What is the change?
As part of an action plan aimed at preventing interruptions in the rights of foreign nationals lawfully residing in France, the Directorate-General for Foreign Nationals in France (DGEF) has confirmed the broader issuance, by French consular authorities abroad, of long-stay visas serving as residence permits (visas de long séjour valant titre de séjour [VLS-TS]) to applicants eligible under the “Talent” residence permit category and their family members.
Key changes
Prior to this change, French consular posts could, depending on the applicant’s circumstances, issue either:
- a VLS-TS valid for between 4 and 12 months; or
- a 3-month long-stay visa bearing the endorsement “carte de séjour à solliciter” (residence permit to be applied for), requiring the holder to promptly undertake the relevant application formalities with the prefecture following arrival in France.
Consular authorities are now being instructed to issue a VLS-TS as a matter of standard practice to applicants eligible for a “Talent” residence permit, irrespective of the duration of the project underlying their relocation to France.
Objectives of the Reform
- Providing greater certainty in the immigration procedures applicable to international talent and their family members.
- Preventing interruptions in rights that could lead to the termination of employment contracts as a result of delays in the issuance of residence permits.
- Simplifying and harmonising visa application procedures.
- Facilitating settlement in France through online validation of the VLS-TS, without requiring an additional application or a fresh assessment of the holder’s entitlement to reside in France.
- Enhancing France’s attractiveness amid strong international competition for talent.
The renewal process must be initiated 4 months before the VLS-TS expires. At that stage, foreign nationals are expected to be issued a multi-year residence permit valid for 4 years. Upon expiry of that permit, they would then be eligible for a 10-year EU long-term resident permit, subject to satisfying the applicable eligibility requirements.