The talent–project leader framework covers genuine business creation, recognised innovative projects and qualifying direct economic investment.
Residency to citizenship
- 01Residence
- 02Long-term residencefrom 5 years
- 03French citizenshipordinarily 5 years
Each stage has its own eligibility requirements.
- Benefits
- A multi-year residence permission, potentially up to four years, authorising the activity linked to the approved project.
- Eligibility
- Business creators need a master’s-equivalent qualification or five years’ comparable experience and a credible project. Innovation and direct-investment branches have separate tests.
- Requirements
- Creation: at least €30,000 project funding and sufficient personal resources. Direct investment: at least €300,000, qualifying ownership or control and a job-creation or preservation commitment. Provide project, funding, qualification and identity evidence.
YOUR LONG-TERM PATHWAY
Residency to citizenship
- 01
Residence
Maintain the business, entrepreneur or independently supported residence permission and make France your genuine home.
- 02
Long-term residence · from 5 years
Long-term EU resident status generally requires five years of eligible continuous residence, stable resources, health cover and the applicable integration conditions.
- 03
French citizenship · ordinarily 5 years
Naturalisation normally requires five years of habitual residence, with your family and material interests in France, integration, language and civic requirements, lawful income and good character. An individual decision is required.
Permanent residence is not a mandatory first step to naturalisation. The current 2026 language and civic-examination rules must be met, a residence card alone is insufficient.
Each stage requires its own qualifying conditions and decision. The years shown are eligibility periods, not approval times.
