What is the Talent Visa - EU Blue Card in France? A residence and work permit for non-EU highly qualified workers

Overview of the French Talent - EU Blue Card?

Are you willing to start a new chapter of your professional life in Europe ? If you wish to put your talent in the French and European Economy, the EU Blue Card – Talent Visa might be the ideal pathway for you.

The EU Blue Card is a residence and work permit, valid for up to 4 years, designed for highly qualified workers from non-EU countries. It provides a legal and simplified way to access long-term employment opportunities in Europe. It is part of France's Talent scheme aimed at boosting economic attractiveness by drawing international talent.

The Blue Card is rooted in an EU-wide initiative to attract skilled workers to Europe. France changed its regulations in 2025, reflecting a commitment to make the Blue Card more flexible and competitive.

In practical terms, the Blue Card allows a non-EU national to reside and work in France in a highly qualified job without the employer needing to obtain a separate work authorization.

Key benefits of the EU Blue Card for companies and employees include: immediate work authorization upon arrival, exemption from cumbersome work permit procedures, eligibility for your spouse to work in France, and a clear path to long-term residence or even French/EU permanent status in the future.

Find out everything you need to know about the European Union Blue Card and get ready to launch this new professional experience !

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Who is the EU Blue Card for?

The EU Blue Card is intended for highly skilled professionals : typically managers, engineers, IT specialists, researchers, and other experts, who have a higher education degree or significant professional experience, and who will be employed in a role commensurate with that qualification. It’s often used to fill roles in sectors with shortages (e.g. tech, healthcare, engineering) and can apply to any industry as long as the job meets the skill and salary requirements. 

In 2025, eligible profiles include those with at least a bachelor’s degree or 5+ years of relevant experience (or 3 years during the last 7 years), taking up a job offer with a minimum 6-month contract and a high salary (detailed below). 

Both established corporations and startups in France leverage the Blue Card to recruit international talent, as it offers a quicker and more certain immigration route than the traditional work permit process. Notably, France also maintains other Talent categories (for scientists, artists, entrepreneurs, etc.), but the EU Blue Card is unique in that it confers intra-EU mobility rights and is recognized across most EU countries (except Denmark and Ireland)

Advantages over other France visas and permits 

The Talent Visa – EU Blue Card in France offers several advantages compared to standard work visas or permits:

• No labor market test: Unlike a typical work permit (autorisation de travail) which may require proving no local candidate could fill the role, the EU Blue Card bypasses this. The employer does not need to obtain prior authorization from the Direccte/DREETS, because the law deems these hires to be in France’s economic interest. This saves several weeks and paperwork, and avoids the risk of a labor authority refusal.
  
  
• Long validity: An EU Blue Card is issued up to 4 years (depending on the employment contract length), whereas standard employment visas are often one year (renewable). A longer validity means less frequent renewals, less cost and administrative burden, and more stability for the employee. If the initial contract is at least 2 years, the card is given for 4 years; if the contract is shorter (minimum 6 months), the card duration will match the contract + 3 extra months, up to 2 years.
  
  
• Family benefits: Blue Card holders can bring their immediate family with them immediately. The spouse and children get a Talent – Family residence permit, which in France authorizes the spouse to work freely (any job, any employer) for the same duration as the Blue Card. This is a huge advantage over some other permit types that require separate family reunification procedures or don’t allow spouses to work.
  
  
• EU mobility: The Blue Card comes with rights to mobility across the EU. After 18 months in one EU country (now reduced to 12 months under the new rules), a Blue Card holder can move to another member state and apply for a Blue Card there through a simplified process. In practice, if your company has EU offices or the employee might need to relocate within Europe in the future, the Blue Card facilitates that. Short-term business mobility is also allowed: Blue Card holders can travel to other EU countries for up to 90 days for business within a 180-day period without a new visa.

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To qualify for a Talent Visa – EU Blue Card in France, you must meet all of the following key criteria:

• Educational qualifications: Hold a diploma sanctioning at least 3 years of higher education (e.g. a Bachelor’s degree or higher), or have at least 5 years of professional experience at a comparable level of expertise (or 3 years during the last 7 years). In practice, a university degree (Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD) satisfies this condition. Lacking a formal degree, extensive experience can substitute if it’s deemed equivalent to a high qualification level. 

• Employment contract in France: Possess an employment contract (or binding job offer) of at least 6 months with an employer established in France. Notably, this is a reduction from the previous 12-month contract requirement : since 2025, a half-year contract is sufficient. 

The contract can be a fixed-term (CDD) or a permanent (CDI). If it’s a CDI, consular officials may treat it as open-ended but will still look at the first year’s salary to ensure the salary threshold is met. If it’s a CDD, the contract length will also determine the Blue Card’s initial validity (e.g. a 1-year contract yields a card valid ~15 months). The job role should be “skilled” in nature, typically matching your qualifications. It’s wise to check that the job title and description reflect a graduate-level or expert position, to avoid any doubt about the “highly qualified employment” requirement.

