Founders with their own project
The textbook case, you arrive with an innovative project and we build the DRIEETS file around it.
French Tech Visa 2026 for Founders
4-year EU residence permit (Talent, Porteur de Projet, Decree 2025-539). With or without a startup idea, Relovisa matches you to an innovative French project, prepares every document, and runs DRIEETS, incubator endorsement, and the consular file end-to-end.
- 12-months visa and 4-year residence card in the EU
- Work and business authorization
- You don't have to live in France full-time
- Zero Paperwork Hassle, we do 95% documents for you
Benefits of the Talent residence permit in France
The easiest option to move to the EU
With a simple and almost zero-bureaucracy application process.
Bring your family (spouse can work)
Your spouse receives a Talent-Family permit with open work rights; children relocate with you.
4-Year Visa with work authorization
Live, work, and run a business in France with the ability to bring your family.
Not only for founders
Open to high-skilled professionals, advisors, entrepreneurs and domain experts.
Travel & taxes
Tax residency isn't automatic, you don't have to live in France full-time.
The benefits of moving to France
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World-class healthcare
Universal public coverage (PUMA) and a health system consistently ranked among the best in the world.
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Top-tier, low-cost education
Public universities and grandes écoles at a fraction of US/UK tuition, plus leading international schools.
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Deep startup & R&D ecosystem
French Tech, BPI France funding and JEI incentives, R&D tax credit and corporate-tax relief for innovative companies.
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The heart of Europe
High-speed rail, major international airports and visa-free travel across the 29-country Schengen Area.
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Exceptional quality of life
World-renowned food and culture, climate from the Alps to the Mediterranean, and strong family and worker protections.
How it works
3–4 months from start to visa approval.
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1. Consultation & case review
A 30-min call to map the best Talent track, timeline, and documents; we flag risks early and confirm eligibility.
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2. Business plan & case file
We prepare the startup business plan and all documents for you, your co-founders, and family.
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3. Incubator endorsement
We secure backing/recognition from an accredited French incubator or public body (e.g., French Tech partners).
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4. Long-stay D-visa (12 months)
Apply in your country, receive a 12-month visa, and move to France: your family can join from day one.
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5. 4-year residence card
After ~6–8 months in France, validate your visa and convert it into a 4-year Talent residence card (formerly "Passeport Talent", renamed via Decree 2025-539, in force since 16 June 2025) for the whole family (biometrics/prefecture included).
Let your personal case manager and lawyer handle all the paperwork
No more dealing with bureaucracy, we take care of every detail.
1. Understand Your Immigration Options
During a consultation, our expert evaluates your profile and outlines pathways, helping you make an informed decision.
2. Tailored Strategy for Approval
Lawyer analyzes your case, identifies challenges, and creates a step-by-step roadmap to maximize success.
3. Complete Document Preparation
With minimal input from you, we handle certificates, translations, and applications.
4. Smooth Application Process
Your manager schedules appointments, ensures compliance, communicates with authorities, and tracks progress.
5. Bureaucratic Tasks Solved
We handle finding housing, tax registrations, and residence permits, eliminating paperwork stress.
Book a
consultation
Not sure which visa or country suits your needs?
Want to learn more about our services?
Talk with an immigration consultant!
What you actually get with the French Tech Visa
The French Tech Visa, officially the Talent, Porteur de Projet residence permit under Article L.421-16, 2° CESEDA, is a 4-year multi-year card with full work and business rights for you, your spouse, and your minor children. The legal frame was rewritten by Decree 2025-539 of 13 June 2025, in force since 16 June 2025, which retired the old "Passeport Talent" label, consolidated more than ten subcategories into two, and kept the founder/entrepreneur route as its own dedicated track.
4-year multi-year card
Full work and business rights for you, your spouse, and your minor children, with no yearly renewals.
Talent, Famille for your spouse
A paired permit with open work rights from day one. No separate sponsor, no employer tie.
5-year naturalisation clock
Counts toward French citizenship on the standard 5-year clock, which France did not lengthen.
A2 language exemption
Exempt from the A2 French requirement that applies to most other multi-year permits since 1 January 2026.
Who Relovisa actually files for
Most agencies split this market into separate funnels: a "founder" page, a "co-founder" page, a "talent" page. We don't, because the residence permit doesn't. The Porteur de Projet track admits anyone DRIEETS recognises as economically useful to an innovative French project, a definition wider than the word "founder" suggests.
Senior specialists & domain experts
Product leads, data and ML engineers, CTOs, researchers, growth operators, joining an existing French Tech startup as a key hire or advisor.
