The world is becoming an increasingly unstable place. Brexit has severed Britain’s long-cherished ties to the continent and the COVID-19 outbreak has aptly demonstrated the very real risks of choosing to live in a large city. Yet quarantines, increasingly insular governments, and crisis after crisis are making the world feel like a more closed place.
The flow of global events can make us feel trapped, powerless even, but there are some ways you can take control of your life again. While Britain and the U.S. look inward, some countries are reaching out to people like you with an opportunity to start a new life. One of the most promising of those is France.
A uniquely French startup renaissance
France is best known for fine wines, world-class cuisine, and beautiful chateaus, but there is so much more on offer. The country has consistently been ranked as having the best healthcare and offers one of the best work-life balances in the world. On top of this, the country’s outward-looking President Macron has significantly expanded the country’s efforts to attract tech talent and, most importantly, investors.
Many people interested in investor-migration aren’t aware of how easy it can actually be. France might be famous for red-tape but things are changing fast. There are a number of promising programs that allow you to instantly get a return for your investment in the form of an easy route to French residency, with all the benefits that come with it.
Under Macron, huge steps have been taken to support businesses and create opportunities for investors to move to France. A number of initiatives have sprung to life which enables investors to bring money or talent into the country and take advantage of incredibly generous incentives.
There are currently two primary routes into France, each with its own advantages and disadvantages:
French talent visa for business investors
This program is the gold standard for investor-migration into France. The visa is tailored to seasoned angel investors and foreign venture capital firms planning on opening offices in the country. In order to be eligible, you need to meet the following criteria:
- Invest at least €300,000 in fixed tangible or intangible assets
- Invest either directly or via a company in which you have at least a 30% shareholding
- Own at least 10% of the company in which you are investing
- Create or protect (or commit to create or protect) jobs within the four years following the investment
Direct investments include share capital investments, reinvested earnings or ‘loans between affiliated companies.’
This visa applies to you and your family and is valid for up to four years upon which point it is renewable.
The French Talent Visa for Business Investors represents one of the most straightforward ways to obtain French residency.
French talent visa for new business
The little brother of the Business Investor visa, the French Talent Visa for New Business is designed to help budding entrepreneurs relocate to France. The program comes with lower capital requirements but the government may request additional documentation such as a business plan, and the process is slightly more complicated. To qualify for the French Talent Visa for New Business, you must meet the following requirements:
- A qualification corresponding to a master’s degree or equivalent, or at least five years’ commensurate professional experience
- Existence of a real and serious plan to form an economically viable business in France
- An investment of at least €30,000 in the planned business
- Sufficient annual financial means corresponding to the statutory national minimum wage (SMIC), i.e. €18,473 as of January 1, 2020
The French Talent Visa for New Business applies to you and your family, and is valid for up to four years, at which point it can be renewed.
All the advantages of a city, in the Dordogne Valley
When we mentioned emigrating to France, your mind probably went to Paris, Lyon, or Bordeaux. These cities might be incredible tourist destinations, but the truth is that city living isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. You might cite strong business networks, a love of the hustle and bustle, or easy access to airports as reasons to pick a city—but is it really worth the trade-off?
COVID-19, terrorist attacks, pollution, crime, and simple stress make city slickers’ lives utterly miserable. It doesn’t really make sense to swap one urban headache for another, especially when there’s a way to get all the benefits of city living with none of the drawbacks.
This is where UNIQORN comes into play—the largest rural accelerator-incubator of its kind. The company specializes in helping startups, investors, and professionals source funding and relocate to the gorgeous Dordogne Valley. It leverages and connects local talent to build a formidable network of accounting and legal professionals designed to make it simple to move to paradise and take advantage of some of the world’s most generous incentives.
Invest in the world’s most elite startups
UNIQORN has recently started a collaboration with CIVIQUO, the leading provider of investor-migration services. This means that investors interested in migrating to France, like you, can take advantage of CIVIQUO’s network of top legal professionals while simultaneously getting exclusive access to some of the world’s most promising start-ups via UNIQORN.
The incubator-accelerator already has access to top startups in fast-growing sectors including fintech, extended reality, and artificial intelligence sectors. UNIQORN will connect you with your perfect startup while CIVIQUO handles the immigration process.
Five reasons to start your new life in France today
This is your chance to take back control in an uncertain world. France is the perfect place to start your new life:
- You can access world-class healthcare and education without worrying about private insurance or high fees
- You can invest in some of the world’s top start-ups via UNIQORN
- You get access to Schengen, the world’s largest visa-free travel area
- CIVIQUO will help you cut through the red tape and ensure your application’s success
- You can enjoy all the benefits of living in a city with a countryside lifestyle
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(Featured image by 272447 from Pixabay)
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