French Citizenship: How to Get It and Apply for a Passport in 2026

French citizenship is obtained after five years of living in the country, through naturalisation, or after four years of marriage to a French citizen. Since 1 January 2026, both routes require B2 French, and naturalisation also requires the civic exam. Naturalisation applications are filed online through an ANEF account; the fee for 2026 is €255, and a decision arrives within 18 months. After the decree, you apply for a passport at any town hall with a registration station: the stamp costs €86 and the passport is valid for 10 years.

France does not require you to give up your previous citizenship. Below you will find the requirements for each route, the full list of documents, what to do with documents from your home country, how to reach citizenship through the talent passport, the reasons for refusal and how to get a French passport once the decision is made.

How to get French citizenship: the main routes

For an adult newcomer, two routes work: naturalisation and declaration by marriage. The others apply to people who already have a connection with France: children born in the country, children of French citizens, parents and siblings of citizens, and former citizens.

Route	For whom	Time before applying	Language and exam
Naturalisation	people who have lived in France for five years	5 years of residence, decision within 18 months	B2 spoken and written, civic exam
Naturalisation with a reduced period	people who have successfully completed two years at a French university, have rendered important services to France or whose integration is exceptional	2 years of residence	the same
Naturalisation with no minimum period	refugees, people from French-speaking countries, those who have served in the French armed forces	no minimum period	the same
Declaration by marriage	spouses of French citizens	4 years of marriage, 5 in some cases	B2 spoken and written, no exam
Birth in France	children of foreign nationals born in the country	automatically at 18, by declaration from 13	not required

Naturalisation: five years and what shortens them

The standard period is five years of residence in France. This is not simply five years with a card in your pocket. The centre of your material interests, above all your work, and your family ties must be in France. If you live in France while your spouse or children live abroad, citizenship may be refused. You must also be living in France on the day the decree is signed.

Two years instead of five under article 21-18 of the Civil Code. There are three cases: you have successfully completed two years of study at a French university towards a French degree; you have rendered, or can render, important services to France through your abilities and talents; or your integration is recognised as exceptional, through civic, scientific, economic, cultural or sporting activity. The last two cases are at the authorities’ discretion.

With no minimum period, the following can apply: refugees; people from French-speaking countries whose native language is French or who attended school in French for at least five years; those who have served in the French armed forces, and volunteers in the French or an allied army in wartime; and people who have rendered exceptional services to France.

The other requirements are the same for everyone:

• age: 18, although you can apply from 17;
• a valid residence permit on the date of application and no removal order in force. A resident card is not required: any valid permit is enough;
• income: stable and sufficient for you and your tax household;
• criminal record: you must not have been sentenced in France to an unsuspended prison term of six months or more, or convicted of terrorism or an offence against the fundamental interests of the nation;
• assimilation: assessed through the civic exam and an interview at the prefecture.

Language and the civic exam: the main change of 2026

Since 1 January 2026, B2 level is required, both spoken and written. It applies to naturalisation and to declaration by marriage alike. Previously, B1 was enough.

Your level can be proven only with documents from a closed list:

• a TCF certificate from France Éducation International or a TEF from the Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry, issued less than two years ago;
• the French national brevet diploma (brevet);
• a French state diploma or professional certification at level 3 or above of the national qualifications framework.

Foreign language diplomas are not on this list. For most adult newcomers, the realistic option is the TCF or TEF, and it is worth taking it in the final year before you apply.

Who is exempt from the language requirement. People whose health or disability prevents them from being assessed, on the basis of a medical certificate. For naturalisation, also refugees and stateless persons over 70 who have lived in France for at least 15 years with a valid permit.

The civic exam has been mandatory for naturalisation since 1 January 2026. It does not apply to declaration by marriage. How it works:

• 40 multiple-choice questions in French, testing both knowledge and situations. You need 32 correct answers to pass;
• the exam is taken on a computer and lasts up to 45 minutes;
• topics: key milestones in French history, the principles, symbols and institutions of the Republic, the rights and duties of citizens, and France’s place in Europe and the world;
• you register at a centre accredited by the Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry or France Éducation International. Abroad, through the Institut français, the Alliance française or the consulate;
• attempting to cheat means a two-year ban from sitting the exam.

