French naturalisation requirements in 2026

1. The requirements at a glance

Naturalisation by decree is governed by articles 21-15 to 21-27 of the Code civil (the French civil code). Since 1 January 2026, decree no. 2025-648 has added the civic exam and raised the language level to B2.

2. Length of residence: 5 years, 2 years or none

As a rule, you need 5 years of habitual residence in France immediately before you apply (art. 21-17). The law provides two exceptions.

• 2 yearsAfter successfully completing 2 years of higher education in France towards a degree; for important services rendered, or that could be rendered, to France; or for an exceptional integration record (civic, scientific, economic, cultural or sporting).Source: Code civil, art. 21-18
• No minimum periodFor military service or wartime service; for exceptional services or interest, after an opinion from the Conseil d’État; for refugees; and for nationals of French-speaking countries who belong to the French cultural and linguistic community (French as a mother tongue or at least 5 years of schooling in French).Source: Code civil, art. 21-19 (4°, 6° and 7°) and 21-20

Habitual residence in France means having the centre of your material interests (in particular your work) and your family life in France. A spouse or children living abroad can justify a refusal.

3. Income and good character

You need stable and sufficient income to support yourself and your tax household. The circular of 2 May 2025 made the assessment of this requirement stricter. The figures repeated online (length of employment, type of contract, minimum amount, excluded benefits) do not appear in the official sources we were able to read: don’t treat them as rules.

A sentence of 6 months or more of non-suspended imprisonment, or a conviction for an offence against the fundamental interests of the Nation or for terrorism, bars naturalisation, unless you have been rehabilitated or the conviction has been removed from bulletin no. 2 of the criminal record (art. 21-23 and 21-27).

4. Married to a French national: the declaration

Nationality through marriage is not naturalisation: it is a declaration (Code civil, art. 21-2). You need at least 4 years of marriage on the date of the declaration. This becomes 5 years if you cannot show at least 3 years of uninterrupted, lawful residence in France since the marriage, or if, while you lived together abroad, your spouse was not registered with the register of French nationals living abroad. Your shared life (communauté de vie), « tant affective que matérielle » (both emotional and material), must not have ended.

B2 is required for declarations made since 1 January 2026, with no civic exam. The stamp duty is also €255. The minister has 1 year from the receipt (récépissé) to refuse registration (art. 26-3). The Government can also oppose it, on grounds of unworthiness or lack of assimilation other than language, within 2 years (art. 21-4).

5. Submitting the application

• Online, on the ANEFThis is the general case (the ANEF is the online service for foreign nationals). Applying by post is only possible if you can show you are unable to apply online; French Guiana and some overseas territories have their own rules.Source: service-public.gouv.fr, R60835
• A €255 stamp dutyPaid with a tax stamp (timbre fiscal), €127.50 in French Guiana.Source: Code général des impôts, art. 958
• The receipt (récépissé)It is issued once your file is complete. It starts the clock for the decision.Source: Code civil, art. 21-25-1
• Need help?Centre de contact citoyens - Nationalité: 0806 001 620, Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm.

6. After you apply

If your application is admissible, you are invited, once the background checks are back, to an assimilation interview (entretien d’assimilation) at the préfecture. Bring the originals of your documents; you sign the charter of the rights and duties of the French citizen at the end. Missing it without a legitimate reason can lead to your file being closed (classement sans suite).

The administration has 18 months at most from the receipt to decide. This is 12 months if you have had your habitual residence in France for at least 10 years on the date of the receipt. It can be extended once, by 3 months, by a reasoned decision (art. 21-25-1).

The naturalisation decree takes effect on the date it is signed and is published in the Journal officiel. Minor children named in the decree also become French. If you are refused, an administrative appeal to the minister within 2 months is compulsory before any appeal to the administrative court (tribunal administratif) in Nantes.

Meeting the requirements does not guarantee naturalisation: the administration assesses each application.