Digital Nomad & Residency - France

France offers no specific digital-nomad/remote-work visa; the government has not launched or announced one. Remote workers rely on general long-stay categories under France-Visas.

The VLS-TS 'visiteur' requires a formal commitment not to engage in any professional activity; guidance enforced from mid-2025 confirms this prohibits remote work even for foreign employers/clients. Prefectures have refused renewals where applicants disclosed telework.

Freelancers and the self-employed can obtain a one-year long-stay visa equivalent to a residence permit marked 'entrepreneur/profession libérale', proving economic viability/sufficient resources; it must be validated online within 15 days of arrival. This is the most common path for independent remote workers.

The multi-year 'Talent' residence permit (up to 4 years, renewable) covers qualified employees, the EU Blue Card for highly-skilled workers, researchers, business creators and company directors — the routes authorities now direct employers to use instead of the visitor visa.

France has no classic 'golden visa', but the Talent 'Economic Investor' permit grants up to 4 years' renewable residency to non-EU investors committing at least €300,000 in tangible/intangible assets (purely financial investments excluded) with a job creation/maintenance commitment.

Visitor and self-employed routes require resources broadly tied to the French minimum wage (SMIC, ~€1,800/month gross in 2026); Talent categories impose higher minimums (e.g. the entrepreneur/investor tracks require substantially higher income or investment levels).