French Tech Visa: The Fast-Track to France's Innovation Economy
The French Tech Visa is a streamlined, 4-year renewable residence permit designed to attract international tech talent — founders, employees of scaling startups, and investors — to France. Launched in 2017 as part of the La French Tech initiative, it is one of the fastest and most founder-friendly immigration pathways in Europe.
Three Visa Categories
| Category | Who | Key Requirement | Processing Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Founders | Entrepreneurs launching in France | Acceptance by a French Tech-approved incubator (Station F, Agoranov, WILCO, etc.) | 2–4 weeks |
| Employees | Staff of innovative companies | Employment by a company recognized as innovative by La French Tech or with JEI/CIR status | 2–4 weeks |
| Investors | Those investing in French innovation | Direct investment ≥€300,000 in a French company or fund | 2–6 weeks |
Benefits
The French Tech Visa is a subcategory of the Passeport Talent and carries all its advantages: 4-year duration (renewable), full work rights (no separate work permit needed), automatic family visa — spouse receives "Passeport Talent – Famille" with full work rights, Schengen freedom — travel freely across 27 EU countries, path to permanent residency after 5 years of continuous residence, and access to French social security — healthcare, unemployment, retirement from day one.
Application Process Step by Step
Step 1 — Get accepted by an approved program. Apply to a La French Tech-approved incubator. Station F's Founders Program, Station F partner programs, HEC Incubator, Agoranov, and WILCO are all qualifying entities. For employees, your employer must be recognized as innovative.
Step 2 — Apply at your local French consulate. Documents needed: passport, proof of acceptance/employment, proof of financial resources (€1,440/month minimum for founders), health insurance, and passport photos. France-Visas.gouv.fr is the official application portal.
Step 3 — Receive your visa. Processing takes 2–4 weeks. The visa is stamped in your passport as a VLS-TS (Visa Long Séjour valant Titre de Séjour).
Step 4 — Validate upon arrival. Within 3 months of arriving in France, validate your visa online via the ANEF portal (Administration Numérique pour les Étrangers en France). Pay the OFII tax (€225).
Step 5 — Get your carte de séjour. Your VLS-TS functions as your residence card for the first year. Before expiration, apply for the multi-year Passeport Talent card (up to 4 years) at your local préfecture.
Approved Incubators (Selection)
Over 100 incubators and accelerators are approved under the French Tech Visa program. Leading ones include:
| Incubator | Location | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Station F | Paris 13th | All sectors, 30+ programs |
| Agoranov | Paris 5th | Deep tech, science-based |
| WILCO | Paris/IDF | B2B tech, scale-ups |
| HEC Incubator | Jouy-en-Josas | HEC-affiliated startups |
| X-UP / Drahi | Palaiseau | Deep tech, hardware, biotech |
The full official list is maintained by La French Tech. For comparisons with other visa pathways (Passeport Talent, VLS, EU Blue Card), see our visa long séjour guide and Passeport Talent overview.
After Arrival: Practical Setup
Once in France: open a French bank account (BNP, Société Générale, or digital: Qonto for business), register with CPAM (Caisse Primaire d'Assurance Maladie) for healthcare, get a French mobile SIM, and apply for your Carte Vitale (health card). See our living in France guide and Paris relocation guide for full details.