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Come work in France

Work, found or invest in French tech

France wants international tech talent, and makes it easier with the French Tech Visa: a renewable residence permit of up to 4 years for employees of innovative startups, founders and investors, with their families. Why France, how the visa works, how to apply from Thailand and where to find your job.

Last checked on 3 November 2026. Figures and conditions come from the official French pages linked on this page. They change: confirm on those pages, or with the French Embassy's visa services, before you apply.

01 · Why France

A country that wants tech talent

Startups, investment and quality of life, in the figures La French Tech puts forward.

In Europe for foreign investment projects, for the 7th year running (EY barometer, 2026)
No. 1
Score that ranks France first in Europe for startup-friendliness, 3rd year running (ESNA report, 2025)
95%
Maximum length of the tax regime for people moving to France (impatriate regime)
8 years
University courses taught in English; 27+ French institutions in the 2025 Shanghai Ranking
1,800+

A startup ecosystem

The Mission French Tech, a government team based at Station F in Paris, the largest startup campus in the world, backs the ecosystem and runs programmes such as French Tech Next40/120 for the fastest-growing startups.

Easier company setup

The ESNA report scores France 100% for access to finance, employee share options and social inclusion, and 88% for how fast you can set up a business, up 18 points in a year.

Quality of life

Public healthcare that the WHO ranks among the best in the world, at an affordable cost, and good schools and universities for families.

Source: Come work in France (La French Tech, official page), citing the EY attractiveness barometer, the ESNA report and the Shanghai Ranking.

02 · A visa made for tech talent

The French Tech Visa

France's dedicated fast track to relocate tech employees, founders and investors, with their families.

One simplified procedure gets you a multi-year "Talent" residence permit, which is also your work permit. Business France runs it with the Mission French Tech, through the Welcome to La French Tech desk.

Who it is for

Official French Tech Visa page
Multi-year "Talent" residence permit, renewable
4 years
Employees, founders and investors
3 tracks
Companies have hired through it, according to La French Tech
1,200+
Run by Business France with the Mission French Tech
Since 2017

Up to four years

A multi-year "Talent" residence permit (formerly "Passeport Talent") valid for up to 4 years, depending on your situation.

No separate work permit

For employees, the Talent permit is also the work authorisation for its whole validity.

Your family comes too

Your spouse and dependent children under 18 can join you. Your spouse gets a "Talent – Famille" permit and can take any job in France.

Renewable

Renewed on the same conditions while your situation stays the same. If it changes, you can apply for another Talent permit or another kind of residence permit.

Sources: French Tech Visa (La French Tech, official page) · Accompanying family (Business France)

03 · Three tracks

Employees, founders, investors

Open to nationals of every country outside the EU, the EEA and Switzerland, Algeria excepted (a Franco-Algerian agreement applies). Pick yours to see the conditions.

French Tech Visa for Employees

You have a job offer from a French startup recognised as innovative, and you want to work in France for more than three months.

Residence status
Talent – Salarié qualifié (salarié d’une entreprise innovante)

Already in France with a Talent permit? You can move to another innovative company without a new procedure, as long as the new job meets the same conditions.

Full details on Business France

Sources: French Tech Visa for Employees (Business France, Welcome to France) · Innovative company attestation (Démarches simplifiées)

Conditions

  • A permanent contract (CDI) or a fixed-term contract (CDD) of at least 3 months with an employer established in France.
  • A gross annual salary of at least €39,582 (the reference figure in force since 31 August 2025).
  • A job directly linked to the company’s R&D project or to its economic, social, international or environmental development.
  • An employer that holds the innovative company attestation (see “Is the company innovative?” below).

French Tech Visa for Founders

You are founding a startup and want to build an innovative project in France.

Residence status
Talent – Porteur de projet économique innovant

Citizens of the EU, the EEA and Switzerland can create and run a company in France without any residence procedure.

Full details on Business France

Sources: French Tech Visa for Founders (Business France, Welcome to France) · French Tech Visa (La French Tech, official page)

Conditions

  • A real, innovative economic project to develop in France.
  • The innovative character of the project recognised by a public body (the regional labour and economy directorate, DRIEETS).
  • Enough money to live on: at least the French minimum wage (SMIC), €22,404.20 a year as of 1 June 2026.

French Tech Visa for Investors

You are a foreign executive making a direct investment in France, personally, through a company you run, or through a company in which you hold at least 30% of the capital.

Residence status
Talent – Investisseur économique

The permit covers running the investment project and the business directly linked to it.

Full details on Business France

Sources: French Tech Visa for Investors (Business France, Welcome to France) · French Tech Visa (La French Tech, official page)

Conditions

  • Invest, or commit to invest, at least €300,000 in tangible or intangible fixed assets in France.
  • Create or keep jobs in France, or commit to do so, within 4 years of the investment.
  • Direct investment only: share capital, reinvested profits or loans between related companies. Purely financial investments do not qualify.

