Scientific researcher residence permit: complete guide

The scientific researcher residence permit (or talent passport for researchers) allows foreign researchers to conduct research work or teach in a French institution.

This guide explains the requirements, procedure and benefits of this permit.

🔬 What is the scientific researcher permit?

The talent passport with "researcher" mention is a 4-year multi-year residence permit, renewable, allowing you to:

Conduct research work in an approved organization
Teach in higher education
Benefit from facilitated European mobility

It replaced the former "scientific" residence permit in 2016.

✅ Requirements to obtain the talent passport for researchers

1. Hold a master's degree or equivalent

You must hold a master's degree (bac+5) minimum or a recognized equivalent degree.

2. Have a hosting agreement

You must have signed a hosting agreement with an approved research organization in France.

Approved organizations:

Public universities
CNRS, INSERM, INRAE, CEA
Grandes écoles
Approved private research organizations

The agreement specifies:

The purpose of the research
The duration of the mission
The researcher's resources (salary, scholarship, funding)

3. Sufficient resources

You must prove monthly resources at least equal to minimum wage (approximately €1,801 net/month in 2025).

Accepted sources:

Salary paid by the host organization
Research scholarship
Thesis funding
Doctoral contract

4. Health insurance

You must prove health coverage (social security or private insurance).

📋 Required documents

Personal documents

Residence permit application form
Valid passport
Long-stay talent passport visa (if first application from abroad)
Proof of address less than 6 months old
Standard identity photos
Birth certificate with certified translation

Research-related documents

Hosting agreement signed with the approved organization
Diplomas (master's, doctorate)
Detailed CV and list of publications
Mission letter or employment contract
Detailed research program

Proof of resources

Employment contract or job offer
Scholarship or funding certificate
Pay slips (if already in position)
Bank statements

🏛️ Application procedure

From abroad (first application)

Step 1: Sign a hosting agreement

The French research organization establishes a hosting agreement and sends it to the Ministry of Higher Education for validation.

Step 2: Apply for a long-stay talent passport visa

Once the agreement is validated, you apply for a long-stay talent passport researcher visa at the French consulate.

Documents: hosting agreement, diplomas, proof of resources.

Processing time: 15 days to 2 months.

Step 3: Enter France

With the visa, enter France and validate your VLS-TS on ANEF within 3 months.

Step 4: Collect the multi-year card

At the end of the first year (or upon first application depending on the case), you receive a talent passport researcher card valid for 4 years.

From France (status change)

If you are in France with a student permit and complete a doctorate, you can request a status change to talent passport researcher.

Procedure:

Sign a hosting agreement with a research organization
Make an appointment at the prefecture
Submit the application with agreement and diplomas

⏳ Processing times

Long-stay visa: 15 days to 2 months
Status change: 2 to 4 months
Renewal: 2 to 4 months

💶 Cost of the talent passport for researchers

Long-stay visa: €99
VLS-TS validation: €50
Talent passport: €200 (first issuance) / €225 (renewal)

First year total: approximately €250 to €350.

🔑 Benefits of the talent passport for researchers

1. 4-year duration

The talent passport is valid for 4 years (vs. 1 year for standard permits), providing great stability.

2. Right to work

You can:

Work for the host organization
Teach in higher education
Perform ancillary activities (consulting, expertise) up to 50% of your time

3. Immediate family reunification

Your spouse and children can join you immediately in France (no 18-month waiting period).

Your spouse will receive a "private and family life" permit allowing them to work without restrictions.

4. European mobility

The talent passport facilitates mobility to other EU countries to conduct research (subject to conditions).

5. Simplified procedure

The procedure is faster and less restrictive than for other permits (no DREETS work authorization required).

🔄 Renewal

Renewal is done 2 to 4 months before expiration.

Requirements:

Hosting agreement still valid or new agreement
Sufficient resources
Actual research activity

Documents:

Renewed or new hosting agreement
Proof of resources
Activity report (publications, projects, etc.)

🌍 Intra-European mobility

With the talent passport researcher, you can conduct research in another EU country for up to 6 months (or 12 months with prior notification).

Procedure:

Inform the authorities of the destination country
Provide a hosting agreement from the organization in the destination country

❌ Reasons for refusal

Insufficient qualifications (< master's)
Hosting agreement not validated or absent
Non-approved organization
Insufficient resources (< minimum wage)
Non-credible research project

Appeals

You can file:

Administrative appeal with the prefect
Legal appeal with the administrative court (2 months)

🤝 VisaPref supports you

Obtaining a talent passport for researchers requires coordination with the host organization and assembling a complete file.

At VisaPref, we support you to:

Verify your host organization's approval
Prepare your file (agreement, diplomas, resources)
Track your application at the consulate or prefecture
Maximize your chances of success

👉 Contact us for personalized support.

❓ FAQ – Scientific researcher residence permit

1. Can I work outside my research organization?

You can perform ancillary activities (consulting, expertise) up to 50% of your working time.

2. Can my spouse work in France?

Yes, your spouse will receive a "private and family life" permit allowing them to work without restrictions.

3. Can I create my company with this permit?

The talent passport researcher does not allow you to create a company. For that, you must request a status change to talent passport "company creator".

4. How long does it take to obtain the talent passport researcher?

Allow 2 to 4 months for the complete procedure (agreement validation + visa or residence permit).

5. Can I apply for French nationality with this permit?

Yes, after 5 years of regular residence in France, you can apply for naturalization (subject to integration requirements).