Talent & international mobility

The talent passport scheme was reformed by Decree No. 2025-539 of 13 June 2025, which replaced it with the residence permit bearing the ‘talent’ designation, restructured into four main categories:

• ‘Qualified employee’ talent permit: for employees recruited in France for a qualified position, subject to qualification or experience and remuneration requirements.
• ‘Project founder’ talent permit for setting up a business or developing an innovative economic project in France.
• ‘Medical and pharmacy professions’ talent permit for practitioners working within this specific framework.
• ‘EU Blue Card’ talent permit for highly qualified employees recruited on a contract of at least one year, with remuneration at least equal to a threshold set by reference to the average salary.

Each category has its own conditions and permit duration. A change of category, renewal or change in professional circumstances should be anticipated rather than dealt with when the permit is about to expire.

A ten-year residence permit, the resident card marks a key milestone for people who have built their lives in France, often before considering naturalisation.

As with naturalisation, obtaining it is affected by the reform that came into force on 1 January 2026: a civic examination and a higher level of French than before are now required, in addition to the existing lawful residence and integration requirements.

There are also resident cards that may be obtained under bilateral agreements between France and partner countries, on terms that depart from the general rules (for example, the Franco-Algerian, Franco-Moroccan and Franco-Tunisian agreements).

The firm advises businesses that recruit or host foreign employees: planning the necessary steps from the job offer stage, securing residence permit renewals, and providing support with intra-group mobility or changes of position.

Planning professional immigration well in advance limits interruptions to the right to work and scheduling pressures for both the business and the employee.

The firm assists applicants in choosing the category best suited to their profile, preparing the application and following it through to the decision and, where appropriate, through to a resident card or naturalisation.

An initial discussion with the firm helps assess the category best suited to your circumstances, whether for a first application or a renewal.