An employer-led or qualification-based work route.
Route overview
Salaried employment long-stay visa / work permit; Talent Passport for qualified categories
Typical timeline / duration: Temporary worker VLS-TS can cover 3-12 months in some cases; Talent Passport up to 4 years depending on category.
Important notes
Fit one of the Talent Passport categories, such as qualified employee, EU Blue Card, researcher, innovative founder, business creator, company representative, or artist.
Provide category-specific evidence: for example, a qualifying French degree and employment contract, a research hosting agreement, or a genuine funded business project.
For the qualified-employee category, the current official page requires a French master-level qualification and a contract over three months paying at least €39,582 gross annually.
For the EU Blue Card category, the current official page requires at least three years of higher education or qualifying experience, a contract of at least six months, and at least €59,373 gross annually.
This is a family of routes rather than one single visa; eligibility, salary, evidence, and work rights depend on the selected Talent Passport category.
For stays under 12 months, a long-stay visa equivalent to a residence permit may be used; longer stays generally require the multi-year residence card process, with validity tied to the contract up to the permitted maximum.
Preparation checklist
Save submitted files and track the next application, reporting, or renewal date.