Updated October 2026
The EU Blue Card is the European residence permit for highly qualified workers. In France, it is one of the Talent residence permits. It gives you a card of up to 4 years, without a work authorisation, and your family can come with you. Here are the conditions in force in 2026, explained simply.
In short
- A salary of at least €59,373 gross per year.
- A 3-year higher education diploma, or 5 years of experience.
- A work contract of at least 6 months.
- No work authorisation, and your family can come with you.
Do you have a job offer in France? Take the free eligibility test
The conditions
- Qualification: a diploma of at least 3 years of higher education, or 5 years of professional experience at a comparable level (3 years for some professions).
- Contract: a work contract or a binding job offer of at least 6 months, for a highly qualified job.
- Salary: at least €59,373 gross per year, which is 1.5 times the reference annual salary.
- Regulated professions: you must also meet the French rules to practise your profession.
- Public order: no threat to public order.
€59,373minimum gross salary per year in 2026
6 monthsminimum length of the work contract
4 yearsmaximum validity of the card
How long the card is valid
- Contract of 2 years or more: a card for the length of the contract, up to 4 years.
- Contract of less than 2 years: a card for the length of the contract plus 3 months.
- Renewal: online, between 4 and 2 months before your card ends.
How to apply
- From abroad: apply for a long-stay visa at the French consulate. For a stay of 1 year or more, you then apply for your card online on ANEF after your arrival.
- From France: apply online on ANEF, within 2 months after your arrival with a long-stay visa, or between 4 and 2 months before your current permit ends.
- Cost: €350 (€300 tax and €50 stamp duty).
- Your employer: no work authorisation and no job market test. Your employer is also exempt from the tax for hiring a foreign worker.
Your family and your future
- Family: your spouse and minor children can come with you through the simplified "accompanying family" procedure. They receive a "talent-famille" card, and your spouse can work in France.
- Europe: the EU Blue Card makes it easier to move later to another EU country to work there as a highly qualified worker, under that country's rules.
- Long-term: after 5 years in the EU with a Blue Card, including 2 years in France, you can apply for the 10-year long-term resident EU card. See our 10-year resident card service.
Good to know: with a French master's level diploma, the Talent Passport "qualified employee" asks for a lower salary (€39,582 gross per year). See our Talent Passport service to compare.
How TSA helps you
- We check if your diploma or experience and your salary meet the conditions
- We compare the EU Blue Card and the other Talent permits for your case
- We prepare your visa or ANEF application with you, in your language
- We prepare your family's application at the same time
- In case of refusal, our partner lawyers take over before the court
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Talk to us in your language
Our Paris team supports people from all over Asia, from the first visa to French nationality. We speak English, French, Tamil, Hindi, Sinhala and other Asian languages.
Official sources: Service-public.fr, multi-year residence permit "talent" and long-term resident EU card (both checked 1 June 2026)
