Step 1: Structure the investment
Decide between a personal holding and a company vehicle, and confirm the 30% capital test is met if a company is used.
Guided
- From
- €300,000
- Typical timeline
- 4 months
- Family
- spouse, children to 18
- Route
- Direct investment in fixed assets
Is this for you?
- Non-EU, non-EEA and non-Swiss nationality.
- Direct investment of at least €300,000 in tangible or intangible fixed assets in France.
- The investment is made personally, or through a company in which you hold at least 30% of the capital — the threshold applies to the investing vehicle, not to your stake in the recipient business.
- An undertaking to create or preserve employment in France.
- Valid passport, clean criminal record and health cover.
Not for you if
- Investment held below the 30% capital threshold where a company vehicle is used.
- Capital placed in a passive product rather than in fixed assets of a real business.
- Serious criminal convictions or international sanctions listing.
Not a match? Other routes in France
At a glance
Quick facts
Minimum investment €300,000; Typical timeline 4 months; 3 highlights
- Minimum investment
- €300,000
- Currency: EUR
- Typical timeline
- From application start
Highlights
- France talent card
- economic investment
- EU residency
Program
Program specifics
- Route type
- Direct Investment In Fixed Assets
- Eligible residency pathway
- Last updated
- Subject to regulatory change
Information is indicative and may change; confirm current terms with an advisor.
Program overview
The direct economic investment talent card is the closest France comes to an investor route, and it is deliberately not a golden visa. You invest at least €300,000 in tangible or intangible fixed assets in France — plant, premises, equipment, qualifying intangibles — either held personally or through a company in which you hold at least 30% of the capital. Alongside the investment you undertake to create or preserve employment.
What you receive is a carte de séjour pluriannuelle "talent" valid for up to four years, carrying the right to work and automatic accompanying-family rights for a spouse and minor children.
How This Differs From A Golden Visa
| France, direct investment | A typical golden visa | |
|---|---|---|
| What the money buys | Fixed assets of a business you control | Property, a fund unit, or a contribution |
| Who holds the risk | You, as an equity investor | You, but often with a promoter's buy-back promise |
| Job commitment | Required | Rarely required |
| Return | Whatever the business earns | Frequently marketed as fixed |
| Right to work | Included | Often excluded |
| Card length | Up to 4 years, renewable | Commonly 1–2 years, renewable |
Who This Suits
Someone who intends to own and run something in France, and for whom residence is the consequence of that rather than the purpose of it. If your goal is a European base with no operating involvement, this is the wrong route and Portugal or Greece will fit better — we will tell you that at the assessment stage rather than after a fee.
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Eligibility
- Non-EU, non-EEA and non-Swiss nationality.
- Direct investment of at least €300,000 in tangible or intangible fixed assets in France.
- The investment is made personally, or through a company in which you hold at least 30% of the capital — the threshold applies to the investing vehicle, not to your stake in the recipient business.
- An undertaking to create or preserve employment in France.
- Valid passport, clean criminal record and health cover.
Key benefits
- Multi-year talent card, issued for up to four years and renewable.
- Spouse and minor children receive a talent-famille card without the family reunification procedure.
- Right to work in France, not merely to reside there.
- Schengen mobility and access to French healthcare and public education.
- Counts towards the residence required for naturalisation. Applicants who completed two years of higher education in France leading to a French diploma may qualify after two years, under Article 21-18 of the Civil Code.
Who this program is NOT for
- Investment held below the 30% capital threshold where a company vehicle is used.
- Capital placed in a passive product rather than in fixed assets of a real business.
- Serious criminal convictions or international sanctions listing.
- Funds whose origin cannot be documented.
Not a match? Explore other programs in France.
Costs & proof of funds
Program fees & proof of funds
Fees listed: 3 line items. Estimated totals: €300,350 (EUR). Proof of funds items: 1.
Estimated program totals
EUR: €300,350
Required proof of funds
EUR: €300,000
Detailed fee table
| Item | Price | When | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Direct investment in tangible or intangible fixed assets | €300,000 | Before the residence card is issued | Held personally, or through a company in which you hold at least 30% of the capital. This is capital deployed into a business, not a fee and not a contribution. |
| Residence card tax | €300 | At issuance | Payable at the prefecture. |
| Stamp duty | €50 | At issuance | Droit de timbre. |
Swipe horizontally to see all columns.
