From the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs
“Decisions by the Embassy of France in Hanoi or Consulate-General in HCMC. Post-arrival: VLS-TS Talent validation on the ANEF portal within 3 months. The visa converts to a **carte de séjour pluriannuelle « Talent »** valid up to **4 years** at the préfecture (or matching contract duration if shorter). Préfecture fees per F16922: **€350 (€50 droit de timbre + €300 taxe)** at carte issuance via timbres fiscaux. **Verification of JEI status**: the employer's JEI label is set by URSSAF/Bpifrance and verifiable per F31188 (entreprendre.service-public.gouv.fr/vosdroits/F31188); the consular post will check the employer's decision document is current. Carte talent-famille (F35792) for accompanying spouse + dependent minor children with equivalent validity — file concurrently. EES does NOT apply (long-stay VLS-TS regime).”
What you need
- Per F16922 (3 cumulative conditions for parcours salarié d'une entreprise innovante): (1) **Employer is a JEI** (Jeune Entreprise Innovante, status defined by service-public Entreprendre F31188) OR **recognised as innovative by the Ministry of Economy**; (2) **Applicant's functions are directly linked to the company's research and development project** — not generic operational/admin roles; (3) **Employment contract** with **gross annual salary ≥ EUR 39,582**. Documentation: Cerfa 15614-02 (passeport talent form), passport, photos, civil-status documents, accommodation evidence, health insurance bridging until Sécurité sociale, signed employment contract, French employer's offer letter, **JEI-label decision or Ministry-of-Economy innovative-firm recognition decision** (the employer-side document proving JEI/innovative status), **R&D project description + role-linkage statement** from the employer. Application filed at TLS Contact Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City.
Checklist
17- Long-stay visa application form — Cerfa 15614-02 (passeport talent), online + signed *
- Two recent identical biometric photos (35mm × 45mm, ICAO standard) *
- Original passport (validity covering the Talent card period + 3 months; 2+ blank pages) *
- Passport copies — bio-data page + all pages with visas, stamps, or residence permits *
- Vietnamese documents — notarised + sworn translation *
- Employer's JEI status proof — fiscal/URSSAF document OR Ministry of Economy innovation recognition decision *
- Role-linkage statement — applicant's functions directly tied to the firm's R&D project *
- Signed employment contract — gross annual salary ≥ EUR 39,582 *
- Professional experience evidence — supporting the R&D-linked profile *
- Accommodation evidence — lease, hotel/Airbnb (first weeks), employer-arranged housing, or attestation *
- Health insurance covering arrival until enrolment in Sécurité sociale via the employer *
- Birth certificate (with notarised translation) *
- Marriage certificate (if accompanied by spouse — see also carte talent-famille F35792)
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Fees
- Visa fee — EUR 99 (standard long-stay) *
- Préfecture card-issuance fee — EUR 350 (EUR 50 droit de timbre + EUR 300 taxe), at carte delivery via timbres fiscaux *
- TLS Contact service fee — EUR 25 per applicant *
- TLS Contact appointment confirmation *
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