Holders of long-stay visas (D) marked « Passeport talent chercheur », L313-20 4° or L421-14, and « carte de séjour à solliciter », must apply for a multi-year residence permit with the prefecture of their place of residence, within 3 months of their arrival in France and as soon as possible. The duration of this residence permit will be equivalent to the duration of the research stay mentioned on their hosting agreement (« convention d’accueil »).

Researchers wishing to stay in France beyond the expiry date of their residence permit must apply for a renewal with the prefecture of their place of residence between 2 and 4 months before the expiry date of the residence permit.

On line procedure for the request for a Passeport Talent Chercheur residence permit

The procedure has to be made on line on the Administration Numérique des Etrangers en France (ANEF) web site.  It is dealt by the local préfecture according to the home address of the applicant.

List of the documents to be submitted for the request of the Passeport Talent Chercheur residence card

The documents to be submitted are as follows (documents to be scanned or photographed for the dematerialised procedure) :

  • long-stay visa marked « Passeport talent » « L313-20-4° » or « L421-14 » ;
  • passport (pages related to marital status, validity dates and entry stamps);
  • extract of birth certificate indicating filiation or full copy of birth certificate ;
  • if the foreigner is married and/or has children: spouse’s residence card (or identity card), extract of marriage certificate, extracts of birth certificates of children indicating filiation (documents corresponding to the situation at the time of the request) ;
  • proof of address less than 6 months old:
    • if tenant: electricity bill (or gas, water, landline telephone or Internet service bill) or rental lease agreement less than 6 months old or rent receipt or housing tax statement ;
    • if staying at a hotel: hotelier’s certificate and bill ;
    • if staying with an individual: dated and signed certificate from the host ((attestation d’hébergement(, copy of his/her identity card or residence card, deed of ownership (or the host’s statement of residence tax or copy of the rental lease agreement or the host’s electricity, gas, water, landline telephone or Internet service bill);

  • e-photo ;
  • convention d’accueil (hosting agreement) subscribed with a public or private body with a previously approved research or higher education mission ;

  • diploma at least equivalent to a Master’s degree

Progress of the procedure of the request

Researchers will first receive a confirmation of online document submission (« confirmation de dépôt »), then a certificate of extension that functions as a « récépissé » (temporary residence permit that serves as proof of file submission) called « attestation de prolongation d’instruction », and finally an « attestation de décision favorable » of the same value as a « récépissé ».
On the day of the retrieving of the residence card on the latest, researchers must pay a € 225 tax in the form of a tax stamp that can be purchased on line on the ANEF web site.

If you think you have to travel abroad before obtaining your residence permit, do not hesitate to mention it when submitting your application.

Purchasing of the tax stamp

The purchase can be done on lineon the ANEF web site (save and print your receipt).

There is no need to buy a tax stamp (« timbre fiscal ») when you submit your residence permit request (the stamp may expire before use). It will only be requested when you receive your residence permit. Thus, you can purchase it just before retrieving your residence permit at the police headquarters (prefecture).

Information about e-photos

Only professional photographers and approved photo booths such as Photomatons can provide photographs and a digital signature that are compatible with the visa request teleservice. They can be identified by a blue sticker that indicates « Agréé services en ligne ANTS » Agréé».

Once your photo is taken, you are asked to ad your signature using a pen to a tablet or touching the screen. It is important to write your real signature and not a point or a sign to allow the making of your residence permit.

  • Your photos will be printed in the same way as they are for a normal photo.

  • You will also receive an individualised 22-number code. When you are filling out your online residence permit request form on the ANEF website, you just need to indicate this number in order to link it to the photo and the digital signature.

What next ?

Researchers wishing to stay in France beyond the expiry date of their residence permit must apply for the renewal of their residence permit with the prefecture of their place of residence between 2 and 4 months before the expiry date of the residence card. The procedure has to be made on line on the ANEF web site. It is dealt by the local préfecture according to the home address of the applicant.

Do you have any doubt, are you having any difficulty? Please do not hesitate to contact your acc&ss team.