04 · The employer

Is the company innovative?

For the employee track, the hiring company must be registered in France, with a 14-digit SIRET number, and meet at least one of these three criteria.

  1. 01

    Public innovation support

    The company received public support for innovation in the last 5 years, from the official list of qualifying schemes.

    See: List of qualifying public innovation support (Légifrance)

  2. 02

    An innovation investor

    All or part of its capital is held by an investment entity whose main purpose is to finance or invest in innovative companies.

  3. 03

    An innovation programme

    In the last 5 years it was supported by a structure dedicated to innovative companies, such as an incubator or accelerator.

The attestation. The company proves it with an online attestation of its innovative character, valid for 3 years and renewable. Every employee's visa or permit file needs it.

Request the attestation

05 · Applying from Thailand

From Bangkok to France in five steps

The order of the procedure when you apply from Thailand.

  1. Check your track

    Employee, founder or investor: each has its own conditions and its own Business France page. Citizens of Algeria fall under the Franco-Algerian agreement instead.

    Sources: French Tech Visa for Employees (Business France, Welcome to France) · French Tech Visa for Founders (Business France, Welcome to France) · French Tech Visa for Investors (Business France, Welcome to France)

  2. Get the company or project recognised

    Employees: your future employer requests the innovative company attestation online. It is valid 3 years and renewable, and goes into your visa file. Founders: your project needs its official recognition.

    Sources: Innovative company attestation (Démarches simplifiées)

  3. Apply for the long-stay visa

    Create your application on France-Visas, the official website, choosing the “Talent” long-stay visa, then book an appointment to hand in your file and biometrics at the visa centre it names in Thailand.

    Sources: France-Visas, official visa website

  4. Arrive and validate

    A stay under a year can be covered by a “VLS-TS Talent” visa, valid up to 12 months, which lets you work from day one. You must validate it online after arrival.

    Sources: Validate your VLS-TS or apply for a residence permit (ANEF)

  5. Get your multi-year permit

    Then apply online for the multi-year Talent residence permit of up to 4 years, renewable while you still meet the conditions.

    Sources: Validate your VLS-TS or apply for a residence permit (ANEF) · French Tech Visa for Employees (Business France, Welcome to France)

06 · Official websites and support

Where the procedures happen

This page sums up the rules in English. Your visa application, your residence permit and the latest official information are on these French government websites, and Business France answers questions from companies and talent coming to France. Check them before you apply.

07 · Find a job, get help

Where to start

Official places to find a startup job and answers on setting up, tax, social security and visas.

Find a startup job

La French Tech lists open jobs in startups from its ecosystem.

The fastest-growing startups

French Tech Next40/120 and French Tech 2030 companies get extra help from the Mission French Tech and Business France to recruit international talent.

Recruiting international talent

For employers: visas, tax residence and relocation of the people you hire from abroad.

French Tech communities

French Tech capitals and communities across France and abroad, including ours in Bangkok, can introduce you to people on the ground.

Meet us in Bangkok

Our events bring together French startups and people who already made the move.

08 · Checklist

Before you apply

Tick as you go. Your progress is saved in this browser only.

Progress0%

Everyone
Employees
Founders
Investors

09 · Questions

Questions we hear

Is the French Tech Visa the only way to work in France?

No. It is the fast track for employees of innovative companies, founders and investors in tech. Other jobs and situations use other residence permits, all explained on Welcome by Business France.

Can Thai citizens apply?

Yes. The French Tech Visa is open to nationals of every country outside the EU, the EEA and Switzerland, Algeria excepted, so Thai citizens and people of other nationalities living in Thailand can apply.

What exactly is the French Tech Visa?

A dedicated, simplified procedure that leads to the multi-year “Talent” residence permit (formerly “Passeport Talent”), for people joining, founding or investing in French tech companies. You apply for a long-stay “Talent” visa, then get the permit in France.

Does the company need to meet all three innovation criteria?

No. A company registered in France with a SIRET number needs at least one of the three, and the attestation that proves it, valid for 3 years.

Do I need a separate work permit?

No. For employees, the Talent residence permit is also the work authorisation for its whole validity.

Can my spouse work in France?

Yes. Your spouse can get a “Talent – Famille” permit, which allows any salaried job for as long as your own permit is valid. Dependent children under 18 can come too.

What if I change jobs?

You can join another company without a new procedure if that company is also recognised as innovative and the new job meets the same conditions. Otherwise, you can apply for another residence permit.

How much does it cost and how long does it take?

Visa and permit fees and processing times are set by the French administration and change. Check them on France-Visas and the Business France page for your track before you apply.

Sources

Checked on 3 November 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.

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