Complete Guide to Moving to France with the French Tech Visa Program for Startup Founders

France can be a great spot for entrepreneurs looking to break into the French and European markets. The country has a thriving startup scene, offers governmental support programs, and boasts of the second-highest GDP in the European Union. If you’re considering establishing your business in France, read on to learn more about the self-employed visa and the unique Talent Passport Visa and how they work.

What is the France Startup Visa?

France has the Talent Passport Visa to attract international talent and encourage economic activity. This France Startup Visa program helps non-EU self-employed and employees to develop their businesses. The Talent Passport Visa is a long-term visa with a validity of four years. However, you must apply for a multi-year residence permit within the first two months of your arrival in France.

The Talent Passport visa allows you to bring your family members, including your spouse and children, up to 18 years old. If approved, and upon arriving, you and your family must visit a local police station in France and request a multi-year residence permit.¹

If you are not eligible for the France Talent Passport Visa, you can apply for a general long-stay visa in the self-employed person or liberal activity criteria. This visa allows you to participate in commercial, industrial, or agricultural activity in France. The only difference is that this visa has no minimum investment or educational qualification criteria. The benefits once you arrive and the application process are similar in certain ways to the France Talent Passport Visa.

This visa has a validity of one year, provided you apply for its validation within fifteen days of arriving in France.²

On the other hand, business visas are solely when you have an employer sponsoring your visa, and you can show proof that you are an employee with a contract. This is not a good fit if you intend to be an entrepreneur and start your own business.

Benefits of the France Startup Visa for Entrepreneurs

The France Talent Passport Visa offers many benefits, making this visa program one of the most sought-after by global entrepreneurs:³

• Business-friendly ecosystem - France has one of the highest GDPs in the European Union. The French government offers support to encourage global entrepreneurs to establish and run their businesses in France. International entrepreneurs can use this visa to access the broader European market, enhance their regional presence, earn revenue, and contribute to the French economy.
• Low investment requirements - Unlike the US and some European countries, France stipulates comparatively lower investment qualification criteria. The Talent Passport Visa requires an initial investment of €30,000 EUR.
• Freedom of movement - The France Talent Passport visa allows you and your family increased visa-free travel and movement within the Schengen area.
• Path to residency - This France Startup visa program opens the doors to global entrepreneurs and their families to seek EU residency and citizenship after completing the qualifying residency period in France.
• Possible dual or multi citizenship - Since this visa allows your family to live in France, you and your family can benefit from residency, and you can explore dual or multiple citizenship opportunities with French citizenship, if available with your current citizenship.
• Short processing times - Unlike other visas, the France Talent Passport Visa has a comparatively shorter processing period.

While there are numerous benefits to starting a business in France, there can also be challenges. Identify your exact reasons for opening a business in France versus any other country and what you can uniquely contribute to the economy.

Requirements for France Startup Visa

The Talent Passport Visa covers a number of different types of applicants, including highly qualified employees and researchers, in addition to entrepreneurs. Self-employed persons or individuals in a liberal profession are eligible for the France Talent Passport Visa. It allows you to:⁴

• Create a business in France or assume control of one
• Make a direct economic investment
• Engage in an innovative economic project recognized by a public body, or
• Take up a corporate appointment in a French company.

Here are the requirements for creating a business in France or taking control of one:

• You must prove you have a serious idea for a business creation project in France.
• Your company should be in the following three categories: commercial, artisanal, or industrial.
• Your minimum investment in the project should be €30,000 EUR.
• You must hold a Master’s Degree or should have at least five years of professional experience at a comparable level.

The France Talent Passport Visa is valid for four years, which means it qualifies as a long-stay visa. Here are the visa fees for the France Startup Visa.⁵

Application process for France Startup Visa

The application process for the France Talent Passport Visa depends on your nationality and profession. A France Talent Passport Visa is a long-stay visa for over 90 days, and tends to require more documents than a regular travel or work visa. You can use the Visa Wizard to input your details and identify what documents you will need to support your application.

Depending on your home country, you can use this French government tool to determine which authority is approved to receive your application. For example, it is the French Consulate in India for entrepreneurs holding Indian passports.

Generally, It is a good idea to keep the following documents ready:

• A valid passport
• Two recent photographs in the specific format
• Supporting documents and your business plan
• Your visa application fees

Check if you are able to apply for a visa online during this process. Certain countries may require an in-person application. Once you have submitted your application, you may be required to schedule an appointment with the embassy or visa processing center for an interview or to review your application.

You can submit physical copies of your documents, pay the visa fee and complete any necessary biometric registrations. In most cases, you can track your application online after submission.

Generally, these visas are processed within 15 days. However, the review period can extend to 45 days under specific circumstances, depending on the application.⁶

Moving to France from abroad

Got your visa? Check. Now comes everything else that is part of moving. Here are some factors to consider when moving to France:

• **Update bank and credit card account: **Let your bank know that you will be moving abroad and complete any changes to your accounts if necessary. If you do have any recurring payments in your home country, ensure you have a way to make payments while abroad. Lastly, inform your credit card company of your move and that you may have international transactions.
• Staying connected to family and friends: Starting a business in France requires leaving loved ones behind at home or increasing the distance between you and friends. Apps like WhatsApp and social media like Instagram and Facebook can help you feel closer. Getting a local phone number can also help you connect with new friends in France.
• **Language: **French is the principal language of the country and most business is conducted in it. Try learning some French before you leave to make moving easier.
• Cultural changes: Adapting to the French culture becomes important if you want to establish and run a business in France. It can take time to adjust to the cultural changes, but doing so can make your stay enjoyable and allow you to create personal and business relationships with the local French population.
• Accommodation and logistics: You can decide to search online for a place to live before you move or find one once you arrive. Keep in mind living costs, as living in the heart of Paris can be much more expensive than in the surrounding suburbs or smaller cities.
• Healthcare: Taking care of your health is crucial, especially in a foreign country. You can look for health insurance options and subscribe to the one that best suits you and your family’s requirements. Also, identify a nearby hospital and doctor in case of any medical emergencies.

Banking in France

France is home to a number of popular banks like BNP Paribas, Societe Generale and Credit Agricole. You may want to open a personal and business bank account once you arrive. The personal bank account can help you receive local earnings and make payments like rent or groceries. Learn more with our guide to opening a bank account in France.

A local business bank account will likely be required once you start your business in France. You can receive payments, pay staff and operate your business. Developing a relationship with the bank may also help you access financing and credit options.

If you are sending money overseas, whether to family or for work, banks’ international transaction fees can make transfers expensive. Want a cheaper way to send money abroad? Check out Wise.

Meet Wise: International Account for Global Entrepreneurs

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Wise Account for French Residents

When you need to book your next holiday, buy a gift for someone abroad or send money home, Wise can make international transactions easy. The Wise multi-currency account lets you hold multiple currencies in one single account. You can spend in whichever currency you need and send money to local bank accounts. You can also opt for a linked debit card that lets you swipe or tap like a local when making purchases in person overseas.

Take a look at the Wise multi currency account and make international transactions the easy way.

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Wise Business Account for French Startups

Ready to take your startup global? Wise makes it possible with the Wise Business account. It is everything you love about Wise, but now for your startup. It offers a covenient way to send money to local bank accounts for staff, freelancers or suppliers internationally. If you have a distributed team for your business, you can even make batch payments to multiple accounts.

With a multi-currency account, you can make invoice payments easy for clients. The account comes with bank details in different currencies, so that clients can pay in the easiest currency for them. And if you’re worried about keeping track of payments, Wise Business can integrate with your existing accounting software like Quickbooks so you can keep track of all your transactions.

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