French “angel investor visa 300,000€” could be serious contender to Southern Europe’s golden visas

angel investor visa, france,

RBI, residence by investment, tech visa

A EUR 300,000 passive investment in a French startup will get applicants and their families a 4-year visa that can be renewed as long the investment is maintained. After five years of continuous residence in France – or, indeed, in any EU country, as per EU rules – applicants are eligible for permanent residence. A year after obtaining permanent residence, applicants may apply for citizenship, provided they have obtained proficiency in the French language over the preceding 5-6 year period.

What is the French Tech Visa?

France recently launched a series of immigration initiatives designed to attract skilled professionals and entrepreneurs, collectively dubbed the French Tech Visa or, alternatively, the Talent Passport. What’s interesting to those of us working in the investment migration industry is the subcategory called “Business Investor”. To qualify, applicants must meet the following criteria:

Invest at least €300,000 in fixed tangible or intangible assets.
Invest either directly or via a company in which they have at least a 30% shareholding.
Own at least 10% of the company in which they are investing.
Create or protect (or commit to create or protect) jobs within the four years following the investment.

The spouse and dependents of the investor may also be included in the application and may take up employment in France.

Who is it for?

To be sure, this program will not suit investors who don’t intend to physically reside in France, but the investment can be completely passive and there’s a decent chance of serious returns. Of course, we’re talking about high-risk venture capital/angel funding of startups here, so there’s also a chance you’ll never see those EUR 300,000 again but, who’s to say your money isn’t equally at risk in UK or Portuguese property or Cypriot bonds?

Here’s a hypothetical scenario:

A Chinese family wants to immigrate to France. Let’s say the father is the main breadwinner and wants to stay in China to tend to his business. The wife invests, on behalf of the family, EUR 300,000 in a French tech-startup. She doesn’t have any experience running a company, nor does she know anything about robotics or fintech, but that doesn’t matter because the investment is completely passive. She enrolls her children in a French school (at local rates) and rents an apartment in Paris. After four years, she either maintains her investment in the same company (which, by now, is either profitable, struggling or throwing in the towel) or shifts her investment to another company. Simultaneously, the family files for an extension of the visa of between one and four years.

After year five, the family members who have resided in France are all eligible for permanent residence. At this point, they may divest from the tech-startup if they wish. They may also choose to stay in France, but will not lose their PR status if they don’t.

Where to invest?

The Macron government is currently developing a list of designated companies into which applicants may invest in order to qualify. In the meantime, prospective applicants may avail themselves of the services of a business immigration specialist to determine if a company in which they would like to invest would qualify.

How does the program compare to Europe’s golden visas?

France is a more attractive lifestyle destination than many of its Southern European counterparts but generally has a higher tax burden. The minimum investment requirement is similar to the Golden visas, but the risk/return potential is higher. Processing times are comparable, as is the path to naturalization. The French program compares favorably to the Malta RVP insofar as the investment requirement does not rise with the inclusion of additional dependents.

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FRENCH TALENT PASSPORT

Advantages

• 4 years renewable Residency Card

• Dependents: spouse & children under 18 are included

• Right to work in France

• No English Language proficiency necessary

• Right to travel in and out of France for 4 years

• Free mobility within Schengen States (26 countries) for a period of 6 months / year

• Free mobility to French overseas territories

• Right to seek Permanent Resident and/ or Citizenship after 5 years

• Free access to Public Education & Healthcare System

• Fast track processing time

Requirements

• Solid Business Plan/ Market Analysis

• Limited source of funds requirements

• Incorporate a legal entity or take over an existing company

• Hold a minimum of 10% interest in such company

• Residency requirements: on a case by case basis

• Main applicant: shall be aged 18

• No criminal record

Investment

• Commitment to invest EUR 300,000 in the intended project

• Commitment to create / maintain jobs for local workforce within 4 years

• Complying with commitments set in the approved Business Plan

Process

• Application to the competent French Embassy /Consulate General

• Processing time: 45 days

• Upon application’s approval, applicant & dependents are granted with a 3-month long stay visa

• Applicant & dependents shall enter France within such period

• Competent Prefecture issues the Passport Talent within the month of entry

• Passport Talent is granted for a duration of 4 years

* * * * * *

FRANCE SERVICES 法国投资移民服务

angel investor visa, france,

RBI, residence by investment, tech visa

Residents in France (origine Asia-pacific and African Nationals) :

Compliance Services (France)
We provide support to help Asia-pacific and African national workers on assignment to comply with immigration requirements in France. In addition to preparing and filing the necessary declarations with the relevant authorities, we review the assignments thoroughly to help our clients to maximize their compliance with French labor laws governing seconded workers.
法国长居者（亚太裔及非裔）：法律协助（法国）
我们协助亚太及非洲籍员工办理在法国工作身份所需的身份卡。我们会协助您准备相关材料及证明，并预审您需提交的所有材料，为您在劳工局申请到合法工作身份提供最大便利。

