FRANCE – Increase in the minimum annual gross salary for European Blue Card applications
France’s version of the European Union Blue Card is a program that allows highly skilled third-country nationals to live and work temporarily in the country and ultimately acquire long-term EU residence rights.
As of February 10th, 2014, the annual gross salary for assignees coming to France on a European Blue Card increased. A monthly salary amounting to at least 1.5 times the average gross salary taken as a reference, determined annually by order of the Minister of Immigration is required. This currently amounts to €52,750.50 gross per year.
Additional requirements that must be met by the highly qualified worker (THQ) include a diploma attesting to at least three (3) years of higher education, issued by a higher education institution recognized by the State in which it is situated OR proof of five (5) years of professional experience at a comparable level and an employment contract for one year or more, covered by the foreign workforce service in France.