French Tech Visa
built around the business.
A founder pathway for non-European entrepreneurs developing an innovative economic project in France—connected to a credible French market-entry and operating plan.
↓What is the French Tech Visa for Founders?
The French Tech Visa is a simplified route within France’s multi-year Talent residence framework. For founders, it is intended for non-EU, non-EEA and non-Swiss entrepreneurs who want to create and develop an innovative startup project in France.
The visa is not granted simply because a company is technology-based. The founder must present an innovative economic project, obtain the required official recognition, demonstrate sufficient resources and then complete the appropriate long-stay visa or residence-permit procedure. The business case and the immigration file therefore need to support the same French development story.
What makes the project credible for France.
Recognition and residence are separate but connected. The project, founder, resources and French execution plan must form one credible case.
Innovative
The project must demonstrate meaningful innovation through its product, technology, service, process or business model—and explain the value created beyond a conventional company launch.
Recognised
The project’s innovative character must receive the required recognition from the competent French public authority or public body before the residence application can rely on this pathway.
France-based
The plan should show why France is the right operating base: the target market, ecosystem relationships, company setup, milestones and economic contribution must be concrete.
Founder-ready
The founder must have a credible role in executing the project and demonstrate sufficient means of subsistence at least equivalent to the applicable full-time French minimum-wage threshold.
From innovative project to French operation.
The route moves through two linked assessments: recognition of the innovative economic project, followed by the visa or residence decision based on the founder’s complete circumstances.
Test the route
Assess the founder profile, innovation strength, French market logic, resources and whether the innovative-project pathway is the appropriate route.
Build the French case
Prepare the business plan, innovation narrative, market evidence, financial model, founder role and a practical roadmap for developing the venture in France.
Secure project recognition
Present the project through the applicable French recognition process and address the evidence needed to establish its innovative economic character.
Submit the residence application
Use the recognition evidence within the appropriate long-stay visa or residence-permit application and provide the required identity, resource and supporting documents.
Establish and execute
Complete the post-arrival formalities, organise the French operating structure and begin delivering the milestones presented in the project plan.
Built for founders
with a market to enter.
International founders building an innovative startup project with a clear reason to operate from France
Technology entrepreneurs preparing to secure official recognition of their innovative economic project
Startup teams connecting founder relocation with French company formation, market entry and execution
One connected
preparation strategy.
Route and innovation assessment
We test whether the project, founder profile and French strategy credibly fit the innovative-project pathway before major preparation begins.
Recognition-ready business case
We shape the innovation logic, French market evidence, founder contribution, financial case and implementation roadmap into one coherent file.
Coordinated French launch
We connect project recognition and residence preparation with establishment decisions, ecosystem positioning and the first operating milestones.
Assess.
Prepare.
Establish.
Assess
Evaluate programme fit, innovation strength, founder readiness and the strategic case for France.
Build
Develop the project narrative, evidence package, financial logic and recognition preparation.
Establish
Coordinate the next steps toward the residence application, company setup and French market launch.