French Tech Visa for Founders

French Tech Visa for Founders Procedure

International start-up founders can apply for a “Talent Passport – innovative business project” under the French Tech Visa for Founders Procedure. Key steps Step 1 Application to one (or several) of the French Tech Visa partner incubators and accelerators, through their regular process of selection, an incubator or accelerator supported by the French Tech Capital, or request of the support from two members of the French Tech ecosystem (research organizations, laboratories, qualified individuals, companies, etc.) who will each issue a letter of support. Step 2 After being selected by an incubator or accelerator partner of the French Tech, by an incubator or accelerator supported by the French Tech Capital or obtaining the support of two actors of the French Tech ecosystem, the startup founder must apply for the recognition of the innovative nature of his or her project on the dedicated website: demarches-simplifiees.fr/french-tech-visa-for-founders If the DRIEETS IDF (Direction générale interdépartementale de l’économie, de l’emploi, du travail et des solidarités Ile-de-France) acknowledges the innovative character of your project according to different criteria, you will receive an acknowledgement letter from the Ministry of the Economy. Step 3 The DRIEETS IDF will issue an official letter of acknowledgement of the innovative nature of the project. Step 4 The applicant should enclose this letter with his/her application for : • a long stay visa marked “Talent passport – innovative economic project” to be submitted to the Consulate of his/her country of residence if he/she lives abroad ;or • a residence permit marked “Talent passport – innovative economic project” to be submitted on the dedicated website https://administration-etrangers-en-france.interieur.gouv.fr/ and processed by the Prefecture of his/her place of residence if he/she already lives in France with a residence permit

Where to apply

You live outside France Applicants living outside France should apply to the French consular authorities in their usual place of residence. The application for a “Talent Passport” long-stay visa authorising entry into French territory for the foreign company leader is initiated on the official France-visas website. Read on to find out all the details. Upon arrival in France, you will be entitled to work immediately with this visa. More information on France-visas.gouv.fr Once in France, the foreign talent must apply upon arrival for the relevant Talent passport on the dedicated platform in order to finalize the application for the residence permit. Once the application is validated by the Prefecture via the platform, the foreign talent will receive a certificate of approval which will be equivalent to a residence permit until the talent goes to the appointment at the Prefecture to get the definitive residence permit. Between the application and the delivery of the residence permit, the foreign talent can check the status of his or her application on his or her online account, answer to any request to complete his or her file, and check the decisions made. You are already living in France If applicants are already living in France under a different type of residence permit, they will have to apply for a change of status to be issued a ‘Talent Passport – Innovative business project’ on the dedicated website. They will be asked to prove their eligibility for the desired residence permit. Between the application and the delivery of the residence permit, the foreign talent can check the status of his or her application on his or her online account, answer to any request to complete his or her file, and check the decisions made. When should I begin the procedure? The procedure should be initiated no earlier than three months before the date of arrival in France. If the applicant is already living in France, the procedure should be initiated three months before the previous residence permit expires.