If you have a degree from abroad and a French job offer paying at least €59,373 a year, the EU Blue Card is usually the strongest card available to you. In France it is called talent - carte bleue européenne: up to four years from day one, no work permit for your employer, your family with you, and a route to EU long-term residence that counts years spent in other EU countries.
Key facts
| Legal name | Carte de séjour pluriannuelle "talent - carte bleue européenne", art. L421-11 CESEDA |
| Based on | EU Directive 2021/1883 on highly qualified employment |
| Salary | At least €59,373 gross a year |
| Qualification | Degree after at least 3 years of higher education, or 5 years of comparable experience |
| Contract | Highly qualified job of at least 6 months |
| Validity | Length of the contract, up to 4 years |
| Decision deadline | 90 days after a complete application |
| French language | Not required for this card |
| Family | Spouse and children get a "talent (famille)" card and can work |
| Fee | €350 for a first card, plus the consular visa fee if you apply from abroad |
| Long term | EU long-term resident card after 5 years, which can combine Blue Card years in other EU states |
Who this card is for
- The international hire. An engineer, analyst, product manager or data scientist with a foreign degree, recruited by a French company at a senior salary.
- The Blue Card holder elsewhere in the EU. You already hold a Blue Card in Germany, the Netherlands or another EU state and take a job in France.
- The experienced professional without a long degree. Five years at a highly qualified level can replace the diploma.
- The family that wants to move together. Spouse and children follow on a simplified procedure.
Blue Card or another employee card?
| Your situation | Best fit |
|---|---|
| Foreign degree, salary of €59,373 or more | EU Blue Card |
| Master's obtained in France, salary of €39,582 or more | Talent - qualified employee (lower threshold) |
| Hired by an innovative company, or transferred within a group, salary of €39,582 or more | Talent - qualified employee |
| Salary below these thresholds | "Salarié" card, with a work authorisation filed by the employer |
Conditions
- The job. A highly qualified job of at least six months in France, under an employment contract or a firm job offer.
- Qualification. A degree sanctioning at least three years of higher education, or at least five years of professional experience at a comparable level.
- Salary. At least €59,373 gross a year, that is 1.5 times the reference salary set in August 2025.
- A compliant employer. The employer's own record is checked: social, tax and labour compliance, and the reason the company exists.
If your profession is regulated in France, you must also meet its French practice conditions.
Close to the salary threshold, or unsure whether your experience counts as "highly qualified"? A short consultation is enough to check before the contract is signed.
Documents and procedure
The file combines your documents and the employer's: identity and address, the employer's certificate, and proof of your degree or experience. The exact list depends on where you apply.
From outside the EU, the French consulate issues a long-stay "talent" visa. If you already live in France legally, the préfecture of your place of residence decides. If you hold a Blue Card in another EU state, a separate mobility route applies, with no French visa but a short window to apply after arrival. The administration has 90 days to decide on a complete file, and a first card costs €350 in tax stamps.
Your rights
- Work. The card covers the highly qualified job that justified it, with no work authorisation for the employer.
- Family. Your spouse and children get a "talent (famille)" card without family reunification, and your spouse can work in France.
- No integration contract. No A2 test or civic exam for this card.
- Losing your job. An involuntary job loss does not lead to the card being withdrawn.
- EU long-term residence. Years on a Blue Card in other EU states can count toward the 10-year EU long-term resident card.
When it gets complicated
The Blue Card is generous, but these situations often go wrong:
- Salary at the edge of €59,373. Variable pay, bonuses, part-time work or a contract in another currency raise the question of what counts.
- Experience instead of a degree. "Five years at a comparable level" is assessed case by case.
- Changing employer or role. The card is tied to the highly qualified job that justified it. A new job needs to be handled in the right order.
- The employer's own record. A young company, a group structure created for hiring, or unpaid social contributions can sink an otherwise perfect file.
- Coming from another EU state. The window after entry is short, and time spent on a different kind of permit may not count.
- Counting years for EU long-term residence. Mixing countries, permit types and absences makes the 5-year calculation easy to get wrong.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum salary for the EU Blue Card in France in 2026?
€59,373 gross a year, that is 1.5 times the reference salary of €39,582 set in August 2025.
Can I get a Blue Card without a university degree?
Yes, with at least five years of professional experience at a comparable level.
I have a Blue Card in Germany. Can I move to France?
Yes, after a minimum period in Germany, and without a French visa. Short assignments in France are also possible on a Blue Card from another EU state.
Related reading
Two ways to move forward
Check your situation. If you want to know whether your contract and profile fit the Blue Card, or which card fits better, book a consultation.
Have the application handled. If you or your employer want the file prepared from start to card, describe the situation and you will receive a proposal for full assistance.
General information under French law as at 28 October 2026. It is not legal advice for your situation.