The Ministry of the Interior has published 222 topic cards and an open list of knowledge questions. The situational tasks are not published.

The assimilation interview (entretien d’assimilation)

The assimilation interview is a mandatory stage of naturalisation: it takes place at the prefecture once your file has been declared complete, or at the consulate if you live abroad. It assesses how far you have become part of French society, with the civic exam result being only one element of that assessment, and whether you share the principles and values of the Republic set out in the Charter of the Rights and Duties of the French Citizen. You sign the Charter at the end of the meeting. In parallel, the prefecture checks your civic conduct, such as payment of taxes, and any criminal record in France and abroad.

How to prepare. The official preparation material is the Interior Ministry’s Citizen’s Booklet (livret du citoyen); the civic exam topic cards help too. Bring the originals of every document listed in your invitation. If you fail to attend without a legitimate reason, your application may be closed without review.

How to get French citizenship step by step through ANEF

1. Check the requirements: five years of residence or grounds for a reduced period, a valid permit, stable income and no criminal record.
2. Pass the TCF or TEF at B2 and the civic exam. The language certificate must be less than two years old.
3. Gather your documents, translations and apostilles (see the list below). You will need the originals at the interview, even if you apply online.
4. Create an ANEF account at administration-etrangers-en-france.interieur.gouv.fr, complete the application, upload scans and pay the €255 stamp. If you apply together with your spouse, there are two applications.
5. Receive your receipt (récépissé). It is issued once all documents have been submitted. The 18-month decision period runs from this date.
6. Report any changes through your account: a move, a new job, a marriage, the birth of a child.
7. Attend the interview at the prefecture with the originals listed in your invitation. At the end, you sign the Charter of the Rights and Duties of the French Citizen. If you fail to attend without good reason, your application may be closed.
8. Wait for the decree. You will be told the date of the decree and of its publication in the Journal officiel; the decree itself is downloaded from Légifrance. Citizenship takes effect from the date the decree is signed.
9. Apply for a passport and ID card. Within about six months, you will be invited to a citizenship ceremony.

If you cannot apply online, the ANTS citizenship contact centre can help: 0806 001 620, weekdays from 9:00 to 17:00. Prefectures and most sub-prefectures have digital help points. A paper application by post is possible only if the ANTS centre or the prefecture has confirmed that you cannot apply online.

Document checklist for naturalisation

Section	What to submit
Fee and identity	€255 electronic stamp; copy of both sides of your valid residence permit; passport
Civil status	original full copy of your birth certificate, issued by the authority holding the record; documents showing your parents’ dates and places of birth and their marriage; copy of your passport as proof of nationality; documents on any change of surname
Housing	renting: lease, last three rent receipts and your latest phone or electricity bill; owner: certificate from a notary; living with friends: their confirmation and ID
Income and taxes	employee: employer certificates for three years, current contract, last three payslips, November and December payslips for three years, tax notices for three years, tax certificate P. 237 no older than three months; business owner: extract from the register and accountant’s certificate; micro-entrepreneur: URSSAF returns for 12 months
Language and exam	TCF or TEF certificate less than two years old, or a French diploma from the list; civic exam certificate
Family	marriage certificate and spouse’s ID; for a PACS or cohabitation, your partner’s document; if divorced or widowed, proof; children’s birth certificates and school certificates for the current year
Criminal record	if you have lived in France for less than 10 years, original criminal record certificates from the countries where you lived, or, if unobtainable, from your country of nationality
Travel	for non-EU nationals who entered the Schengen area for stays of less than three months in the five years before applying: passport or Schengen visa, plus passports of minor children

Tax documents for three years are the most time-consuming part of the application. How French tax returns and notices work is explained in our article personal taxes in France.

Document requirements

• Civil status records: full copy only, original, in the language of the issuing country. Everything else can be submitted as copies, but keep the originals to hand.
• Translation: for every foreign document, an original translation. The translator must be sworn (traducteur agréé): a court expert on the lists of the courts of appeal or the Court of Cassation. If you are abroad, the list of translators is available from the French consulate, which certifies the translator’s signature.
• Apostille or legalisation: for some foreign documents. The translation is done before legalisation.

