France’s Investment Visa Program.
Countries in Europe have made a strong statement creating a number of government programs designed to attract foreign investments into their countries. Bulgaria and Portugal have some of the most popular, but one country wants to enter the competition. In this post, we’ll look at France’s investment visa program.
France’s citizenship by investment program is one of the best options there are if you wish to obtain a second passport while also investing in a bona fide economy. Also, France is an incredible place to live and obtaining a second passport in the country guarantees you the same benefits any citizen of the European Union can enjoy.
The citizenship by investment visa most commonly used by foreigners who wish to reside in France to control their investment is called the Talent Passport residence permit, but it is also referred to as the Business Investor Visa.
The investment that you make into the country needs to be personal through one of your bank accounts back home, through a company that is under your name, and via a company from which you possess at least 30% of the shareholdings.
Along with these 3 requirements, the investor must also satisfy certain requirements if they wish to obtain the visa such as:
- Creating jobs for residents and citizens of France
- Investing at least 300,000 Euros in fixed tangible or intangible assets
This visa is being taken advantage by startups from all over the world and because of this it has been referred to as the Tech Visa. It is also important to note that in order for your application to be accepted you have to own at least 10% of the company or startup.
What is also great and unique about this investment visa is that the husband or spouse of the applicant can also work in the country if the visa is accepted. You won’t find these types of conditions on most investment visas.
How to Apply French Visa
In order to apply for the French Investment Visa, you will have to provide some documents to the French Consulate or the proper authority overseeing your case. The documents that you will have to annex to your application include:
- Long stay visa application, or a valid residence permit
- Proof of marital status, if applicable
- Two copies of your passport
- Birth certificate of any dependant included in your application
- Proof of address of your last residence
- Three Passport sized photographs
- Proof of payment of the applicable fees
Although the French Investment Visa does not guarantee you an automatic passport like the Fast Track Bulgarian Citizenship by Investment program does, once you get the French Visa it is fairly easy for it to turn into a citizenship.
France does not offer a real estate visa. Buying property in France is not considered an investment with a path to residency and will never turn into a citizenship. For that option look into Portugal’s Golden Visa.
French Residence Permit Program
There is another type of investment visa program offered by the French Government, but it is more costly than others featured in Europe. This is called the French Residence Permit Program.
In order to qualify for this government program, the applicant must make an investment of at least $10 million dollars in industrial or commercial assets in France. Same as the Tech Visa the investment must be made personally or through a company that the applicant owns at least 30% of the shareholdings.
The requirements for the French Residence Permit Program are less strict than those of the Tech Visa as the applicant is already making a huge deposit into the country’s economy. Besides the requirement that are included in the Tech Visa the applicant must also:
- The applicant must be in good standing regarding residency rights in French territory
- Be clean and free of any criminal convictions
This is a great visa if you have the capital to back it up. France is an already stable and high functioning economic powerhouse and the chances of your startup being a success increment by investing in the European Union.
France may not be the cheapest option, but it is one of the best in Europe. It is also fairly easy to navigate. If you have the capital to back it up then you are basically inside the country. What is also worth mentioning is that if your company or your startup’s tanks then your visa can get taken away from you.
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