Talent Porteur de Projet — Innovative Economic Project (French Tech Visa)

The Talent Porteur de Projet (Innovative Economic Project), marketed as the French Tech Visa for Founders, is a multi-year residence permit for non-EU nationals developing an innovative startup in Martinique. Established under Article L421-16(2°) of CESEDA, this pathway does not require a Master's degree or a minimum investment amount. Instead, it requires endorsement by a French Tech partner incubator or accelerator and recognition of the project's innovative character by the DRIEETS. Martinique has its own La French Tech community (La French Tech Martinique), which supports startup founders through programs like French Tech Tremplin and French Tech Rise.

• Innovative business project to develop in Martinique
• Endorsement by a French Tech partner incubator/accelerator, an incubator supported by French Tech Capital, or two actors of the French Tech ecosystem
• Project recognition by the DRIEETS Île-de-France confirming the innovative nature of the project (handles all requests nationally)
• Annual resources at least equal to the gross SMIC (€21,876.40 as of January 2026)
• Valid passport with at least 6 months validity
• Criminal record extract from country of origin (first application)
• Proof of domicile in Martinique (less than 6 months old)
• No specific educational qualification required

The process involves three stages. First, obtain endorsement from a qualifying entity such as a French Tech partner incubator, accelerator, or two ecosystem actors. La French Tech Martinique can help connect founders with local ecosystem participants. Second, submit a recognition request via the Démarches Simplifiées platform, where the DRIEETS Île-de-France evaluates the project's innovative character and issues an acknowledgement letter. Third, apply for the long-stay visa at a French consulate (from abroad) or for a status change via the ANEF portal (from within Martinique). The Préfecture de Martinique processes applications entirely online through ANEF, with no in-person appointment required.

Martinique is not part of the Schengen Area, so applicants must obtain a specific overseas long-stay visa distinct from a Schengen visa. This overseas visa does not permit entry to metropolitan France or the Schengen zone. The residence permit, however, grants the right to reside throughout all French territories. Martinique offers notable tax advantages for innovative startups, including ZFANG abatements of 50-80% on taxable profits in priority sectors such as information and communication technologies, and reduced VAT rates (8.5% standard vs. 20% in metropolitan France).

• May only exercise commercial activity connected to the innovative project
• Salaried employment requires a separate work permit
• Work authorization is limited to the territory where the card was issued (Martinique)
• Must register the startup through the guichet unique for business formalities

Processing time: DRIEETS recognition timeframe varies; 4-8 weeks for visa at consulate; 2-3 months at the Préfecture de Martinique; implicit refusal after 4 months of silence

Fee: €225 residence permit (€200 tax + €25 stamp duty) + €99 long-stay visa fee

Spouse and minor children receive talent-famille residence permits valid for the same duration as the main card. Family members may engage in paid employment in France without restriction. No separate family reunification procedure is required. Each family member pays €225 for the residence permit and €99 for the visa.