How much it costs and how long it takes

Item	Amount or timeline in 2026
Naturalisation fee	€255, €127.50 in French Guiana; abroad, paid at the consulate
Declaration by marriage fee	€255, €127.50 in French Guiana
Validity of the electronic stamp	1 year from purchase; an unused stamp can be refunded within 18 months
Naturalisation processing	up to 18 months from the date of the receipt
Reduced processing time	12 months if, on the date of the receipt, you have lived in France for at least 10 years
Extension of the period	once, by 3 months, with reasons given
Decision on marriage	a year to refuse, two years under the objection procedure, from the receipt issued after the interview
Citizenship ceremony	in principle within 6 months of the decree’s publication
Passport after citizenship	€86 stamp, €43 in French Guiana, €96 abroad; valid for 10 years
Child’s passport	€17 stamp under 15, €42 from 15 to 17; valid for 5 years
ID card	first one free, valid for 10 years

Apart from the stamp, the procedure is free. The government portal specifically warns about private websites that charge money, for example for “booking a prefecture appointment”. The real costs on top of the fee are the language test, the civic exam, sworn translations and apostilles.

Common reasons for refusal and deferral (ajournement)

There are three types of negative decision, and the type determines when you can apply again.

Decision	When it is issued	What next
Inadmissible (irrecevable)	a legal requirement is not met: no five years, no valid permit, no B2 or exam, a conviction on the list	apply again once the reason no longer applies
Deferral (ajournement)	the requirements are formally met, but granting citizenship is not yet appropriate, for example because professional integration is still weak	apply after the period stated in the decision; an earlier application will be closed without review
Rejection (rejet)	granting citizenship is deemed inappropriate	a new application within five years may be closed without review unless there are new circumstances

What is examined:

• income: stable and sufficient for the whole tax household. A deferral “to improve professional integration” is an example given by the government portal itself;
• family abroad: if your spouse or children do not live in France, this is grounds for refusal;
• civic conduct: including paying taxes; consular and social security bodies may be consulted;
• convictions and breaches of public order in France and abroad;
• assimilation: the results of the exam and interview, and acceptance of the values of the Republic.

Where your income comes from matters as much as how much it is. On 2 May 2025 the Interior Minister sent prefects a circular on naturalisation. It is not a law but guidance that prefectures follow when assessing files. The ministry itself summarised it in an answer to a senator on 12 February 2026: income must be stable and sufficient, for people in work it must come from professional activity in France, and retired applicants will be refused citizenship if their income comes mainly from abroad. For people living on capital this changes the plan: years on a visiteur card with dividends and rent from abroad count towards the five years of residence, but on their own they do not make a strong file. Income from activity in France means a salary or earnings from your own business here. Whether dividends from your own French company count in the same way is not specified in official texts, so the way you pay yourself is worth discussing before you apply — and ideally before you choose your residence permit ground (Interior Ministry answer, Senate).

Closure without review (classement sans suite) happens more often than you might think: documents not provided by the deadline, or a missed interview.

How to appeal. First, within two months, an appeal to the minister; for online applications, only through the form in your ANEF account. You cannot go to court without it. If you receive a refusal or have had no reply for four months, you have a further two months to bring a claim before the Administrative Court of Nantes. Even after the decree, it can be withdrawn within two years if the requirements were not met, and in cases of fraud within two years of the fraud being discovered.

French passport: how to apply after obtaining citizenship

A French passport costs €86 for an adult and is valid for 10 years; for a child it costs €17 under 15 and €42 from 15 to 17, valid for 5 years. The passport is not issued with the decree: you order it separately. You can apply at any town hall with a registration station, not necessarily where you live. Many town halls accept applications by appointment only; free slots can be found through the ANTS search. According to ANTS figures for 2025, processing an application took 15 days on average, with another 9 days to produce and deliver the passport.

