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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 weightChecking
Stay rule 15 pts weightChecking
Tax on foreign income 10 pts weightChecking
Policy stability 5 pts weightChecking
Passport: visa-free destinations
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Years to permanent residence
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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.
Spouse and children included
YesOfficialService-Public / DILA, checked 2026-11-15Spouse and minor children use the accompanying-family procedure.
Public healthcare
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Minimum stay per year
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Tax on foreign income
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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
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Cost: what the Talent — Project Leader: Innovative Economic Project costs over five years

Government fees
CheckingOfficialService-Public / DILA, checked 2026-11-15EUR350 residence-card tax and stamp confirmed; entry-visa fee was not verified.
Non-refundable contribution
$0OfficialService-Public / DILA, checked 2026-11-15No government donation is part of the published eligibility requirements.
Due diligence
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Compulsory extras, first year
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Renewal fees, first 5 years
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Investment you may get back
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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
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Typical adviser fees (not in the total)
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USD estimates use the European Central Bank reference rates of 13 November 2026, the Central Bank of Armenia and the Central Bank of the UAE for AMD and AED, and the Panamanian balboa’s official one-to-one parity with the US dollar.

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

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

  1. Talent residence card: project leader, Service-Public / DILA. Checked 2026-11-15.
  2. How to obtain French nationality, Service-Public / DILA. Checked 2026-11-15.
  3. Multiple nationality in France, 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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