Experienced operators without a project
Entrepreneurs who want to advise or co-found but don't yet have a company in mind, we match you to an existing French Tech project.
That last group is where Relovisa is genuinely different. If you don't have a project, we match you with French Tech ecosystem startups actively looking for a co-founder, advisor, or technical specialist, then build the residence case around that match. You don't need to arrive with an idea, you need a track record we can package. Our team tier files for up to three co-founders on a single shared business case.
What Relovisa does, and what you do
The work splits cleanly. From you, we need maybe five documents, we produce the other fifty.
Relovisa handles
- Author the business plan in the format DRIEETS expects, and build the pitch deck
- Identify and approach the right French Tech-accredited incubator, and secure the recognition letter or two ecosystem letters
- Assemble and file the full DRIEETS dossier under Article L.421-16, 2° CESEDA, and manage the back-and-forth
- Prepare the consular file for your country of residence, and run the Talent, Famille paperwork for your spouse and children in parallel
You provide
- A CV
- Proof of accommodation in France (we can guide you to short-term solutions that satisfy the consulate)
- A bank statement showing the savings threshold
- Your passport scans
This is the part founders consistently underestimate. The DRIEETS file alone runs 40 to 60 pages once business plan, financial projections, founder CVs, market analysis, and supporting letters are bound together. Doing it yourself isn't impossible. Doing it well, on the first attempt, while running your existing job or company, is.
DRIEETS recognition: the gating step we handle
DRIEETS Île-de-France is the central evaluator for every Porteur de Projet file in the country, regardless of where in France your project will actually be based. That centralisation, set in 2021, is the part most applicants get wrong: they prepare a regional file, it goes to Paris, and it gets returned. We pick the route that fits your profile, not the one that's easier for us.
Route A
A single recognition letter from a French Tech-accredited incubator.
Route B
Two letters of support from recognised ecosystem actors, typically an established founder, a VC, a public innovation body, or a major accelerator.
Clean dossiers typically clear DRIEETS in roughly 12 to 21 days. Messy dossiers can sit for months or come back rejected, the single biggest reason people end up calling us for a re-file.
The 2026 cost reality
Government fees from 1 May 2026 are €350 administrative + €99 visa. The financial means threshold is one SMIC. We recommend a comfortable savings margin, plus €12,000 to €15,000 per accompanying family member, and incubator pass-through of around €300/month per founder for 6 to 8 months.
You pay
€449
Government fees per applicant (€350 card + €99 visa)
Proof of funds
€22,404
One SMIC shown on your bank statement, the threshold, not a fee (as of 1 June 2026).
Proof of funds
€12,000–15,000
Also shown on your bank statement, per accompanying family member, not an extra cost.
You pay
€300/mo
Incubator pass-through per founder, for 6 to 8 months
Compare that against what you get: a 5-year path to French citizenship, with no extension on the horizon, against Portugal's new 10-year clock effective 19 May 2026. France is now the shorter route to an EU passport for the same effort, and the Porteur de Projet permit is the cleanest way in.
When you should call Relovisa
Five scenarios where this service pays for itself.
01 You have an innovative project but no time to spend three months writing a DRIEETS file in French.
02 You want EU residency but don't have a startup idea, you need someone to match you to a French Tech company that does.
03 You filed yourself or with another agency and were rejected, and need a clean re-file with the right route.
04 You want to move with your spouse and children and need the Talent, Famille permits running on the same timeline.
05 You want the 5-year citizenship clock to start now, before any future legal tightening lands.
If any of those describes you, book a 30-minute consultation. We'll map the route, confirm eligibility, and quote the timeline before you commit to anything.
Book a consultationRun a relocation agency or a startup incubator? You can refer clients or offer the French Tech Visa under your own brand through the Relovisa partner program.
Pricing and services
Single founder
€9,900
+ €1,900 per family member · + €300/mo for an incubator (first 6–8 months, pass-through)
Your own innovative project. We author the pitch deck, secure incubator endorsement and DRIEETS recognition, and run the visa file end-to-end.
- 30-min strategy call: map the best Talent track, timeline, document list, eligibility check
- Personalized strategy guide
- Initial consultation
- Ongoing chat with a dedicated advisor
- Pitch deck preparation, we author the deck from the client's CV and domain expertise
- Incubator matching and submission, we select the right French Tech incubator/accelerator and submit on your behalf
- Incubator endorsement letter, we obtain the confirmation/support letter
- DRIEETS submission and follow-up, we file the innovative-project recognition request with DRIEETS (Ministry of Economy) and manage exchanges until the favorable opinion is issued
- Document activation/review, you supply CV, proof of means (≥ €22,404.20 SMIC for 2026), accommodation proof; we review and prepare them for the dossier
- Consulate visa-application file assembly
- Visa appointment booking where the jurisdiction allows it
- End-to-end case management through visa issuance
- Payment: 50% upfront, 50% before submission
Recommended
Team of 3 founders
€25,000
for a team of 3 founders · + €1,900 per family member · + €300/mo per founder for an incubator (pass-through)
Identical scope to the single-founder package, applied to up to 3 founders, one shared business case, three personal dossiers.
