Talent Passport Improvements Implemented

The situation

The French Ministry of Home Affairs has implemented improvements to the Talent Passport program that streamline and ease the application process.

A closer look

The improvements include:

• Quicker appointments for applications. Appointments for Talent Passport applications will now be granted within two weeks of the request for the appointment. This provision applies to initial and renewal applications and includes applications for family members under the Talent Passport program.
• Quicker processing times. Talent Passport applications must now be processed within 15 days from acceptance of the application. The notice does not specify whether this is calculated by business or calendar days.
• Reduced document requirements. Birth certificates are no longer required for Talent Passport applications and the period of validity of the proof of address document has increased from three to six months.
• Expansion of Temporary Residence Permit. Intracompany transferees (ICTs) are now eligible for a Temporary Residence Permit (Autorisation Provisoire de Séjour - APS), whereas previously, the APS was available only for Talent Passport applicants.
• Simplification of temporary residence documents. Talent Passport applicants will only be issued a Temporary Residence Permit (instead of a Temporary Residence Permit and temporary receipt (récépissé)). The temporary residence permit allows travel outside France while their Residence Permit is processed. In the past, both the récépissé and the APS were issued to Talent Passport applicants as proof of a pending Residence Permit.
• Expansion of change of status program. Holders of an ICT residence permit may now request a change of status to Talent Passport or other immigration status if they meet the respective requirements. Previously, ICT residence permit holders had to leave France and enter under the new status.

 

Impact

These streamlining efforts allow for faster processing and increased eligibility for this popular application type.

Background

The four-year Talent Passport residence permit is available to self-employed and employed highly-skilled foreign nationals who meet certain criteria related to their professional status.

In March 2019, the French government expanded the Talent Passport by expanding the eligibility pool for the program, making more foreign nationals and companies eligible French work and residence authorization.

Looking ahead

The government is expected to continue its efforts to streamline and develop the immigration system, building on the 2016 and 2018 changes. Fragomen will report on relevant developments.

Fragomen in France is Fragomen France AARPI., operating as an immigration consultancy/law firm in France. This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].