When an international group sends one of its people to run its French company or branch, France offers a dedicated card: the talent card for the legal representative of a group entity, often called the "mandataire social" card. Three months in the group, a seat as legal representative in France and a pay package of at least three times the minimum wage are enough for a residence permit of up to four years.
Key facts
| Legal name | Carte de séjour pluriannuelle "talent" (représentant légal / mandataire social), art. L421-19 CESEDA |
| Formerly called | Passeport Talent - mandataire social |
| Role | Legal representative of a company or establishment in France |
| Group link | Employee or corporate officer of a group company for more than 3 months |
| Pay | At least 3 times the annual minimum wage (SMIC): about €67,213 gross a year in 2026 |
| Degree | Not required |
| Validity | Up to 4 years, set according to the assignment |
| French language | Not required for this card |
| Family | Spouse and children get a "talent (famille)" card and the spouse can work |
| Fee | €350 for a first card, plus the consular visa fee if you apply from abroad |
| Long term | 10-year card after 5 years of legal residence; citizenship possible after 5 years |
Who this card is for
- The country manager. A group appoints you managing director (président, directeur général or gérant) of its French subsidiary.
- The branch head. You become the legal representative of the French branch or establishment of a foreign company.
- The head of a family group. You run a holding abroad and take the helm of its French company yourself.
- The executive already in France. You hold another card and the group names you head of the French entity.
If your role is different, another card may fit better:
| Your situation | Card to look at |
|---|---|
| You join the French entity as an employee, not as its legal representative | Talent - qualified employee (intra-group route) |
| You stay on your foreign contract and are posted to France | "Salarié détaché ICT" card |
| You start your own company, not a group's | Talent - company founder |
| You invest €300,000 or more and create jobs | Talent - investor |
Conditions
- The role. You are the legal representative of a company or establishment based in France.
- The group link. For more than three months you have been an employee or a corporate officer of a company or establishment of the same group.
- The pay. At least three times the annual SMIC, about €67,213 gross a year at the SMIC in force since 1 June 2026. The figure changes whenever the minimum wage is revalued.
There is no degree requirement and no prior Ministry opinion.
Not sure your mandate, group structure or pay package meets these tests? A short consultation is enough to check before the appointment.
Documents and procedure
The file has to show three things: your appointment as legal representative in France, your seniority in the group, and your pay. If you live abroad, the French consulate issues a long-stay "talent" visa; if you already live in France legally, the préfecture of your place of residence decides. A first card costs €350 in tax stamps.
In practice, the corporate appointment and the immigration file have to be planned together: the French company's appointment decision is one of the key documents.
Your rights
- Work. The card covers the activity of running the French entity. It is not a general work permit.
- 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.
- Tax. Executives sent by a foreign group often qualify for the French impatriate regime, which can exempt part of their pay from income tax for up to 8 years.
When it gets complicated
The card looks simple. These are the situations where files most often go wrong:
- Mandate and employment contract at the same time. Many executives are both corporate officers and employees. How the two are structured affects which card applies and what counts as pay.
- Pay split across entities. Salary paid partly abroad, in another currency, or as bonuses and benefits raises the question of what counts toward 3 times the SMIC.
- What is a "group". Minority holdings, joint ventures and family structures do not always meet the group test.
- A newly created French entity. Appointing the representative before the company exists, or before the 3 months in the group are complete, breaks the timeline.
- Changing the mandate. A promotion, a move to another group entity or the end of the mandate needs to be handled before, not after.
- Tax and social security. Being an officer rather than an employee changes social security coverage and the impatriate regime analysis.
Frequently asked questions
What salary does a mandataire social need for the French talent card?
At least three times the annual SMIC, about €67,213 gross a year in 2026.
Can I run the French subsidiary from abroad and just visit?
Short business trips do not need this card. The card is for executives who will live in France.
Related reading
Two ways to move forward
Check your situation. If you want to know whether the appointment and pay package fit this card, or which card fits better, book a consultation.
Have the application handled. If the group wants the file prepared together with the corporate appointment, 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.