Super! How to work remotely in France, even without a digital nomad visa

Imagine for a moment looking up from your laptop and seeing the Eiffel Tower, or the white sands and azure waters of the French Riviera, or the wine country around Bordeaux. Now that’s work-life balance, right?

But wait, you might say, France doesn’t offer a digital nomad visa to non-EU residents. How can this even be possible?

Here’s the thing: even without a digital nomad visa (which France is currently considering), you can legally live and work in France. As a matter of fact, you have more than one option from which to choose.

The ‘talent passport’

If you’re a highly skilled individual, the passeport talent (“talent passport”) programme could be just the thing: it simplifies the immigration process and allows you to stay in France for up to four years.

The passeport talent does require you to have exceptional qualifications or expertise in your field. It entails several specialist subcategories, such as Innovative Startup, Economic Impact, Researcher and Artist, each with its own eligibility criteria. And you will have to prove your employment, financial means, health insurance and professional expertise, among others, as well as a clean criminal record.

The cost of a passeport talent varies according to your nationality and the subcategory, but on average it is about €250.

Find out more about the passeport talent on the French government website.

Long-stay visa

If you’re a non-EU digital nomad and you’d like to work in France for longer than 90 days (the term of a short-stay visa), then the visa de long séjour (“long-stay visa”) allows you to work, study, join your family or simply live in France for up to a year.

When applying for this visa, you will need to complete a visa application, including proving why you want a longer stay (such as a letter of acceptance or employment contract), your financial means, that you have health insurance and do not have a criminal record.

The long-stay visa, which is equivalent to a Schengen visa, costs around €99. Click here to find out more.

Tax implications

Of course, there is the matter of where you pay income tax: France, or your home country.

Generally, if you spend more than 183 days in France in a calendar year, you’re considered a resident and will be subject to French taxation on your worldwide income.

But tax is a complicated matter and to avoid double taxation, a tax professional can advise you about a possible tax treaty between your home country and France, your obligations in France and how to optimise your tax situation.

Now that you know how to be a digital nomad in France, all that’s left is to decide where you wish to work!