1. Complete a pre-application (pré-demande) on the ANTS website. It is optional but saves time at the town hall. You can buy the stamp at the end.
2. Buy the €86 stamp online or at a tobacconist with a terminal. In French Guiana the stamp costs €43, and €96 when applying at a consulate abroad.
3. Prepare your documents: a photo less than six months old, proof of address less than a year old and your pre-application number. Proof of nationality: a birth record less than three months old issued by the Central Civil Status Service in Nantes (SCEC), a copy of the naturalisation decree or the registered declaration.
4. Go to the town hall in person: your index fingerprints are taken when you apply.
5. Collect your passport within three months from the place where you applied, and sign it. If you do not collect it, the passport is destroyed. Passports are not produced on the spot; timelines depend on the town hall and the season, and you receive an SMS when it is ready.

What a French passport looks like

The French passport is biometric: every passport issued since 29 June 2009 contains an electronic chip. Its format is set by EU Regulation No. 2252/2004. The chip stores the holder’s photo and data, plus a digital image of two fingerprints, which are taken at the town hall when you apply. You can recognise a biometric passport by its cover: the word “passeport” is underlined, with the chip symbol below it — a circle inside a rectangle. The inside pages are printed in a grey-beige gradient showing world maps and the regions of France.

French passport photo requirements

A French passport photo measures 35 × 45 mm, with the face 32–36 mm from chin to crown, and must be less than six months old. The background is plain and light, such as light blue or light grey; white is not allowed. Head uncovered and straight, looking at the camera, neutral expression, mouth closed. Ears visible; a fringe is acceptable if it does not cover the eyes. Glasses without thick frames or tinted lenses, and with no glare. A colour photo is strongly recommended. It must be taken by a professional photographer or a booth using a system approved by the Ministry of the Interior; addresses are listed in the ANTS search. A non-compliant photo will be rejected and no passport will be issued.

A passport for a child in France: from what age

A French child can have their own passport from birth: there is no minimum age, and even a baby can get one. The stamp costs €17 under 15 and €42 from 15 to 17; €8.50 and €21 in French Guiana; €27 and €52 when applying abroad. A child’s passport is valid for 5 years. The child comes to the town hall with their legal representative, who brings their own ID. For a child under 12 the representative collects the passport alone; from 12 the child comes too.

A minor child who lives with you and is named in your naturalisation decree becomes French at the same time as you, so you can order their passport straight away.

Passport or ID card (CNI): the difference

An adult’s first ID card (carte nationale d’identité, CNI) is free and, like the passport, valid for 10 years. Since 2021 it has been a bank-card-sized card with a chip. It proves your identity, and some countries, in the EU and beyond, accept it for travel instead of a passport. You apply at the same town halls with a registration station, and fingerprints are taken as well. It is worth ordering it together with the passport: for countries that do not accept the CNI you need a passport, and otherwise the card is more convenient.

If you become French between the ages of 16 and 25, you must complete the military census (recensement) within a month.

Applying from abroad and documents from your home country

You cannot apply from abroad. Naturalisation from abroad through a consulate is open only to a narrow group: people working for the French state or an organisation important to France, residents of Monaco and those serving in the French armed forces. Everyone else must first move and live in France for five years; how to do that is covered in our article how to move to France.

Documents from your home country

Document	What to check
Birth certificate	original full-form certificate issued by the civil registry office holding the record; apostille; sworn translation. The French authorities expect the record to show the parents’ dates and places of birth; if your certificate does not include them, you may be asked for documents on your parents’ births
Criminal record certificate	required if you have lived in France for less than 10 years; original, apostille, sworn translation
Marriage certificate, divorce decree, spouse’s death certificate	originals, apostille, sworn translation
Change of surname document	if your surname has changed; apostille and translation
Passport	copy as proof of nationality; international passport with Schengen entry stamps for the past five years

Apostille or legalisation. Whether an apostille is enough for civil status records and judicial and administrative documents, including criminal record certificates, depends on the issuing country: the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs publishes a table by country (version of 11 September 2026). The apostille is affixed in the country that issued the document, so it is best to prepare your papers before you move or through someone you trust.