• Minimum salary threshold: Earn a salary at least 1.5 times the national average gross annual salary (reference salary) as set by the Ministry. As of now, this threshold is €59,373 gross per year. This figure is updated periodically.
  
  Only fixed, contractual salary counts toward the threshold ; bonuses can be excluded for the purpose of eligibility. Employers should ensure the gross annual salary in the contract (e.g. as stated on the Cerfa work contract form) meets or exceeds €59,373. There is no prorating for part-time: the job should be full-time. If the salary is even slightly below the cutoff, the EU Blue Card will be refused, so it’s common to set the wage safely above the minimum.
  
  
• Position and qualifications match: The job in France must be “highly qualified employment” requiring the level of skills you have. This is usually inherent if the above conditions are met (degree + high salary implies a skilled role). The immigration authorities may check that your background is relevant to the job. For regulated professions (e.g. doctors, lawyers, architects),you must also meet the French requirements to practice (such as specific diplomas or professional licenses).

If all the above criteria are fulfilled, you are eligible for a Blue Card. It’s important to note all conditions must be met simultaneously. For instance, a candidate with a PhD but a salary offer below the threshold would not qualify, nor would someone with a high salary but only a 3-month contract.

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Hiring a non-EU national under the Talent – Blue Card requires coordination between the employer and the employee to navigate the visa and residence permit steps.

Step 1: Gather required documents

Both your employer and yourself will need to compile a dossier of supporting documents for the application. It’s best to begin this immediately after agreeing on the employment contract or offer letter. Key documents include:

• Employment contract or offer letter: A work contract (CDI or CDD) or a formal hiring promise specifying the job title, salary, and duration. This must clearly show the gross annual salary and weekly hours (full-time). If the contract is in French (as is typical), ensure you have an English copy for understanding. The consulate will require the French version.
  
  
• Cerfa form – “Elements of the work contract for a Talent – Blue Card”: This is an official form the employer fills out to summarize the job offer for the authorities. It includes details of the company, the employee, job role, duration, and salary offered, and serves to justify the Blue Card request. The employer typically signs this form.
  
  
• Employer attestation: The French authorities ask for proof that the employer is in good standing. Commonly requested documents, besides administrative information to be filled in, include an “attestation URSSAF” (proof the company is up to date on social security contributions) ; also, a recent KBIS (company registration extract).
  
  
• Employee’s personal documents: Passport (valid for at least a year beyond the intended arrival), passport photos (meeting visa photo specs), and civil status documents (birth certificate, marriage certificate etc. in case needed for family applications). If the employee has previous visas or residence permits, copies of those can help (particularly if they’ve held an EU Blue Card in another country ; they should show that to qualify for any expedited processing).
  
  
• Proof of qualifications: Diplomas and transcripts to prove the higher education degree, or letters from previous employers to prove 5 years of professional experience. If the documents are not in French or English, certified translations into French are needed. For degrees, a diploma supplement or official attestation of equivalence can be useful, though not mandatory if the level is clear. Your CV and any professional certifications should also be included as evidence of their expertise.

• “Engagement Republicain” form: Since 2021, France requires foreign talent to sign an attestation of commitment to respect French republican values. It’s a short form basically agreeing to adhere to principles like liberty, equality, secularism, etc. You (and adult family members) should sign this.

• Additional documents for specific situations: If the occupation is regulated (doctor, teacher, etc.), include the authorization to practice or registration with the professional body. If you have an EU Blue Card status from another country and is leveraging that (i.e. they lived in another EU state for 12+ months on a Blue Card), include copies of that Blue Card and their EU work contract. For family members applying together, prepare marriage certificates, children’s birth certificates, etc., with translations.

Step 2: Visa application (if you are outside France)

Candidates living abroad must apply for a long-stay visa marked “Talent - carte bleue europeenne” at the French consulate in their country of residence. The application is initiated online via the official France-Visas portal, where a form needs to be filled out and an in-person appointment scheduled at the consulate or visa center.

• You will submit the application form, passport and photos, and the supporting dossier compiled in Step 2. At the appointment, biometric data (fingerprints and photo) are collected. The visa fee is typically €99 for a long-stay talent visa (often paid by the applicant, but some companies reimburse this).

• When to apply: you should not apply earlier than 3 months before the job start date (the system won’t allow too early applications). Ideally, aim for 2–3 months before start. Many consulates require appointments, so book those as soon as possible.

• Consular processing: The visa decision is officially supposed to be made within 90 days, but Blue Card visas are often processed faster since they are high priority. In many cases, decisions come in 1-2 weeks if all documents are in order.
  

The passport will be returned stamped with a VLS (Visa de Long Sejour) marked “Talent – carte bleue europeenne”. If the employment contract is for 12+ months, the visa might be a 3-month entry visa (after arrival the person applies for the 4-year residence card). If the contract is <12 months, the consulate can issue a VLS-TS (visa valant titre de sejour) which is a visa that doubles as a one-year residence permit once validated online.

