French Citizenship by Investment

There is no official citizenship by investment scheme in France. You must fulfill the eligibility requirements in order to become a citizen of France, which ordinarily include having French ancestry, residing in France for a specific amount of time, and exhibiting proficiency in French language and culture.

Nevertheless, France does have a program called the “Talent Passport” or “French Tech Visa” that seeks to entice foreign entrepreneurs and talent to the nation. Individuals who exhibit exceptional talent or skills in certain fields, such as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), are awarded residency permits through this program.

Despite the fact that the Talent Passport program does not directly lead to French citizenship, it can offer a route to residency in the nation and may even result in naturalization after a number of years of residing there.

The France Talent Passport program

The France Talent Passport program, also known as the “French Tech Visa,” is a program designed to attract foreign talent and entrepreneurs to France. The program grants residency permits to individuals who demonstrate exceptional talent or skills in certain fields, such as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

There are four categories under the France Talent Passport program:

• Individuals with a master’s degree or higher, or with equivalent professional experience, in a subject area deemed strategic for the French economy fall under the “Talent Passport – Highly Qualified” category
• The category “Talent Passport – Startup” is for foreign businesspeople who intend to found or join a startup in France
• The category known as “Talent Passport – Innovative Company” is for international workers who are being relocated to France by their employers
• The “Talent Passport – Investor” category is for overseas investors who intend to put money into French businesses or start their own businesses there

In order to qualify for the France Talent Passport program, applicants must meet certain eligibility criteria, such as having a job offer or being an entrepreneur with a viable business plan, demonstrating proficiency in the French language, and having sufficient financial resources to support themselves during their stay in France.

Successful applicants will be granted a four-year residency permit, which can be renewed or potentially lead to naturalization and French citizenship after several years of living in France.