France has no residence-for-property programme. What exists is the Talent Passport: an innovative project, a business creation or a direct economic investment of at least EUR 300,000 tied to jobs, none of which is buying a home.
France has no golden visa in the sense buyers usually mean: no residence permit that you receive for buying a property. What it has is the Talent Passport, a multi-year residence card with several categories, some of which are aimed at people who invest or start a business. Here is what the official public-service page says.
No residence for buying a home
None of the investor-related Talent Passport categories on the official page refers to purchasing a home for personal use. They concern an economic project, a business or an investment in business assets that creates or preserves jobs. If you only want to own a French property and spend time there, the realistic options are a visa for a stay of up to 90 days within the usual short-stay limits or a long-stay route chosen for your own situation. Do not rely on an agent who ties a purchase to residence.
The three investor-related Talent Passport routes
According to the service-public.gouv.fr page on the Talent Passport for investors:
- an innovative economic project recognised by the ministry in charge of the economy, with resources at least equal to the annual minimum wage, given on the page as EUR 22,404.20 gross
- a business creation: a real and serious project to create a company in France, a master's degree or five years of equivalent professional experience, a minimum investment of EUR 30,000 in the project and the same level of resources
- a direct economic investment of at least EUR 300,000 in tangible or intangible assets in France, which creates or preserves employment or commits to doing so, made personally or through a company in which you hold at least 30%
All Talent Passport cards are valid for a maximum of four years, aligned with the contract length where an employment contract applies. The page describes an initial three-month visa from abroad that converts into the multi-year card, and lists a processing fee of EUR 350, made up of EUR 50 stamp duty and a EUR 300 tax. Thresholds and conditions are set by the authorities and change, so check the current page and your prefecture.
The routes people confuse with it
The long-stay visitor visa is built for people who support themselves without working in France, and our France digital nomad visa guide explains why it is no longer a safe base for remote work. The French Tech Visa and the profession libérale route address employees of innovative companies and freelancers. Each ties you to a real French economic connection rather than to a purchase.
What buying in France does and does not do
Owning property in France does not by itself give you residence. For the purchase side, our guides to French mortgages for foreigners, new-build versus resale and capital gains tax on sale cover the real costs, including notary fees, the energy rating and the tax on gains, which differ for sellers resident outside France.
FAQ
Is there a French golden visa? No. There is no residence-by-property programme. What is the closest thing? The Talent Passport investor routes: an innovative economic project, a business creation or a direct economic investment. What is the investment threshold? The page states at least EUR 300,000 for a direct economic investment in tangible or intangible assets with a job-related commitment, and at least EUR 30,000 for a business creation. Does a house count? The page does not list buying a home for personal use as one of these routes. How long is the card valid? A maximum of four years. Where do I confirm the current conditions? On the official service-public.gouv.fr page and with the prefecture, because conditions change.
How we help
We help with the property side of a French purchase: checking title and permits, the real costs and the tax position. We do not advise on talent-passport applications. This is general information, not investment, legal, tax or immigration advice. French rules change, so confirm your situation with a French immigration lawyer and the prefecture before you commit.