The talent passport route

The talent passport (carte talent) is the most direct entry point onto the five-year path to citizenship for specialists, entrepreneurs, investors and researchers. The card is issued for up to four years. Holders do not sign the integration contract and therefore do not take the civic exam to obtain the card. All categories and thresholds are in our overview French talent passport: all categories, and the business route is covered in French talent passport for entrepreneurs.

Does the talent passport shorten the path to citizenship? The card itself does not: naturalisation still requires the same five years. The period can be reduced to two years on the general grounds of article 21-18: if you have successfully studied for two years at a French university, have rendered important services to France through your abilities and talents, or your integration is recognised as exceptional. The last two grounds are a decision for the authorities, not an automatic right. How the card and the residence period work for those who come with research work or a name in their field is covered in the articles on the French talent passport for researchers and the talent passport for renown. Talent card holders get no exemption from B2 or the civic exam at naturalisation. It is worth learning the language from year one.

To compare all grounds, not just the talent route, see our overview French residence permits on all grounds.

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Citizenship by marriage

This is not naturalisation but a declaration: a different procedure with different timelines.

• Four years of marriage on the date of the declaration is the standard requirement.
• Five years if, since the marriage, you have lived continuously in France for less than three years and, while you lived abroad, the French spouse was not registered with the consulate.
• The spouse must have been French on the date of the marriage and must have kept their citizenship. A marriage concluded abroad must be entered in the French registers. You must have lived together continuously since the marriage.
• Language: the same B2, spoken and written. There is no civic exam.
• You do not have to live in France: you can also apply from abroad, through the consulate.
• An interview is held with both spouses, after which a receipt is issued.
• Decision timelines: the ministry has a year to refuse to register the declaration, and two years if the objection procedure is launched. An objection may be raised on grounds of unworthy conduct or lack of assimilation, but not on grounds of language. Citizenship takes effect from the date the declaration is signed.

For comparison, in Spain the spouse of a citizen can apply for citizenship after one year of marriage and residence, so the Spanish route through marriage is considerably shorter than the French one. The other differences between the two countries are covered in Spain or France: where is better to live.

Children born in France

Contrary to popular belief, being born in France does not in itself confer citizenship. But it opens a route that adult newcomers do not have.

Age	What happens	Residence requirement
18	citizenship is acquired automatically, no application needed	living in France at 18 and having lived in the country for at least five years since the age of 11
16–17	the teenager files the declaration themselves	the same five years of residence since the age of 11
13–15	the parents file the declaration with the court, and the child must give consent	five years of residence since the age of 8

If at least one of the foreign parents was themselves born in France, a child born in France is French from birth. Minor children living with a naturalised parent become French along with them if their names are included in the decree. The birth of a child gives the parents no status.

The road to a French passport means several years on a residence permit, a B2 pass and an application scrutinised line by line. The most vulnerable point is your first residence ground: it determines whether, five years on, you will have stable income and the required period of residence. If you are not sure which ground suits you, describe your situation and we will assess it for free and tell you whether the talent passport is realistic in your case.

Frequently asked questions

How do you get French citizenship?

Live in France for five years with a valid residence permit, pass B2 French and the civic exam, apply for naturalisation through ANEF and attend an interview at the prefecture. The fee for 2026 is €255, and a decision arrives within 18 months of the receipt date. Spouses of French citizens can use the declaration by marriage after four years.

How do you get a French passport?

After the naturalisation decree or the registration of your declaration, book an appointment at any town hall with a registration station, complete a pre-application on the ANTS website and buy an €86 stamp. At the town hall you provide a photo, proof of address and proof of nationality, and your fingerprints are taken. You collect the passport in person within three months, and it is valid for 10 years.

What does a French passport look like?

It is a biometric passport to the EU standard: every passport issued since 29 June 2009 contains a chip with the holder’s photo and two fingerprints. On the cover the word “passeport” is underlined, with the chip symbol below it — a circle inside a rectangle. The inside pages are grey-beige, with world maps and the regions of France. An adult’s passport is issued for 10 years.

What photo do you need for a French passport?

