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When can I apply for French citizenship?

Usually after 5 years of habitual residence in France, just before you apply. It is 2 years after 2 years of higher education successfully completed in France. If you are married to a French citizen, you make a declaration after 4 years of marriage. Enter your date to see yours, and what could push it back.

1Your situation
2
Usually the date of your first titre de séjour (residence permit), not a tourist visa. The law speaks of habitual residence: the centre of your life is in France.
3A few checks
Civic exam (naturalisation version)
Proof of French level (B2)
Your job
Are your taxes up to date?
Any time without a permit, or a long absence?
Any criminal conviction?
Your date appears here.Choose your situation and enter a date.

An estimate, not legal advice. Sources: Code civil, art. 21-17, 21-18 and 21-25-1 (naturalisation), art. 21-2, 21-4 and 26-3 (marriage); service-public.gouv.fr (F2213, F2726, in French). Updated 13 October 2026. Your answers stay in your browser.

What you need before you apply

  • Length of residence. 5 years of habitual residence in France just before you apply, or 2 years after 2 years of higher education successfully completed in France.
  • Titre de séjour (residence permit). A valid permit when you apply (not needed for EU, EEA and Swiss citizens).
  • Civic exam. Passed before you apply (32 correct answers out of 40, naturalisation version). The pass certificate goes in your file.
  • B2 French. Spoken and written: the diplôme national du brevet, a French state diploma or RNCP certification at level 3 or above, any diploma showing B2, or a TCF or TEF certificate less than 2 years old.
  • Income and taxes. Stable and sufficient income for you and your household, and your tax documents.
  • Criminal record. Being of “good character” (“de bonnes vie et mœurs”) and having no conviction that rules out naturalisation (Code civil, art. 21-23 and 21-27).
  • Entretien d’assimilation (assimilation interview). At the préfecture, after you apply. You sign the charter of the rights and duties of French citizens there.

The rules, in plain English

Naturalisation par décret (naturalisation by decree) requires 5 years of habitual residence in France just before you apply (Code civil, art. 21-17). The period drops to 2 years after 2 years of higher education successfully completed in France, for important services to France, or for an exceptional integration record (art. 21-18). There is no minimum period for refugees, for certain military or exceptional services (art. 21-19), or for nationals of French-speaking countries whose mother tongue is French or who had at least 5 years of schooling in French (art. 21-20).

Since 1 January 2026 you must have passed the civic exam (naturalisation version) and prove B2 French, spoken and written, before you apply. You apply online on ANEF, with stamp duty of €255 (€127.50 in French Guiana). The récépissé (receipt) is issued once your file is complete. The authorities must reply within 18 months of it, or 12 months if you have lived in France for at least 10 years on that date; this deadline can be extended once by 3 months (art. 21-25-1).

If you are married to a French citizen, you do not apply for naturalisation: you make a déclaration de nationalité (citizenship declaration) after 4 years of marriage, or 5 years if you cannot show 3 years of continuous, legal residence in France since the wedding (art. 21-2). Your spouse must have been French since the wedding, and a marriage held abroad must have been transcribed into the French civil register. You need B2 French, but no civic exam. The minister has 1 year from the récépissé to refuse registration (art. 26-3), and the government can oppose it within 2 years (art. 21-4).

Official sources