Welcome to foreign talent in the medical sector!

The creation of the “talent passport – medical profession” is part of an evolution in French immigration law, aimed at meeting the specific needs of the healthcare system while strictly regulating foreign medical professionals' access to the French labor market. An analysis of the legislative framework and case law reveals that the legislator has pursued several complementary objectives: to address the shortage of healthcare professionals, to guarantee the quality of care, to secure the administrative process for foreign practitioners, and to ensure the protection of patients.

In order to secure the administrative process for foreign practitioners, a multi-year residence permit is provided, with a maximum duration of four years, renewable under certain conditions. This administrative stability promotes the professional and social integration of practitioners, while allowing them to practice their profession with peace of mind

Article R421-12 specifies that the card's period of validity is aligned with that of the employment contract or hosting agreement, up to a maximum of four years, which provides visibility and legal certainty for practitioners and their employers.

For the issuance of the new multi-year residence permit marked “talent - medical and pharmaceutical profession” provided for in Article L. 421-13-1 of the Code on the Entry and Stay of Foreigners and the Right of Asylum (CESEDA) (created by Article 31 of the Law of January 26, 2024 “controlling immigration, improving integration”), eligible practitioners of medical and pharmaceutical professions must prove that they are employed in one of the professions mentioned in Articles L. 4111-1 and L. 4221-12-1 (L. 4221-1) of the Public Health Code, in other words, the professions of doctor, dental surgeon, midwife, or pharmacist.

They must also prove that they reach a remuneration threshold set by decree of the Council of State (Decree No. 2025-539 of June 13, 2025) at the second level of the salary scale for associate practitioners set, in accordance with the provisions of 1° of Article R. 6152-912 of the Public Health Code, by joint order of the ministers responsible for health, the budget, and the civil service (Article L. 421-25-1 of the CESEDA).

To prove that they meet the conditions for issuing this new residence permit, users must, in particular, provide the attached employer's certificate, duly completed, signed, and stamped by their employer, in support of their residence permit application, which is made outside the ANEF according to the procedures in force in their department of residence.

The lawyers at Terravocats assist healthcare professionals with their administrative procedures, both at consulates and prefectures.