35 × 45 mm, with the face 32–36 mm from chin to crown, taken less than six months ago. Plain, light background; white is not allowed. Head uncovered, mouth closed, ears visible. It must be taken by a professional photographer or a booth using a system approved by the French Ministry of the Interior; a non-compliant photo will be rejected.

At what age can you get a passport in France?

From birth: there is no minimum age, and even a baby can get one. A child’s passport is valid for 5 years, and the stamp costs €17 under 15 and €42 from 15 to 17. The child comes to the town hall with their legal representative. An adult passport costs €86 and is valid for 10 years.

How many years do you need to live in France to get citizenship?

Five years of ordinary residence. Two years if you have successfully completed two years at a French university, have rendered important services to France or your integration is recognised as exceptional. Refugees, people from French-speaking countries and those who have served in the French armed forces can apply with no minimum period.

What level of French is required for citizenship?

B2, spoken and written, for both naturalisation and declaration by marriage, since 1 January 2026. It is proven with a TCF or TEF certificate issued less than two years ago, or with a French diploma from the list: the brevet or a diploma at level 3 or above.

What is the civic exam?

A test of 40 questions on the history, values and institutions of the Republic; you need 32 correct answers. Since 1 January 2026 it has been mandatory for naturalisation, as well as for the first multi-year card and the first resident card. The list of knowledge questions has been published; the situational tasks have not.

What is asked at the assimilation interview?

The interview at the prefecture assesses how far you have become part of French society and whether you share the principles and values of the Republic set out in the Charter of the Rights and Duties of the French Citizen, which you sign at the end. You prepare with the Citizen’s Booklet (livret du citoyen) and the civic exam topic cards. Bring the original documents listed in your invitation; failing to attend without a reason can get the application closed.

Does France allow dual citizenship?

Yes. French law does not require you to give up your previous citizenship. However, in the country of your other citizenship you are regarded solely as its citizen, and French protection does not extend to you there.

Does the talent passport shorten the path to citizenship?

No, the card itself does not shorten it: you need the same five years, B2 and the civic exam. Two years instead of five is possible on the general grounds, for study at a French university, important services to France or exceptional integration, at the authorities’ discretion.

Why is citizenship deferred or refused?

Most often because of unstable or insufficient income, family living abroad, tax debts, breaches of public order, or poor knowledge of the language or the values of the Republic. A deferral (ajournement) sets a period after which you can apply again. A refusal can be challenged within two months by appealing to the minister, and then before the Administrative Court of Nantes.

Does having a child in France give the parents citizenship?

No. The child gains the right to citizenship from the age of 13, or automatically at 18, provided they live in France, but the birth of a child gives the parents no status.

Can I get French citizenship if my income comes from abroad?

The risk is high. Under the Interior Ministry’s circular of 2 May 2025, people in work must earn their income from activity in France, and retired applicants whose income comes mainly from abroad are refused. Years on a visiteur card count towards the residence period, but for naturalisation it is better to move the source of your income to France in advance.

Official sources

• Naturalisation by decree: requirements, documents, timelines, appeals
• Declaration of citizenship by marriage
• French language requirements: level, documents, exemptions
• Civic exam for naturalisation
• Ministry of the Interior on the civic exam
• Civil Code, articles 21-14-1 to 21-25-1
• Income and tax documents for naturalisation
• Dual and multiple citizenship
• French Ministry of Foreign Affairs: apostille and legalisation table by country
• First adult passport: town hall, documents, stamp, validity
• First passport for a minor: age, stamp, validity
• Photo for a passport or ID card: size and requirements
• First ID card for an adult: free, 10 years
• ANTS: passports and ID cards issued in figures: average timelines for 2025
• Citizenship of a child born in France to foreign parents
• ANEF: filing the application
• French Senate: the Interior Ministry’s answer of 12 February 2026 on the circular of 2 May 2025 — source of income for naturalisation

This article is for information only and does not replace legal advice. The requirements for naturalisation in France have tightened in recent years: the required language level has risen and a mandatory exam has been introduced. Check thresholds, fees and timelines as of the date you apply.