- 30-min strategy call: map the best Talent track, timeline, document list, eligibility check
- Personalized strategy guide
- Initial consultation
- Ongoing chat with a dedicated advisor
- Pitch deck preparation, we author the deck from the client's CV and domain expertise
- Incubator matching and submission, we select the right French Tech incubator/accelerator and submit on your behalf
- Incubator endorsement letter, we obtain the confirmation/support letter
- DRIEETS submission and follow-up, we file the innovative-project recognition request with DRIEETS (Ministry of Economy) and manage exchanges until the favorable opinion is issued
- Document activation/review, you supply CV, proof of means (≥ €22,404.20 SMIC for 2026), accommodation proof; we review and prepare them for the dossier
- Consulate visa-application file assembly
- Visa appointment booking where the jurisdiction allows it
- End-to-end case management through visa issuance
- Payment: 50% upfront, 50% before submission
About “Relovisa Advisors”
Relovisa is a premium full-service immigration consultancy (HQ Portugal, "Made in Portugal"). It is not a law firm: it works with licensed immigration lawyers and tax advisors per jurisdiction. Relovisa delivers EU/UK/US residency and citizenship to founders, skilled professionals, investors, and remote workers, handling the paperwork end-to-end. Distinctive: its own Portuguese EOR/payroll entity, packaged with the Portugal D3 and Spain DNV routes, plus deep specialist depth on the France Talent (Passeport Talent) innovative-project route, including DRIEETS dossiers and the no-incubator route with two letters of support.
99.2%
Average success rate
99.2% of clients get their visas and residence permits
7000+
Cases · 30+ countries
Clients across North America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the CIS
80+
Experts and lawyers
Professionals from around the world
8 years
Average experience
In immigration law & consulting
Our team, lawyers and partners
Our legal experts and professionals take care of everything, from document preparation to final approval, with 24/7 support, so you don't have to worry about a thing.
Vlad Shifter
Founder
Entrepreneur and corporate consultant with 10+ years of experience with PwC, P&G, Coca Cola, Unilever and others. TechCrunch 200 Alum.
Olia Nemirovski
COO
10+ years specialist in client and partner relations, driving innovation through deep customer understanding.
Evgenia
Immigration lawyer
Licensed lawyer with deep knowledge of UK immigration law, she excels as a case manager for Talent Visas with 99.8% success rate.
Vladimir
Immigration consultant
Over three years of project management experience in German work immigration processes.
Daniela
Immigration Lawyer
Her expertise includes legal representation in court proceedings, expedited solutions for delayed residence processes, and all visa programs.
Petra
Immigration consultant
Specializes in D visas: Digital Nomad, D7, D2, D3, etc. She has experience working with various types of income.
Marilia
Immigration Attorney
Lawyer with 4 years experience works with global mobility processes for self-employed individuals through D8, D2, or IT workers through D3/Blue Card.
Thiago
Immigration Attorney
Relocated more than 300 high-qualified professionals to Portugal since 2018. Currently holding 100% success in lawsuits against AIMA (200+).
Vladislav
Tax Advisor
A licensed tax consultant with thousands of cases handled worldwide, from EU countries to Hong Kong and the USA. Specializes in finding solutions in the most unique and challenging situations.
Thomas
Tax Advisor
Thomas specializes in crypto business consultancy, with notable projects including market research for Bit2Me, a major Southern European cryptocurrency exchange.
FAQs
What are the French Tech Visa requirements in 2026?
To qualify for the French Tech Visa (Talent, Porteur de Projet, Article L.421-16, 2° CESEDA) in 2026 you need three things: (1) a project recognised as innovative by DRIEETS Île-de-France, (2) either one letter from a French Tech-accredited incubator or two letters from recognised ecosystem actors, and (3) annual financial means equal to one SMIC, €22,404.20 since 1 June 2026. Government fees are €449 per applicant (€350 card + €99 visa) from 1 May 2026. No degree, no investment, and no income floor required. For the full step-by-step breakdown, documents, routes, banking rules, and the A2 language exemption, read the complete French Tech Visa guide.
How long does the French Tech Visa process take in 2026?
