The “talent – researcher” multi-year residence permit (carte de séjour « talent – chercheur ») allows non-EU researchers and university lecturers to live and work in France. The host institution does not need a work authorisation and is exempt from the tax on the employment of a foreign national.
Conditions
You must meet all of the following conditions:
- hold a diploma at least equivalent to a Master’s degree;
- come to France to carry out research or to provide university-level teaching;
- have a hosting agreement (convention d’accueil) signed with a public or private organisation approved for research or higher-education purposes. The agreement must state that you are a researcher and specify the purpose and duration of your stay.
A minimum gross salary of €2,200 applies to researchers who have signed a research stay agreement.
Mobility within the EU
If you plan to carry out part of your research in another EU country, the hosting agreement must specify that you belong to a mobility programme. You can then apply for a “talent – researcher – mobility programme” card.
Validity and family
The card is issued for the duration of the research stay, up to four years. Your spouse and minor children can benefit from the simplified “accompanying family” procedure and obtain a “talent – family” card, without going through family reunification.
The procedure
- From abroad: visa application at the French consulate. For a stay shorter than 12 months, you receive a “talent” VLS-TS to be validated online within three months of arrival; for 12 months or more, a three-month “talent” visa followed by an online application for the card on ANEF.
- From France: online application on ANEF within two months of entry with a long-stay visa, or between four and two months before your current permit expires.
If the card is granted, the cost is €350 in tax stamps (€50 stamp duty + €300 tax).
Refusal
For the researcher card, the prefecture’s silence is deemed an implicit refusal after 60 days. You then have two months to file an administrative appeal (to the prefect or the Minister of the Interior) and/or a court action before the administrative court. An explicit refusal is usually accompanied by an obligation to leave French territory (OQTF), with very short appeal deadlines.
After the research
At the end of your talent – researcher card, once your research is completed, you can apply for a one-year “job search / business creation” residence permit to look for a job or set up a business related to your research.
Practical tips
- Check that the hosting agreement is signed by an approved organisation and that its content (title, duration, purpose) matches your contract and the visa application.
- Anticipate renewal: apply between four and two months before expiry to avoid a gap in your right to reside and work.
Source: Service-public.fr – Carte talent and Service-public.fr – Recherche d’emploi / création d’entreprise (checked on 3 November 2026).
Need help with your application?
FATOU BABOU AVOCAT assists employees, entrepreneurs, investors and companies with every step of business immigration to France: eligibility analysis, preparation of the application, follow-up with the consulate or the prefecture, and appeals in the event of refusal.
- Bordeaux office: 11 rue Galin, 33100 Bordeaux, France – +33 9 85 40 18 64 – contact@legalfb-avocat.fr
- Dakar office: 14 rue Woro Fila, Fann Hock, Dakar, Senegal – +221 77 173 69 05 / +221 33 844 29 16 – contact@fbavocat-sn.com
This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Rules and amounts change regularly: always check your own situation with a lawyer.