Published on: December 15, 2025 | Article No: 343 | By: @rprasanth_kumar
France’s minimum wage (SMIC) is adjusted every year to protect workers’ purchasing power and support national economic growth. The increase is set by government decree, following consultations with social partners and based on recommendations from the SMIC expert committee.
From 1st January 2026, the hourly SMIC will raise by 1.18% from €11.88 to €12.02
Highly relevant for people who are paid on a hourly basis. The value of the SMIC is automatically updated on the 1st of January of each year, based on inflation and purchasing power. It is done by evaluating the inflation observed by 20% of households with the lowest incomes in France. Moreover, each increase of at least 2% in the consumer price index is automatically followed by an increase in the minimum wage in the same proportion.
SMIC: Salaire Minimum Interprofessionnel de Croissance. It is the legal minimum hourly wage, below which an employee cannot be paid in France.
If you have any questions, please feel free to use the comments section at the end of this article.
Latest minimum wages in France
Effective from 1st January 2026,
| SMIC Salary in Euros | Duration | Description |
| 12.02€ | per Hour | Gross (Brut) |
| 9.51€ | Net | |
| 1823.03€ | per Month (35 hours a week) | Gross (Brut) |
| 1443.11€ | Net |
These amounts are applicable in Metropolitan France and overseas French territoires such as Guadeloupe, Guyana, Martinique, Réunion, Saint-Barthélemy, Saint-Martin and Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon.
Note: The amount of the guaranteed minimum (minimum garanti), used notably for the calculation of certain benefits, will be increased to €4.25 on 1st January 2026.
Specific situation in Mayotte
- In Mayotte, the SMIC follows a special adjustment path defined by the law of 11th August 2025.
- From 1st January 2026, the SMIC must reach 87.5% of the net SMIC applied in mainland France and other territories.
- As a result, the gross hourly SMIC in Mayotte will increase to €9.33 (up from €8.98 since November 2024).
- The gross monthly SMIC for full-time work will rise from €1,361.97 to €1,415.05, representing a 3.9% increase.
Minimum Income requirements for Resident Permits in France
For people requiring visitor (cannot work) and work related resident permits in France, the minimum income requirements are based on SMIC too. The salaries are always mentioned in Gross values, known as Brut in French.
Some minimum salary values given below based on SMIC will be updated by the French administration soon based on 2026 SMIC. Current values listed below are based on 2025 SMIC. Please keep this in mind while negotiating your salaries.
| Visa or Resident Permit | Calculation* | Minimum Income Required |
| Visiteur | 1 x SMIC Net | 1,426.30 € per month of financial resources |
| APS Master or CdS RECE | 1.5 x SMIC Brut | 2,702.70 € per month to be eligible to work full-time |
| Salarié (CDI) or Travailleur temporaire (CDD) | 1.5 x SMIC Brut | 2,702.70 € per month |
| Talent “salarié qualifié” | 2 x Reference Salary | 39,582 € per year |
| Talent CBE (EU Blue card) | 2.5 x Reference Salary | 59,373 € per year |
More details on Work & Resident Permits after graduating in France? and 2025 SMIC values.
Note*: Calculated based on SMIC per month.
Source: travail-emploi.gouv.fr
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Thank you prasanth sir for the article. I want to ask that, my salarié is 2000€/month and I have already submitted my document for 10 years of résident permit on 1st décembre 2025. Does the new SMIC rules will apply on my renewal or does it will affect my renewal?
Thank you in adavance
Hello Tushar,
As explained in the article above, the new SMIC values are applicable from 1st Jan 2026.
All the best.
Hi Prasanth, will the salary threshold for passport talent also change as it is based on reference salary and not SMIC? And if yes, will that change also be applied from 1st January 2026 itself?
Hello Ikya,
Exactly why I have mentioned SMIC & Reference salaries. Until a few months ago, everything was based on SMIC.
No changes for CdS Talent at the moment. If any, I will update it.
Have a nice day.
Cheers,
Prasanth
Hey Prasanth,
Thanks for the update,
I have a question, what changes are excepted for those who are earning slightly more than SMIC but hourly basis… Do they have right to ask for the raise?
Hello Aarti,
Is it a part-time (like student) or a regular full-time job?.
SMIC is the legal minimum wage. If you are getting more than SMIC per hour, then nothing will change.
Cheers,
Prasanth
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Thank you.. It is full time CDI