France Revises Salary Criteria for Foreign Worker Residence Permits

France has reduced the minimum salary requirement for its Talent – Qualified Employee residence permit to €39,582, following a ministerial order issued on 29 August 2025.

The Talent Residence Permit, known as the “passeport talent”, allows non-EU nationals to live and work in France for more than three months. It is intended for skilled professionals, entrepreneurs, and researchers, offering a multi-year residence and work authorisation of up to four years, renewable.

The revised salary threshold for the Talent, Qualified Employee category is no longer tied to France’s minimum wage (SMIC) but is instead based on a fixed average annual gross salary. The new figure represents an 8% decrease from the previous requirement, making the permit more accessible to a broader range of professionals, including recent graduates and employees of innovative start-ups or intra-company transferees.

Applicants must still hold a master’s-level qualification or equivalent from an accredited higher education institution to be eligible for the permit. The changes are intended to support France’s efforts to attract talent in key economic and technological sectors.

The salary threshold for the Talent, EU Blue Card remains unchanged. It continues to be calculated at 1.5 times the average annual gross salary, now set at €59,373. This category targets highly specialised workers and follows standard criteria established across the European Union.

The revised thresholds take effect from 31 August 2025 and are expected to influence the volume and profile of future applications.