Talent Porteur de Projet — Innovative Economic Project (French Tech Visa)

The Talent Porteur de Projet (Innovative Economic Project), marketed as the French Tech Visa for Founders, is a multi-year residence permit that lets non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals live in France and develop an innovative startup. Established under Article L421-16(2°) of CESEDA, this pathway requires neither a Master's degree nor a minimum investment. Instead, the project must be endorsed by a French Tech partner incubator or accelerator (or two ecosystem actors) and recognized as innovative by the DRIEETS Île-de-France.

• An innovative business project to develop in France
• Endorsement by a French Tech partner incubator/accelerator, an incubator/accelerator supported by French Tech Capital, or two actors of the French Tech ecosystem
• Recognition of the project's innovative character by the DRIEETS Île-de-France
• Annual resources at least equal to the full-time gross SMIC (€22,404.20)
• No specific educational qualification and no minimum investment required
• The card only authorizes commercial activity tied to the innovative project; salaried employment requires a separate permit

• Passport valid for at least 6 months
• Proof of domicile less than 6 months old and an e-photo code
• Acknowledgement letter from the DRIEETS Île-de-France confirming the innovative nature of the project
• Proof of endorsement by a partner incubator/accelerator or two ecosystem actors
• Proof of resources at least equal to the SMIC
• Criminal record extract from the country of origin (first application)
• Signed commitment to respect the principles of the French Republic

The card is issued for up to 4 years and is renewable. Renewal applications should be filed roughly 3 months before expiry via the ANEF portal, demonstrating the project's continued reality and seriousness (progress, accomplishments, future plans) and financial resources at least equal to the SMIC (€22,404.20). After 5 years of legal, uninterrupted residence, holders may apply for a renewable 10-year resident card that permits any professional activity.

Spouse and dependent minor children receive talent-famille residence permits valid for the same duration as the main card and may take up paid employment in France. No separate family reunification procedure is required — relatives can apply alongside the main applicant or join later. Each family member's residence permit costs €350 and the long-stay visa €300 at the normal rate.

France taxes residents on their worldwide income. Tax residence is determined under Article 4 B of the General Tax Code based on household location, principal professional activity, or center of economic interests. Bilateral tax treaties may apply to prevent double taxation.

The process has three stages. First, secure endorsement from a qualifying entity: a French Tech Visa partner incubator or accelerator, an incubator/accelerator supported by French Tech Capital, or support letters from two members of the French Tech ecosystem. Second, submit a recognition request via the Demarches Simplifiees platform, where the DRIEETS Île-de-France evaluates the project's innovative character and issues an acknowledgement letter. Third, apply for the long-stay visa via France-Visas (from abroad) or a status change via the ANEF portal (from within France). On arrival, validate the VLS-TS online within 3 months. Applicants must show annual resources at least equal to the full-time gross SMIC of €22,404.20.

Current fees are €350 for the residence permit (€300 tax + €50 stamp duty), €250 for renewal, and €300 for the long-stay visa at the normal rate. Paying the fee does not guarantee approval; the prefecture has 4 months to respond, after which silence constitutes an implicit refusal.