France has released an update on salary thresholds for Talent Residence Permits, making it easier for qualified foreigners to live and work in the country. Also called the ‘passport talent’, the residence permits help foreign employees and self-employed persons to stay and work in France.
All foreigners who are nationals of a non-Member State of the European Union, the European Economic Area or Switzerland who wish to work and reside in France for a period of more than 3 months have to apply for a residence permit.
There are several eligibility conditions for getting a passport talent, one of which is to meet the salary threshold limit. The multi-year Talent residence permit is equivalent to a work permit.
The updated new salary thresholds for both the Talent – Qualified Employee’s residence permit and the ‘Talent – EU Blue Card’ residence permit have been released.
Talent – Qualified Employee residence permit
Skilled employees who hold a diploma earned at an institute of higher learning accredited at the national level, at least equivalent to the grade of master or comparable, may be granted a ‘Talent – Qualified employee’ residence permit. The maximum duration is four years on a renewable basis.
The “Talent – Qualified Employee” residence permit covers the employees on assignment, employees of a young innovative company and young graduates who are skilled employees holding a diploma earned at an institute of higher learning accredited at the national level, at least equivalent to the grade of master or comparable.
These residence permits now have a standardized salary threshold, no longer based on the minimum wage (SMIC), but on an average annual gross salary set by ministerial order.
The ministerial order of August 29, 2025 sets the average annual gross salary applicable to the “Talent – Qualified Employee” residence permit at €39,582, or nearly USD 46,425.
This change enhances the attractiveness of the “Talent – Qualified Employee” scheme, as the applicable salary threshold has been reduced by 8% compared with the previous level.
Talent – EU Blue Card residence permit
Foreign employees in highly qualified positions are eligible for the ‘Talent – European Union Blue Card‘ residence permit.
For the Talent – EU Blue Card residence permit, the method of calculation remains unchanged and therefore the minimum salary limit stays the same. The salary threshold continues to be set at 1.5 times the average annual gross salary established by ministerial order.
In light of the new average annual gross salary set by the August 29, 2025 ministerial order, the applicable threshold for the Talent – EU Blue Card residence permit is now €59,373, or nearly USD 69654, as of August 31.