French citizenship: How to apply in 2025

Citizenship by marriage (declaration)

French citizenship by marriage (declaration) can be obtained 4 years after registering a union with a French citizen. The main requirements for a foreign spouse are:

• A valid residence permit;
• French language proficiency of at least level B1;
• No criminal record.

It is important that the spouse be a French citizen at the time of the wedding. You must live together for the entire 4 years, and authorities may require proof, such as joint photos, utility bills, or a rental agreement.

You must have also spent at least 3 years living in France. An exception is made if the couple lives abroad and the French spouse is registered with the consulate. Otherwise, the foreign spouse can only apply for citizenship after 5 years of marriage.

By birth, descent, or adoption

French citizenship is automatically granted at birth to a child who:

• Has at least one parent who is a French citizen (known as “by descent”);
• Has a stateless mother and father;
• Has at least one parent who was born in France.

An adopted child becomes French if their adoptive parent is a citizen of France. The adoptive parent must submit an application to the court or consulate.

A child born in France to foreign parents may apply for citizenship if they:

• Have lived in France for at least 5 years since turning 11 (or since age 8 if the application is submitted on behalf of a child aged 13, 14, or 15);
• Are living in the country on the date of application.

Reintegration and repatriation

Reintegration is the process of regaining lost French citizenship. To qualify, you must:

• Prove that you were previously a French citizen;
• Be 16 years old to apply independently (before this age, only a legal representative can request reinstatement);
• Live in France or Monaco. Residence in another country is permitted if you are a national service volunteer, work on behalf of the French state or an organization of particular cultural or economic interest to the country, or serve in the French army;
• Have a valid residence permit;
• Have French proficiency at level B1;
• Have a stable income;
• Prove that you have no criminal record;
• Pass an interview demonstrating knowledge of French culture, history, principles, and values.

The conditions for obtaining French citizenship through repatriation are different from the standard ones because you must prove the citizenship of your descendants, not your ancestors. The main requirements for applicants are:

• Be over 65 years old;
• Have a child, grandchild, or great-grandchild who is French;
• Have lived in France permanently for 25 years;
• Have a valid residence permit;
• No entry ban or criminal record.

In the case of repatriation, a language test or proof of integration into society is not required.

Exceptional circumstances

It is possible to obtain French citizenship without long-term residence in the country or work experience in exceptional circumstances. This is not a standard option, but rather an administrative decision made by the authorities. Few people receive a passport this way: approximately 2,000 people did so in 2024. By comparison, roughly 49,000 people naturalized during this period.

One option for exceptional circumstances is obtaining French citizenship through service in the Foreign Legion. This option is available to men between 17 and 39.5 years of age. After 3 years of service, citizenship can be applied for, provided that they have an impeccable reputation. First, a serviceman receives a 10-year residence permit, and then he applies for a passport. Requirements regarding language proficiency and integration into society remain relevant.

Naturalization without long residency requirement is also available to those who:

• Come from a French-speaking country and speak French fluently as their native language;
• Have received refugee status;
• Come from a French-speaking country and have studied in a French-language educational institution for at least 5 years;

Have rendered exceptional services to the state, as determined by the authorities.

Dual citizenship: is it allowed in France?

France permits multiple citizenship. However, please note that you can only obtain a second passport because France currently has no dual citizenship agreements with other countries. This means that all your rights and obligations will remain in your home country, and you will acquire the same rights and obligations in France.

If you intend to retain your original citizenship, you must inform the French authorities during the naturalization process.

List of required documents

When applying for French citizenship, you will need the following documents:

• A copy of both sides of your residence card;
• A valid passport with a Schengen visa if you have visited the Schengen area in the last 5 years and stayed there for less than 3 months without a visa;
• A birth certificate;
• A rental agreement or property deed;
• Proof of sufficient income for the last 3 years (employment certificate, bank statement, tax return, etc.);
• Proof of proficiency in French;
• Marriage, civil partnership, divorce, or death certificate of spouse (if applicable);
• Birth certificates of children (if applicable);
• An original police clearance certificate from your country of citizenship or residence (for those who have lived in France for less than ten years);
• Receipt for payment of the state fee.

If submitting by mail, complete 2 citizenship applications (CERFA form №12753) and include two 35 x 45 mm photographs with your first and last name and date of birth on the back.

If you apply for citizenship online, you will pay the fee at the end of the application process. Otherwise, you can pay by purchasing an electronic excise stamp at a tobacconist (bureau de tabac), it’s valid for 1 year from the purchase date.

Increase your chances of approval by providing additional information about your life in France and your integration into society. The information can be submitted on a regular sheet of paper in free form. For example, you can include information about volunteer activities, French language courses you have attended, or continuing education courses you have taken.