Changes and Obligations for the Employer (France)
We guide employers on their administrative duty and duty of care. These include the maintenance of expatriate records; processes to renew status for their foreign nationals; and duty to inform the French immigration authorities of any company, employment or personal changes that are relevant to the immigration benefits of their foreign nationals.
帮助履行在法雇主的法律义务（法国）我们为雇主在法国需履行的行政职责提供咨询服务，其中包括海外派遣记录，帮助外籍员工办理转身份，以及就一切涉外事务向法国移民局提供备份资料。

Consular Services

(France : Attention : reserved only for French Resident card holder)
In conjunction with our Advocate-Advisors, we provide consular support at diplomatic missions in France, working both with French authorities and foreign missions based in France.
领事服务（法国，此业务仅面向法国长期居住卡持有者）除法律咨询服务以外，我们为法国本土的涉外交流项目提供领事支持。

European Law (France)
We provide our clients with guidance and support in relation to European immigration laws (e.g., Schengen Agreement and Vander Elst provisions) and their implementation in France.
欧洲法律协助（法国）
我们在欧洲移民相关法律（如Schengen Agreement and Vander Elst provisions等）及旅居法国等方面为客人提供咨询及帮助。

French Immigration and Compliance Review
Onsaemi worldwide can provide strategic, concise and tailored guidance and training to help you understand immigration requirements and introduce effective internal policies and processes. We can help you benchmark your processes against others and identify areas where you risk noncompliance with immigration requirements. We can also help you to proactively prepare for potential government inspections or audits.
法国移民程序预审
Onsaemi worldwide将为您提供系统、简明并量身定制的协助和训练，帮助您更好的了解移民所需的条件，并为您详细讲解相关政策和程序。我们会帮助您比照以往的成功移民案例，帮助您降低可能面临的风险。我们也会帮助您为将来的政府调查及审计工作提早做好准备。

Government Strategies (France)
Our France Immigration Team works in concert with French immigration authorities, including the Directions Régionales des Entreprises, de la Concurrence, de la Consommation, du Travail et de l'Emploi (Direccte), L’Office Français de L’Immigration et de l’integration (OFII) , the Préfectures throughout France as well as French consulates abroad.
This allows us to keep a close eye on changes in immigration requirements as they unfold, quickly communicate proposed legislative and procedural changes to our clients, and help them adapt their immigration programs and strategies as needed.
政府程序（法国）
我们的法国移民团队熟悉办理法国移民的有关部门，包括商业部，竞争部，消费部、劳工部、OFII、警察局以及法国海外领事馆。
我们会在第一时间了解到移民相关事项的变更，并以最快的速度与我们的客户进行沟通，并帮助他们符合最新的移民相关要求及程序。

Immigration Services for Spouses and Dependents (France)
We provide full support to dependents in relation to immigration processes in France.
Specifically, we guide assignees on the optimum immigration strategies for accompanying dependents, partnering closely with them and their dependents to prepare all required documentation for timely application processing in France, and to help them maintain compliance with immigration process requirements in France for the duration of their stay. In addition, we assist with renewals and/or changes to dependent immigration status, and follow up with authorities on a regular basis through the application process.
配偶及子女的移民服务（法国）
我们为您的配偶及子女提供其在法国所需的相关移民服务。
我们特别为您的配偶及子女提供最优的移民方案，根据其具体需要在相关部门规定的时间内为其准备移民材料，并保证其在法期间的合法身份。此外，我们还会帮助您的配偶及子女办理身份更新手续，并在整个办理程序中随时跟进流程。

Registration at Local Prefecture and Accompaniment to Authorities (France)
Our partnership with our Advocate - Advisors in France allows us to accompany foreign nationals when applying for the residence permit at the local préfecture in Paris and elsewhere throughout France.
到警察及相关部门陪同办理手续（法国）
我们在法国的法律咨询顾问为您提供到巴黎及外省相关部门办理移民手续的陪同工作。

Residence and Work Permit Applications (France)
We help companies to assess the appropriate work authorization procedure based on the circumstances of their intended stay in France. Where work and residence permits are both required, we offer a streamlined service to complete formalities in a smooth and efficient manner. We also provide guidance related to business or other immigration visa applications and communicate with the relevant consulates when necessary.
居住及工作签证（法国）我们帮助公司办理员工的合法工作身份。
对于同时需要工作及居住卡的客户，我们也将为您量身推荐最佳方案。我们同时提供商务签证及其他类型移民签证的申请服务。

Residency and Citizenship (France)
We offer full consultative and case preparation support for applications for long term residency (carte de résident) and French citizenship.
永久居留及入籍（法国）我们向永久居留及入籍的申请者提供全面的咨询服务。

Work and Residence Renewals (France)
We provide complete assistance with applications for renewal of work permits and residence permits.
更新工作及居留签证（法国）我们为客人提供更新工作及居留签证的服务。

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