year from 1 June 2026)
• Valid passport with at least 6 months validity
• Criminal record extract from country of origin (first application)
• Signed commitment to respect republican principles

Direct investments include share capital, reinvested earnings, and inter-affiliate loans. Purely financial investments such as passive portfolio holdings and stock market investments with no operational involvement are excluded. The investment must begin execution within one year of card issuance, or the card may be withdrawn. Funds must not originate from illicit activities.

• May only exercise commercial activity linked to the investment project
• Salaried employment requires a separate work permit
• Card is withdrawn if investment has no beginning of execution within 1 year or if funds are found to originate from illicit activities

The standard pathway involves applying for a long-stay visa from a French consulate abroad via the France-Visas portal, with proof of the investment project. Upon arrival, validate the visa online via the ANEF platform within 3 months. The French Tech Visa pathway offers a simplified procedure: first obtain an acceptance letter from Mission French Tech via the Demarches Simplifiees platform, then follow the standard visa/permit process. Prefecture has 90 days to respond (per Decree 2025-539).

Processing time: 4-8 weeks for visa; up to 90 days at prefecture; implicit refusal after deadline

Fee: From 1 May 2026 (2026 Finance Act, Loi n° 2026-103), the residence-permit tax is €350 for a first issue (€300 tax + €50 stamp duty) and €250 for renewal, up from €225. A long-stay visa applied for from abroad adds €99, for an initial cost of roughly €449.

Spouse and minor children receive talent-famille residence permits valid for the same duration as the main card. Family members may engage in any paid employment in France. No separate family reunification procedure is required. Each family member pays the residence-permit tax (€350 first issue / €250 renewal from 1 May 2026) plus €99 for their long-stay visa.