How to Get France CitizenshipKey facts
- Residence for naturalisation
- 5 years
- Language
- Test or certificate
- Dual citizenship
- Accepted
- Civic test
- Required, with a test or certificate
- Criminal record
- A criminal record or good character condition applies
- Income condition
- No income condition in the law
- Dual citizenship in detail
- Accepted in both directionsNew citizens do not have to give up their previous citizenship.Citizens who naturalise abroad keep their citizenship.
- Available routes
- Naturalisation (residence)Marriage or civil partnershipDescent (citizen parent)Birth in the countryChild of a new citizenAdoptionOther family members of citizensFormer citizens (reacquisition)Ethnic or cultural affinityResidence during childhoodRefugeesStateless personsSpecial achievementsPublic or military service
- Region
- Europe
- Law in force as of
- 1 January 2024GLOBALCIT baseline, plus 1 later in-force change applied where the data records a new value.
- Last checked
- 5 November 2026
What changed since 2024
- In force
Language level for naturalisation raised from B1 to B2 (oral and written French).
The rule text in the sections below was coded for the law on 1 January 2024. 1 later in-force change in the timeline above takes precedence where it differs.
Naturalisation (residence)
For foreign nationals living in France, this is the ordinary route based on residence. Authorities retain discretion and may refuse an application even when the conditions are met.
In force, 1 January 2026: Language level for naturalisation raised from B1 to B2 (oral and written French).
- Residence
- 5 years
Person has been resident in France for 5 years. (Residence requirement may be waived for certain categories including refugees.
- Previous citizenship
- New citizens do not have to give up their previous citizenship
- Language
- Required, with a test or certificate
Assimilation required (especially language skills and knowledge of the rights and duties attached to French citizenship).
- Civic knowledge
- Required, with a test or certificate
Assimilation required (especially language skills and knowledge of the rights and duties attached to French citizenship).
- Criminal record
- A criminal record or good character condition applies
Good character required, no criminal convictions of a certain kind.
- Income or economic resources
- No income condition in the law
Marriage or civil partnership
For spouses of citizens of France, the rules below set out what this route requires. An application is required, and citizenship must be granted once the legal conditions are met.
Person has been the spouse of a citizen for 4 years, with common household, and has been resident in France for 3 years (5 years of marriage is required if person has less than 3 years of residence in France). No criminal record of a certain kind and no 'unworthiness' or 'assimilation defects'.
Descent (citizen parent)
This route covers children of a citizen of France, subject to the conditions below. The law of France confers citizenship automatically, independent of any administrative decision.
Descent (born in country)
Person is born in France to a citizen.
Descent (born abroad)
Person is born abroad to a citizen.
Birth in the country
Birth in France is the starting point of this route, together with the conditions below.
Birth in country (two generations)
Person is born in France to a person who was also born there.
Birth in country (acquisition after birth)
Person is born in France and has been resident there for 5 years since the age of 11.
Birth in country (acquisition after birth)
Person is a minor who was born in France and has been resident there for 5 years since the age of 11 (declaration by child), or child is under the age of 16 and has been resident in France for 5 years since the age of 8 (declaration by parent).
Birth in country (acquisition after birth)
Person is born in Mayotte (France), has been resident there for 5 years since the age of 11, and has at least one parent legally residing in France for more than three months at the moment of birth.
Birth in country (acquisition after birth)
Person is a minor who was born in Mayotte (France), and has been resident there for 5 years since the age of 11 (declaration by child), or child is under the age of 16 and has been resident in France for 5 years since the age of 8 (declaration by parent). In both cases, the person shall have at least one parent legally residing in France for more than three months at the moment of birth.
Child of a new citizen
A parent acquiring citizenship of France is the basis of this route. The law of France confers citizenship automatically, independent of any administrative decision.
Person is a minor and resident with a parent who is acquiring citizenship by naturalisation, reintegration or declaration.
Adoption
This route covers people adopted by a citizen of France, subject to the conditions below.
Person is a minor who is adopted by a citizen.
Person is a minor who is adopted by a citizen by means of a 'simple adoption'.
Other family members of citizens
A family tie to a citizen, former citizen or new citizen of France is the basis of this route. An application is required, and citizenship must be granted once the legal conditions are met.
Person is aged 65 at least, lawfully and habitually residing for more than 25 years in France, and parent of a French citizen
Former citizens (reacquisition)
Earlier citizenship of France is the basis of this route.
Person (minor or adult) is a former citizen. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation.
Person lost citizenship by acquiring citizenship of another country (through marriage or naturalisation) or because of continued residence abroad, but maintained cultural, professional, economic or familial links with France or served in the French army, has not committed certain crimes and there is no expulsion order or a ban of residence. Or person is a former member of Parliament, Commonwealth Assembly or the Economic Council of France and establishes residence in France.
Ethnic or cultural affinity
An ethnic or cultural connection to France is the basis of this route. Authorities retain discretion and may refuse an application even when the conditions are met.