A clean file clears DRIEETS Île-de-France in 12 to 21 days. Consular processing for the 12-month long-stay visa takes an additional 2 to 4 weeks on average. After arrival, the 4-year Talent residence card is issued by the prefecture within 2 to 6 months. End-to-end from first call to holding the card: typically 3 to 4 months. Files with a weak or generic incubator letter can sit at DRIEETS for 2 to 4 months or receive a refusal, dossier quality is the single biggest variable.
What is the French Tech Visa and who is it for?
The French Tech Visa (legally called "Talent, Porteur de Projet" since Decree 2025-539, in force from 16 June 2025; formerly "Passeport Talent") is a 4-year residence permit designed for entrepreneurs, founders, advisors, and highly skilled professionals who want to build or join an innovative startup in France. With Relovisa, you do not need to bring your own startup idea, we match you to an innovative project if needed. The visa offers a fast track to EU residency, full work rights for the whole family, and a path to French citizenship after 5 years.
Why choose the French Tech Visa instead of Portugal or Spain?
Unlike the Portuguese D2 or Spanish Startup Visa, France offers a 4-year multi-year residence permit from day one, no minimum stay requirement, and a 5-year route to citizenship, France did not extend its naturalisation clock, while Portugal moved to 10 years effective 19 May 2026. The process is also more predictable and doesn't require a large investment or passive income.
How long does it take to get the visa?
On average, it takes 3–4 months from application to visa approval: 1–2 weeks for accelerator acceptance, 2–3 weeks for DRIEETS Île-de-France (Direction régionale interdépartementale de l'économie, de l'emploi, du travail et des solidarités) approval, and 1–2 weeks for consulate processing.
How much money do I need to apply?
You need to show €22,404.20 in savings for the main applicant (one annual SMIC as of 1 June 2026) and €12,000–15,000 per family member. Government fees in 2026 are €350 administrative + €99 visa = €449 per applicant after the 1 May 2026 fee reform. No investment is required, this visa is based on innovation, not capital.
Do I need to register a company in France?
Not initially. You can apply without a registered company. However, opening a micro-enterprise or incorporating a business later will help with renewal and tax benefits.
Can my spouse and children join me?
Yes! Your spouse automatically receives a Talent-Family residence permit with full work rights, and your children under 18 get residence cards too. Adult children can join only if financially dependent or studying full-time.
Do I need to live in France full-time?
No. You can keep your lifestyle and business elsewhere while maintaining your French residence permit. To qualify for citizenship later, you'll need to spend 183+ days per year in France.
What are the main benefits of the French Startup Visa?
- 4–5 years of EU residency from day one
- Work rights for the entire family
- Fast path to citizenship (5 years)
- No investment or job offer required
- Access to French Tech ecosystem and accelerators
- Freedom to travel and live anywhere in the Schengen Zone
What is the success rate of this visa?
When the case is prepared professionally with accelerator support, approval rates are near 100% at the DRIEETS level and 95–97% at consulates. The process is stable and predictable. See our full completed-case success rate and methodology across the countries we handle directly.
Can I apply if I don't have a startup idea?
Yes. You can join an existing project as a co-founder, advisor, or tech partner, or we'll help you develop an innovative concept that fits the visa requirements.
Do I need to speak French for the visa?
No. Talent, Porteur de Projet holders are exempt from the new A2 French language requirement that took effect 1 January 2026 for most other multi-year residence permits. All documents and DRIEETS submission can be done in English. French becomes relevant only later: B1 for the 10-year resident card and B2 for citizenship after 5 years.
What are the tax benefits for startups in France?
Startups can qualify for the Young Innovative Company (JEI) status, offering:
- 100% tax exemption in the first profitable year
- 50% reduction in the second year
- 30% refund on R&D expenses (Crédit d'Impôt Recherche)
- 15% corporate tax rate for small companies
What happens after 5 years in France?
After 5 years of legal residence and tax history, you can apply for French citizenship or a 10-year permanent residence card. Both allow you to live and work anywhere in the EU with no restrictions.
Can I keep my current tax residency?
Yes, French residency does not automatically make you a French tax resident. Under CGI Article 4B, tax residency can be triggered by your principal place of stay in France (the 183-day limb is one measure of this, not a standalone safe-harbour), by your main professional activity being in France, or by France being your centre of economic interests. If none of those three criteria apply, you remain tax-resident elsewhere.
How can I start the process?
Book a consultation with our team. We'll:
- Assess your eligibility
- Match you with a French Tech accelerator
- Prepare all documents for the Ministry and consulate
- Guide you through every step until visa approval