Step 3: Prefecture Application (if you are already in France) 

In some cases, you might already be in France (on a student visa, a different work visa, or as a dependent) and will change status to a Blue Card. In that scenario, the process is slightly different:

• You would apply online via the ANEF (Administration Numerique des Etrangers en France) portal for a change of status to the Talent residence permit. You must apply between 4 and 2 months before your current status expires. There’s no consular step.
  
  
• The prefecture will review the online application. Processing can take a few weeks to a couple of months. Once the application is validated, you will receive a confirmation of approval (attestation de decision favorable) electronically.
  
  
• You will then typically be scheduled to collect the physical residence permit (carte de sejour) at the prefecture. The card will be the multi-year Blue Card valid for the appropriate duration. At pickup, you must pay the issuance fee (€200 tax + €25 stamp), usually by buying an electronic tax stamp online in advance

Important: if you are in France on a status not permitting work, you must wait for the new permit approval before starting the job. If you were already allowed to work (say a student with work authorization or an existing work permit), you can often continue working while the change is in process. Consult with EasyStart for specific bridging situations.

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Step 4: Post-visa arrival and formalities

Once the visa is approved, you can travel to France. After arrival, there are a few formal steps:

• If you received a VLS-TS (long-stay visa that serves as a residence permit), you must validate it online within 3 months of arrival. Validation is done at ANEF and involves paying a fee (around €200 in tax stamps). This step is critical; without validation the visa could lapse. Validation gives you legal residence for the duration of the visa (e.g. 12 months). No prefecture visit is required, but you will apply for a renewal or a proper card before that year is up.

• If you received a 3-month entry visa (common for contracts ≥1 year), you need to submit a residence permit application soon after arrival. As of 2025, this is done online via the ANEF platform within the first 2 months in France. Essentially, you upload copies of the same documents again to request the physical carte de sejour. Because this can take time to process, it’s advised to apply as soon as possible. Upon application, the system will issue a certificate of application (attestation de depot) which, along with the visa, serves as proof of legal stay and work authorization while waiting.

The prefecture will notify when the residence permit is ready and you will go to pick it up (often by appointment). At pickup, you’ll have to pay the €225 fee (if not already paid) and get the Blue Card plastic permit. This card will show “Talent – carte bleue europeenne”. The entire post-arrival card issuance can take several weeks or a few months, but the employee can work in the interim with their visa and application receipt, as those serve as proof of status.

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The family of a Talent Visa - EU Blue Card holder enjoys a very favorable status in France. 

The spouse (husband or wife) receives a Talent – Family residence permit (generally of the same duration as the main Blue Card). This permit authorizes the spouse to work in France in any profession, without restriction. This is a huge benefit as it helps the family settle and often the spouse might find employment, contributing to household income and integration. 

Minor Children do not need a residence permit until age 18. They can accompany on a long-stay visa if needed for school enrollment, etc., and then later obtain a permit at adulthood (usually a “Talent Family” card as well, or switch to student if they go to university in France). 

When the Blue Card holder renews, the family members must renew their Talent-Family cards in parallel (within the same timeframe). They will show proof of continuous family ties (e.g., marriage still valid, a family book or certificate, and that they reside together in France). 

After 5 years, family members can also seek permanent status. For instance, the spouse can get a 10-year resident card in their own right after 5 years of continuous residence in France. If the Blue Card holder gets an EU long-term card, their spouse can keep renewing Talent-Family or possibly transition to a long-term card as well once eligible. If the main employee changes status (e.g., becomes a resident or citizen), the family’s status would adjust accordingly (they might then get “vie privee et familiale” cards or apply for citizenship after some time). These are future possibilities.

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The administrative procedure to obtain a European residence and work permit can be a real challenge. Common pitfalls may cause delays or jeopardize immigration authorities' decisions.

Here are some recommendations to ensure your European Union Blue Card application succeeds :

• Plan ahead : Visa procedure can take several months
• Ensure your employment proposal meets the minimum required salary threshold
• Submit a complete application package, with all the documents properly translated
• Respect the deadline for your visa validation
• Inform the immigration authorities of any employment changes (see below)
  
  

What happens if you change employers ?

If you change employers within the first two years entering France with the Blue Card, you must notify the immigration authorities. You even, at times, have to obtain their approval before starting a new job. After a period of two years, you are more free to change jobs as long as you still meet the EU Blue Card conditions.

The French Talent Visa - EU Blue Card offers highly qualified workers a clear path to building a rewarding career. The work and residence permit's benefits include equal rights with European workers, family reunification and mobility across European countries.

If you wish to settle in Europe with your family, the EU Blue Card can serve as a bridge to European citizenship.

Choosing France under the Blue Card program gives you the opportunity to advance your career in one of Europe's most dynamic country. Moreover, you’ll be enjoying a lifestyle that perfectly balances ambition and well-being.

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