How does Talent work in France, and who qualifies?

The Talent — Qualified Employee (Salarie qualifie) card is the route for skilled professionals coming to France with a job in hand. It was renamed from the Passeport Talent by the January 2024 immigration law (Loi Immigration). To qualify you typically need a master's degree (Bac+5) or equivalent, an employment contract of more than three months, and a gross annual salary at or above the reference threshold set by ministerial order. Crucially, no labour-market test applies, which makes the process simpler and faster for both you and your employer.

The card is valid for up to four years and is renewable, and one of its biggest draws is for families: accompanying spouses and minor children receive a Talent — famille card for the same duration, with the right to work as an employee and no labour-market test of their own. That is more generous than standard family reunification.

The Talent route spans around ten sub-categories beyond qualified employees — including the EU Blue Card, researchers, and business founders — so it is worth confirming which one matches your profile. The application fee is EUR 350 (EUR 300 tax plus a EUR 50 stamp). Salary thresholds are set annually by ministerial order, so check the current figure on france-visas.gouv.fr and service-public.gouv.fr before applying, and ACME can help you confirm the right Talent sub-category for your situation.