Documents issued in a language other than French must be translated into French by a certified translator. In France, you can find a list of such professionals on the website of the Court of Cassation. Abroad, you can request a list from your embassy or consulate.

Some documents, such as birth or marriage certificates and police clearance certificates, must be notarized or apostilled if the issuing country is a signatory to the Hague Convention.

Language and other requirements

To obtain French citizenship, you must demonstrate a minimum B1 level of proficiency in the French language. The following can currently be provided as proof:

• National diploma Brevet

  Awarded to children upon completion of secondary school. To obtain it, you must score at least 10 out of 20 points on a written test in French, mathematics, history, geography, and science, as well as an oral exam (individual or group interview with an examiner).

• French diploma level 3

  You can provide a Certificate of Professional Aptitude (Certificat d’aptitude professionnelle – CAP) or a Certificate of Professional Training (Brevet d’études professionnelles – BEP).

• CEFR Diploma

  You must pass the exam at any certified language school. The exam assesses writing, listening, and speaking skills.

• TCF Diploma

  This comprehensive exam is administered by France Éducation International at any of its accredited centers. The diploma must be less than 2 years old. Starting May 12, 2025, the TCF IRN test will be changed: a French language proficiency test at level B2 will be administered. The test duration has increased from 1 hour and 20 minutes to 1 hour and 30 minutes.

• TEF Diploma

  The TEF Diploma is issued by the Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The exam does not have to be taken in France; there are accredited testing centers in many countries, including Canada, the United States, and Germany. The diploma must be less than two years old.

There is no integration test. Knowledge of French history, culture, and law is tested during an interview.

New requirements in 2025-2026

On July 15, 2025, the French government adopted Decree No. 2025-648, amending the legislation regarding citizenship applicant requirements. The following changes will take effect on January 1, 2026:

• A minimum French language proficiency level of B2;
• The introduction of an integration exam to test knowledge of French history, culture, and society in lieu of an interview.

Some provisions of Decree No. 2025-648 have already taken effect. For example, if you submit an online application for citizenship, you can only appeal the decision online. Additionally, French government agencies can conduct additional checks on applicants, such as those related to employment and financial security.

Processing times and costs

Those who are not eligible for accelerated naturalization (without work experience or after 2 years) must reside in France for at least 5 years before applying for citizenship.

The standard application processing time is up to 18 months. However, if you can prove that you have lived in the country for at least 10 years, this period is reduced to 1 year. If additional checks are required, the French authorities can extend this period by up to 3 months once.

State fees will cost approximately EUR 800:

Common reasons for rejection and how to avoid it

A French citizenship application may be denied. Since each application is reviewed individually, the reasons for rejection may vary. In practice, the most common reasons are:

• Incorrect documentation: missing a police clearance certificate, incorrect photo size, or translation/legalization errors;
• False information: concealing information about yourself or your relatives, tax or alimony arrears, or entering into a sham marriage;
• Criminal record: criminal cases with sentences exceeding 6 months;
• Insufficient length of residence: spending 4 years and 9 months in France instead of 5 years;
• Insufficient proficiency in French: receiving an A2 score instead of a B1 score on the French proficiency test;
• Poor integration into society: not answering all the questions during the interview.

Citizenship can be denied even at the final stage: the citizenship ceremony. In 2016, a woman from Algeria refused to shake hands with an official due to her religious beliefs. Government officials interpreted this gesture as “failing to assimilate into society,” and she was denied citizenship.

If your application is rejected, you can file an appeal. If you submitted your application online, the appeal is filed through the same service. If you submitted a paper application, you must send a letter by regular mail or email to the Ministry of the Interior. You have 2 months from the date of refusal to file an appeal. You should receive a response within 4 months. Otherwise, you can appeal to the Administrative Court of Nantes.

What are the benefits of French citizenship?

After receiving French citizenship, you will be able to:

• Travel visa-free to 174 countries, including the EU, the Schengen Area, Latin America, the USA, Canada, China, and the UK;
• Live indefinitely in France and any other EU country;
• Study at top European universities with reduced tuition for EU citizens and free at some universities;
• Conduct business freely in France and other EU countries and qualify for grants to develop your business;
• Receive treatment at the best European clinics with a single insurance policy;
• Seek employment in France without an additional permit and receive a competitive salary of an average of EUR 2,400 per month;
• Access banks in France and other EU countries with access to all banking products and favorable loans.

To enjoy these benefits, begin your path to citizenship by obtaining a French residence permit. Mirsatori specialists will help you determine your immigration eligibility, gather the necessary documents, and apply for a residence permit. The Mirsatori team will explain all the details, offer various immigration options, and provide legal support at every stage of the process. The first consultation is free.