French Residence Permit — Passeport Talent for a Startup Founder from Russia via the UAE

Alexey is an IT entrepreneur and founder of a startup from Moscow. In recent years, he has been developing projects in the field of artificial intelligence and fintech, attracting international investments, and participating in acceleration programs in Dubai. He has been living in the UAE for more than three years and holds local residency. The next step was expanding into the European market by launching an innovative project in France. To legalize and scale his business, Alexey chose to apply under the Passeport Talent program.

Client’s Goal

Alexey’s main objectives were:

• to legalize long-term residence in France;
• to launch a startup in partnership with a French business incubator;
• to obtain EU residency status with the right to move freely within the Schengen Area;
• to relocate with his wife and two children, ensuring their legal status and access to education and healthcare.

Why was Passeport Talent chosen?

The category turned out to be optimal for several reasons:

Relevance to profile. The subcategory Porteur de projet innovant is designed for startup founders launching innovative businesses in France with the support of an accredited incubator. For the “business creation” pathway, the minimum investment is €30,000. In the case of an innovative project, the key condition is recognition of the startup by a public body (for example, under the French Tech program) and proof of annual resources at least equal to the French minimum wage (SMIC).

Long validity period. The residence card under Passeport Talent is issued for up to 4 years, allowing the applicant to focus on business development without yearly renewals.

Family inclusion. The spouse and children are automatically included in the application. The spouse gains the right to work, while the children receive access to education and healthcare in France.

Possibility of applying from the UAE. Thanks to his valid UAE residency, Alexey was able to apply through the French Consulate in Abu Dhabi without needing to return to Russia.

No language requirement. As of 2025, knowledge of the French language is not required for Passeport Talent. However, policies may change, so applicants are advised to check current rules before applying.

Steps of preparation and document processing

Situation analysis and subcategory selection. GARANT.in lawyers evaluated the client’s business history and confirmed that the Passeport Talent – Porteur de projet innovant category was optimal for launching a startup with incubator support.

Preparation of the document package. The key documents included:

• a support letter from an accredited business incubator;
• a detailed business plan highlighting innovation and market potential in France;
• proof of investment exceeding €30,000;
• registration documents of companies in Russia and the UAE, confirming experience and financial results;
• a long-term apartment rental agreement in Paris;
• international health insurance policies;
• police clearance certificates;
• a complete set of documents for the spouse and children (with translations and apostille).

Translations, legalization, apostille. All documents were translated, certified, and supplemented with cover letters for the Consulate and the French Ministry of Economy.

Visa issuance and relocation

• The application was submitted through the French visa center in Abu Dhabi.
• The review period was about 4 weeks.
• Alexey’s project was approved by the French Ministry of Economy.
• The entire family received long-stay national visas (VLS-TS Passeport Talent) valid for 12 months.
• Upon arrival in France, the visas were validated online through the ANEF portal, granting residence and work rights.
• The family rented an apartment in Paris near the innovation hub Station F.

Residence permit issuance in France

After arrival in France, the process of obtaining the carte de séjour Passeport Talent was launched. The stages included:

• online registration of the visa on the ANEF portal;
• appointment and submission of documents at the Paris Prefecture;
• biometric data collection;
• receipt of a temporary récépissé valid for 3 months.

After 6 weeks, Alexey and his family received plastic residence cards under Passeport Talent valid for 4 years.

Results and benefits

• Alexey officially launched his startup in France and gained access to the Station F ecosystem.
• His wife found employment at an international company in Paris.
• The children enrolled in an international French school.
• The entire family received 4-year residence cards with the possibility of renewal and, in the future, naturalization.
• They gained access to medical, educational, and banking services, as well as free movement across the EU.

Important: Starting in 2025, France has introduced accelerated processing times for certain residence permit categories, requiring that applications be processed within a “reasonable period.” For some types of permits, decisions can be made in about 30 days, making the process more predictable.

Client’s feedback

“France has opened up enormous opportunities for developing my startup. Passeport Talent allowed me not only to legalize my business but also to comfortably relocate my family. Special thanks to the GARANT.in team for their clear support at every step — from negotiating with the incubator to receiving residence cards.” — Alexey.