We’ll share a personalized cost sheet after your pre-screen.
Estimates only — final costs may vary by case & government updates.
Proof of funds
- Qualifying investment€300,000
Evidence of the assets acquired and of your holding in the investing company.
Required (EUR): €300,000
Figures are indicative and may change with family size, project selection and program updates.
Approved projects
Government-approved developments or investment options vetted for eligibility and exit horizons.
Direct acquisition of productive assets
Min buy-in300,000 EURHold period60 moPlant, equipment, premises or qualifying intangible assets acquired and held personally.
Investment through a controlled company
Min buy-in300,000 EURHold period60 moWhere a company vehicle is used, you must hold at least 30% of that vehicle's capital. The threshold applies to the investing vehicle, not to a minimum stake in the recipient business.
Cost estimator
Calculator
Cost estimator
Indicative estimate. Excludes exchange/transfer charges and third-party legal costs. Official fees may change without notice.
Choose a base option
Family size
Adults (incl. principal)
Children (<18)
Government & due-diligence fees
- €3501 × €350 = €350
Summary
Direct economic investment
fixed • Qty 1
€300,000
€300,000
Residence card tax and stamp duty
fixed • Qty 1
€350
€350
Estimated total
€300,350
Application process
Process
How it works
Step 2: Document the employment undertaking
Set out how the investment creates or preserves jobs in France.
GuidedStep 3: Apply for the long-stay visa
File at the French consulate for your place of residence with the full investment file.
GuidedStep 4: Deploy the capital
Complete the acquisition of the qualifying assets and evidence the transfer.
GuidedStep 5: Travel and attend the prefecture
Give biometrics, pay the tax and stamp duty, and collect the talent card.
GuidedStep 6: Add the family
Spouse and minor children apply for talent-famille cards.
GuidedStep 7: Maintain and renew
Keep the investment and the employment commitment in place, and renew before expiry.
Guided
Disclosure
Risk & compliance
Please read carefully. These notes are informational and do not constitute legal or financial advice.
Risk notes
3 items- This is an equity investment in productive assets and carries ordinary commercial risk.
- France guarantees no return, offers no buy-back and has no exit mechanism attached to the permit. A fixed return over a fixed term is a feature of a private investment product, not of this route.
- Take independent financial advice before committing capital.
Checklist
Document checklist
10 total items
Documents vary by profile and family composition; we'll tailor your final list.
Identity3 items
Identity
3 items- Valid passport and certified copy
- Passport photographs to French specification
- Civil status documents — birth and marriage certificates
Sworn translation into French where required.
Investment3 items
Investment
3 items- Evidence of the assets acquired and their value
- Company statutes and shareholding evidence where a vehicle is used
- Employment undertaking — creation or preservation of jobs
The investment must be in fixed assets. Passive holdings do not qualify.
Financial2 items
Financial
2 items- Source of funds documentation
- Bank statements covering the transfer
Traceable and AML-compliant.
Compliance2 items
Compliance
2 items- Criminal record certificate
- Health insurance covering the stay
Snapshot
Eligible dependents
2 of 4 categories included
2 of 4 categories eligible. Children up to 18. Spouse included. Siblings not included.
IncludedNot included
- Spouse
- IncludedYes
- Children
- Up to 18 years18Yes
- Parents
- Not includedNo
- Siblings
- Not includedNo
Frequently asked questions
No, and the distinction is worth keeping straight. A golden visa buys residence with a contribution or a passive purchase. This route asks you to put €300,000 into the fixed assets of a real business and commit to jobs. France issues no permit in exchange for a contribution.
Yes, provided you hold at least 30% of that vehicle's capital. The test applies to the vehicle you invest through, not to the size of the stake you end up holding in the recipient business.
Only as an ordinary commercial return, if the business performs. There is no state guarantee, no buy-back and no fixed term. Treat it as equity, because that is what it is.
Up to four years, and it is renewable while the investment and the employment commitment remain in place.
Yes. The talent card carries the right to work, which is a meaningful difference from residence permits that only allow you to live in the country.
The accompanying-family route covers a spouse and minor children. Dependent parents are not included and would need a separate basis.
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