French Tech Visa for Founders (Passeport Talent — Création d'Entreprise)
French Tech Visa for founders, 4-year residence permit, access to Station F and BPI France support programs.
France's Passeport Talent — Création d'Entreprise delivers a 4-year multi-entry residence card on first issuance, the longest founder permit in the EU. Station F, BPI France and La French Tech ecosystems back recognised founders with funding, mentorship and government grants.
Innovation is assessed by Mission French Tech and partner structures (Station F, BPI France, La French Tech capitals). Eligible profiles include deep-tech, SaaS, climate-tech, biotech and creative-industry founders with scalable IP or technology.
Minimum personal investment: €30,000 in the French entity. No mandatory incubator equity. Optional grants via BPI (French Tech Emergence: up to €90,000 dilutive-free; French Tech Seed: co-investment up to €500k).
Passeport Talent — Famille is delivered simultaneously to spouse and minor children. Spouse has full work authorisation from day 1. No income or housing seniority test — uniquely founder-friendly in the EU.
French nationality available after 5 years of continuous residence (réduction to 2 years for graduates of French higher education or exceptional contributions to France). Requires B1 French (oral + written), civics exam, integration interview and proof of tax compliance. Dual nationality permitted.
Residence path: 4-year Passeport Talent card → renewable indefinitely → 10-year resident card after 3–5 years → French nationality after 5 years of legal residence (2 years if French graduate). B1 French + civics exam required for naturalisation.
Not for the visa itself, but B1 French is mandatory for naturalisation after 5 years. Many incubators (Station F) operate fully in English.
It must remain invested in the French company — used for operations, salaries and equipment. It is your equity, not a fee.
Yes — the Passeport Talent is designed for non-EU founders and processed at French consulates worldwide.
Book a free 30-minute call with an Elite Study founder advisor. We map your eligibility, introduce you to recognised facilitators, prepare your business plan and support your application end-to-end to increase your readiness. Residence permit applications are submitted through recognised Dutch facilitators and assessed by the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND), or by the equivalent competent authority in other jurisdictions.
Elite Study Group provides independent Startup Visa advisory, business planning, and international business development services. Residence permit applications are submitted through recognised Dutch facilitators and assessed by the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND); equivalent authorities apply in other jurisdictions (e.g. Business Finland, IAPMEI, ENISA, Mission French Tech). We do not guarantee any specific outcome — see our Legal Disclaimer for the full scope of our engagement.
Confirm your eligibility, investment threshold and realistic timeline with a senior advisor who handles founder visas across the EU and UK every week.