France · Startup · Temporary residence

France Talent — Project Leader: Innovative Economic Project

Residence for founders with a ministry-recognised innovative project.

Value scoreCheckingPassport data under review

5-year costCheckingone applicant, not recoverable

DecisionCheckingComparable time under review

Official program page

Value: what the Talent — Project Leader: Innovative Economic Project gives you

Passport reach 25 pts weightChecking

Path to citizenship 25 pts weight60

Work, family, healthcare 20 pts weight67

Stay rule 15 pts weightChecking

Tax on foreign income 10 pts weightChecking

Policy stability 5 pts weightChecking

Passport: visa-free destinations: Checking
Years to permanent residence: Checking
Years to citizenship: 5 yearsOfficialService-Public / DILA, checked 2026-11-15Ordinary residence route; statutory exceptions may shorten this and naturalisation remains discretionary.
Leads to citizenship: YesOfficialService-Public / DILA, checked 2026-11-15Lawful residence can qualify for ordinary naturalisation.
Can work for a local employer: NoOfficialService-Public / DILA, checked 2026-11-15This project-leader status authorizes commercial activity connected with the approved project, not unrelated salaried employment.
Same application for spouse and children: YesOfficialService-Public / DILA, checked 2026-11-15Spouse and minor children use the accompanying-family procedure.
Public healthcare: YesOfficialService-Public / DILA, checked 2026-11-15PUMa covers people working in France or meeting stable and lawful residence conditions; enrolment conditions apply.
Minimum stay per year: Checking
Tax on foreign income: Checking
Dual citizenship allowed: YesOfficialService-Public / DILA, checked 2026-11-15French law does not require renunciation of prior nationality on naturalisation.
Rule changes, last 24 months: Checking

Cost: what the Talent — Project Leader: Innovative Economic Project costs over five years

Government fees: $496.23OfficialService-Public / DILA, checked 2026-11-15Standard non-exempt adult applying abroad for a stay of at least one year: EUR99 long-stay visa + EUR350 residence-card tax/stamp. USD conversion: EUR 449.00 using ECB, 2026-11-13.
Non-refundable contribution: $0OfficialService-Public / DILA, checked 2026-11-15No government donation is part of the published eligibility requirements.
Due diligence: Checking
Compulsory extras, first year: Checking
Renewal fees, first 5 years: Checking
Investment you may get back: Checking
Minimum income per month: $2,063.43OfficialService-Public / DILA, checked 2026-11-15EUR 1,867.02. EUR22,404.20 annual gross resources / 12; current full-time SMIC basis on official page. Conversion: EUR 1867.0166666666667 to USD at 2026-11-13 reference rates.
Extra for a spouse and two children: Checking
Typical adviser fees (not in the total): Checking

USD estimates use the 13 November 2026 reference rates of the European Central Bank, Central Bank of Armenia and Central Bank of the UAE, and the Central Bank of Uruguay rate for UYU. The Panamanian balboa uses its official one-to-one parity.

Speed: how long the Talent — Project Leader: Innovative Economic Project takes

Official processing time: Checking
Reported processing time (median): Checking
Approval to card or passport: Checking

Sources

Talent residence card: project leader, Service-Public / DILA. Checked 2026-11-15.
How to obtain French nationality, Service-Public / DILA. Checked 2026-11-15.
Multiple nationality in France, Service-Public / DILA. Checked 2026-11-15.
French visa fee schedule, France-Visas / Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. Checked 2026-11-15.
Protection universelle maladie (Puma), Service-Public / DILA. Checked 2026-11-15.

Every figure on this page last reviewed 2026-11-15. General information, not legal advice. Spotted an error? Email us from the contact page.

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