Person is a citizen of a country that recognises the French language as an official language, or speaks the French language as mother tongue, or received primary education in France. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation.
Residence during childhood
For people who spent part of their childhood in France, the rules below set out what applies. An application is required, and citizenship must be granted once the legal conditions are met.
Person is a minor who has been raised in France for 5 years by a citizen or for 3 years by a French welfare institution, or has received a French education for 5 years.
Person is habitually residing in France since his or her sixth birthday, has attended school (under state control), and has a brother or a sister who has acquired French citizenship by virtue of art. 21-7 or 21-11 of the Civil Code. Acquisition by declaration at the age of majority (18).
Refugees
Refugee status in France is the basis of this route. Authorities retain discretion and may refuse an application even when the conditions are met.
Person is a refugee and resident in France. No further residence requirements. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation. Political refugees can be exempted from language requirement if they have resided lawfully and habitually in the country for 15 years and are over 70.
Stateless persons
For people without any citizenship, the rules below show what the law of France provides.
Foundlings
Person is found in France of unknown parentage.
Otherwise stateless (born in country)
Person is born to stateless parents or to foreign parents and is not entitled to citizenship of another country.
Stateless persons
Person is a stateless person over the age of 70 and has been resident in France for 15 years. No further language requirements. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation.
Special achievements
This route covers people recognised for special achievements or for contributions to France, subject to the conditions below. Authorities retain discretion and may refuse an application even when the conditions are met.
Person is someone with exceptional services for France or a case of special public interest, has rendered or could render importance services for France because of her/his capabilities and talents, or is of French background and contributes to the reputation of France and its international economic relations with her/his high skills. Residence requirement varies (maximum 2 years). Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation.
Public or military service
Public or military service for France is the basis of this route. Authorities retain discretion and may refuse an application even when the conditions are met.
Person has accomplished military service in the French army or was wounded while in service of and in operational engagement for the French army. No residence requirements. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation.
Not available in France: Citizens of specific countries, Very long residence, Investment. Based on the GLOBALCIT coding of the law, updated with in-force changes.
Dual citizenship
France accepts dual citizenship in both directions.
- New citizens
- New citizens do not have to give up their previous citizenship
- Citizens who naturalise abroad
- Citizens who naturalise abroad keep their citizenship
Compare with neighbours
The period of 5 years set under the law of France is also the most common one in Western Europe.
Compare France with all countries in the residence ranking
| Country | Residence | Language | Dual citizenship |
|---|---|---|---|
 Austria | 10 years | Test or certificate | Not accepted |
 Belgium | 5 years | Test or certificate | Accepted |
 Germany | 5 years | Test or certificate | Accepted |
 Liechtenstein | 10 years | Test or certificate | Citizens abroad only |
 Luxembourg | 5 years | Test or certificate | Accepted |
 Netherlands | 5 years | Test or certificate | Not accepted |
Official sources
This page was located by search and has not yet been checked by our team.
Naturalisation provisions: Nationality law: Art. 21-16, 21-17.
Cite this page
TravelDecl. (2026, November 5). How to Get France Citizenship. https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/france/
<a href="https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/france/">How to Get France Citizenship</a> (TravelDecl, last checked 5 November 2026)
Sources and licence
Vink, van der Baaren, Bauböck, Džankić, Honohan, Manby (2025). GLOBALCIT Citizenship Law Dataset v3.1. Global Citizenship Observatory, https://hdl.handle.net/1814/73190. CC BY 4.0. Modified by TravelDecl.
Modified by TravelDecl: updated with changes after 1 January 2024.
GLOBALCIT codes the law as written. Fees, processing times, quotas and how officials apply the rules in practice are not in this dataset: check them with the official authority.
FAQ
How many years to become a French citizen?
5 years of residence, under the ordinary naturalisation route. The conditions that come with it are listed on this page. A change in force since January 2024 also affects this: see the timeline above.
Does France allow dual citizenship?
Yes. The law of France accepts dual citizenship for new citizens and for citizens who naturalise abroad.
Do I need a language test for French citizenship?
Applicants must provide a language test result or certificate. A change in force since January 2024 also affects this: see the timeline above.
Is there a civic knowledge test for French citizenship?
Demonstrating civic knowledge through a test or certificate is necessary for French citizenship.
Do I have to give up my current citizenship to get French citizenship?
There is no obligation to renounce your current citizenship to get French citizenship. The law of your current country may have its own rules on this.
Can I get France citizenship by marriage?
Yes, the law of France has a route for spouses. Procedure: entitlement.
Can I get France citizenship by descent?
Yes. A child of a citizen can acquire citizenship of France by descent. Procedure: automatic.
Can I get France citizenship by investment?
No investment route is coded in the law of France.
Related pages
Also see: France passport, visa-free access and entry rules. Latest law changes.
Corrections to this page are handled by Sarah Kim, Fact-Checker.