The government’s Welcome to France portal quietly updated its fact sheet for the “Talent — New Business” residence permit on 19 January 2026, reflecting new financial thresholds tied to the 1 January increase in the statutory minimum wage (SMIC). Foreign company founders must now show annual resources of at least €21 876.40—the current SMIC—and maintain an investment of €30 000 in the venture.
The permit, valid for up to four years, targets non-EU entrepreneurs who hold at least a master’s degree (or five years’ professional experience) and have a viable plan to launch or acquire a French company. Successful applicants enjoy streamlined family reunification: spouses receive an open “Talent — Family” permit and may work without restriction.
Prospective founders who need assistance navigating the updated documentation requirements can turn to VisaHQ’s France portal (https://www.visahq.com/france/), which consolidates application checklists, offers expert review of supporting evidence, and provides real-time status tracking—helping applicants meet the new SMIC-indexed financial thresholds with confidence.
![France Updates ‘Talent – New Business’ Residence-Permit Fact Sheet]()
Although most immigration salary thresholds were decoupled from the SMIC in 2023 reforms, the entrepreneur pathway still references minimum-wage levels. The update therefore preserves the programme’s competitiveness while indexing requirements to cost-of-living changes.
Corporate mobility teams should note that the higher resource threshold may affect budgeting for start-up assignees and that proof of investment can include equity injections or acquisition financing. Renewal remains contingent on demonstrating business activity and personal income at or above the SMIC.
Applications continue to be lodged via the demarches-simplifiees.fr platform; however, prefectures report processing times of 8–10 weeks, making early filing advisable for founders targeting a Q2 launch.
The permit, valid for up to four years, targets non-EU entrepreneurs who hold at least a master’s degree (or five years’ professional experience) and have a viable plan to launch or acquire a French company. Successful applicants enjoy streamlined family reunification: spouses receive an open “Talent — Family” permit and may work without restriction.
Prospective founders who need assistance navigating the updated documentation requirements can turn to VisaHQ’s France portal (https://www.visahq.com/france/), which consolidates application checklists, offers expert review of supporting evidence, and provides real-time status tracking—helping applicants meet the new SMIC-indexed financial thresholds with confidence.
Although most immigration salary thresholds were decoupled from the SMIC in 2023 reforms, the entrepreneur pathway still references minimum-wage levels. The update therefore preserves the programme’s competitiveness while indexing requirements to cost-of-living changes.
Corporate mobility teams should note that the higher resource threshold may affect budgeting for start-up assignees and that proof of investment can include equity injections or acquisition financing. Renewal remains contingent on demonstrating business activity and personal income at or above the SMIC.
Applications continue to be lodged via the demarches-simplifiees.fr platform; however, prefectures report processing times of 8–10 weeks, making early filing advisable for founders targeting a Q2 launch.
