France

FRA

France's Talent Passport (Passeport Talent) residence permit system was folded into the broader 'carte de séjour pluriannuelle portant la mention Talent' framework, with the 2024 Immigration Law (loi du 26 janvier 2024) refining eligibility categories and introducing a dedicated Talent-tech track alongside existing categories for qualified employees, researchers, investors, corporate officers, and artists. Annual quota debate has intensified since the 2024 law empowered Parliament to set indicative, non-binding immigration quotas by profession/region starting from 2024-2025 discussions, though implementation of binding numerical caps has remained contested and largely undelivered through 2026, with skilled-worker Talent Passport routes continuing to operate without hard numerical ceilings in practice.

Naturalisation: 5 years
Tax system: Residence Based
Currency: Euro (EUR)
Dual citizenship: Allowed
Capital: Paris
Region: europe
Population: 68,170,000
Cost-of-living: 73 /100

→ If you hold a France passport, see the France nationality guide

Passport Rank

Visa-Free

190

destinations

Country Details

Capital: Paris
Currency: Euro (EUR)
Languages: French
Population: 68,170,000
Tax System: Residence Based
Dual Citizenship: Allowed
Naturalisation: 5 years
Schengen / EU: Schengen / EU
Climate: Oceanic / Mediterranean / Continental
English Proficiency Rank: #40

Indices

Cost of Living

Safety

Healthcare

Quality of Life

188

Tax Summary

Tax System: Residence Based
Territorial Taxation: No — worldwide income taxed for residents
Naturalisation: 5 years of legal residency
Dual Citizenship: Allowed

Cost of Living by City

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Monthly cost of living per major city in USD: rent, groceries, utilities, transit pass
City	Rent 1BR centre	Rent outside	Groceries	Utilities	Transit pass
Paris	$2,300	$1,600	$430	$200	$90
Lyon	$1,200	$850	$370	$175	$75
Marseille	$950	$700	$350	$170	$60
Nice	$1,400	$1,000	$390	$185	$55
Bordeaux	$1,100	$780	$360	$170	$60

Monthly USD figures. Typical central 1-bedroom rent, grocery basket for one, household utilities, monthly transit pass.

Climate

Paris

4°J

5°F

9°M

12°A

16°M

19°J

22°J

22°A

18°S

14°O

8°N

5°D

Rainfall range: 43–64 mm/month · Daylight 9h (winter) to 16h (summer)

Nice

9°J

9°F

12°M

15°A

19°M

23°J

26°J

26°A

23°S

18°O

13°N

10°D

Rainfall range: 13–120 mm/month · Daylight 9h (winter) to 15h (summer)

Bordeaux

6°J

7°F

10°M

13°A

17°M

20°J

23°J

23°A

19°S

15°O

9°N

6°D

Rainfall range: 52–100 mm/month · Daylight 9h (winter) to 16h (summer)

Visa Categories & Immigration Authority

Major Visa Categories

Schengen short-stay visa (type C)
Long-stay visa (type D — VLS)
Long-stay student visa (VLS-TS étudiant)
Talent Passport (Passeport Talent)
Passeport Talent — Family (Passeport Talent famille)
Employee visa (Salarié / Travailleur temporaire)
Visitor long-stay visa (Visiteur VLS)
Self-Employed / Profession Libérale visa
Working Holiday visa (PVT — Permis Vacances Travail)
Entrepreneur / Company Creator visa
ICT intracompany transfer visa

Authority: Office Français de l'Immigration et de l'Intégration (OFII) / France-Visas portal
Official Portal: france-visas.gouv.fr
Phone: +33-1-53-69-53-70

Naturalisation Details

Residence Years: 5
Language Test: Yes (B1)
Civic Test: Yes
Oath Required: Yes
Dual Allowed: Yes
Fee: $55
Processing: ~18 months

Real Estate

Avg price/sqm (capital): $11,000
Transaction taxes: 8%

Foreign buyers: No restrictions on foreign ownership. EU and non-EU buyers purchase freely. Paris typically €10,000–€13,000/sqm; provincial cities €3,000–€5,000/sqm. Notaire fees (frais de notaire) on resale properties run 7–8% of purchase price; new builds 2–3%.

International Schools

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International schools by city, curriculum, and annual tuition
School	City	Curriculum	Tuition (USD/yr)
International School of Paris	Paris	IB	$22,000–$34,000
Lycée International de Saint-Germain-en-Laye	Saint-Germain-en-Laye	French Baccalaureate / International sections	$4,000–$10,000

Daily Life Logistics

Internet

250 Mbps median

80% fibre coverage

eSIM: Orange France, SFR, Free Mobile, Bouygues Telecom

Driving

IDP required

Exchange eligible: EU/EEA member states, UK, Switzerland +7 more

Pet Relocation

Quarantine: none

Rabies titre not required

EU pet passport: accepted

Safety

GPI Rank

#67

Global Peace Index ranking (lower is safer)

Common Risks

⚠Gold ring scam near Eiffel Tower and Louvre
⚠petition clipboard distraction pickpocketing
⚠taxi overcharging from CDG without meter
⚠fake police officers demanding passport checks

Examples of areas to avoid: Gare du Nord periphery late at night, Seine-Saint-Denis (93) unfamiliar streets after dark, La Goutte d'Or late night

LGBTQ+ Legal Status

Same-Sex Marriage: Legal
Civil Partnerships: Recognised
Anti-Discrimination Law: Yes
ILGA Rank: #16

Religious Life

Halal Food: Widely available
Kosher Food: Widely available
Prayer Facilities: Common

Sample Citizenship Test Questions

Q1. What is the French Republic's national motto?

Answer: Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité

Source: Ministère de l'Intérieur — Naturalization Interview Guidelines

Q2. In what year was the Fifth Republic established?

Answer: 1958

Source: Ministère de l'Intérieur — Naturalization Interview Guidelines

Q3. Which body is responsible for reviewing the constitutionality of French laws?

Answer: Le Conseil Constitutionnel

Source: Ministère de l'Intérieur — Naturalization Interview Guidelines

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