French citizenship: how to get it in 2026

There are five routes to French citizenship, but for a newcomer two of them work: naturalisation after five years of living in the country and a declaration based on marriage to a French citizen. The others — by birth, by descent and reintegration — concern people who already have a connection with France.

And the most important thing to know before applying: since 1 January 2026 both routes have become stricter. French is required at B2 level instead of B1 — spoken and written — and a mandatory civic exam has been added to naturalisation. B1 certificates are no longer accepted, even if they are formally still valid.

Below — the conditions for each route, what shortens the five-year period, how much it costs, how long processing takes and what a Russian citizen must do after obtaining a second passport.

Five routes and who each one suits

Route	For whom	Waiting period	How language is proven
Naturalisation by decree	those who have lived in France for five years	5 years of residence plus up to 18 months’ processing	B2 spoken and written, plus the civic exam
Reduced-period naturalisation	graduates of French universities and people with exceptional merit	2 years of residence	the same
Declaration by marriage	spouses of French citizens	4 years of marriage, 5 in some cases	B2 spoken and written
Birth in France	children of foreigners born in the country	automatically at 18, on application from 13	not required
Descent and reintegration	children of French citizens and those who lost citizenship	depends on the circumstances	depends on the circumstances

Naturalisation: five years and what shortens them

The standard period is five years of residence in France. This is not just five years with a card in your pocket: the administration looks at where the centre of your interests, your work, your family and your tax residence are.

Two years instead of five — for those who have graduated from a French university with a master’s-level degree, and for those whose integration is recognised as exceptional or whose abilities are significant for the country.

With no minimum period the following can apply: refugees, French speakers whose native language is French, people who studied in French for at least five years, members of the French armed forces and those who have rendered exceptional services to the country. The full list of conditions is on the government portal’s naturalisation page.

Besides the period, they check the stability of your income, the absence of a criminal record and assimilation — knowledge of how the Republic works and its values. It is this last point that has been formalised into an exam since 2026.

Language and the civic exam: the main change of 2026

B2 level is required — spoken and written. It is now also required for the declaration by marriage, not only for naturalisation. B1 used to be enough.

• How it is proven: a TCF certificate from France Éducation International or a TEF from the Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry — issued less than two years ago; or a diploma confirming at least B2 level; or a French diploma of a certain level.
• Who is exempt from the language requirement: people whose health does not allow them to be assessed — on the basis of a medical certificate; and refugees and stateless persons over seventy who have lived in France for at least fifteen years with a valid document. This exemption applies only to naturalisation.
• The civic exam is mandatory from 1 January 2026. It tests knowledge of the principles, values and institutions of the Republic; the syllabus is part of the integration contract and is run by the OFII agency. The Ministry of the Interior has published 222 topic cards and an open list of questions; the situational tasks remain undisclosed.

A trap you only see when planning. The certificate is valid for less than two years, while the application is processed for up to eighteen months. If you take the language test too far in advance, it will have expired by the time of your prefecture interview. Take it closer to applying, not “while there is time”.

Citizenship by marriage

This is not naturalisation but a declaration: a different procedure and different timescales.

• Four years of marriage — the standard condition.
• Five years — if you lived abroad and the French spouse was not registered with the consulate there.
• Language — the same B2 spoken and written.
• You do not have to live in France: you can also apply from abroad, through the consulate.
• Decision timescales: the ministry has a year to refuse to register the declaration, and two years if the objection procedure is launched. The clock starts from the receipt issued after the interview.

Conditions and the list of documents are on the page about the declaration by marriage.

For comparison: in Spain the spouse of a citizen applies for citizenship after one year of marriage and residence, so the Spanish route through marriage is noticeably shorter than the French one.

Children born in France

Being born in France does not in itself give citizenship — contrary to a widespread belief. But it opens a route that adult newcomers do not have.

Age	What happens	Residence condition
18	citizenship comes automatically, no application needed	living in France at 18 and having lived in the country for at least five years from the age of eleven
16–17	the teenager files the declaration themselves	the same five years of residence from the age of eleven
13–15	the parents file the declaration, and the child must give consent	five years of residence from the age of eight

Special cases of automatic citizenship at birth: at least one parent was born in France, at least one was born in Algeria before 3 July 1962, or the child was born in France stateless.

How much it costs and how long it takes

What	Value
Naturalisation fee	€255, €127.50 in French Guiana
Declaration by marriage fee	€255, €127.50 in French Guiana
Naturalisation processing	up to 18 months from the date of the receipt
Reduced processing time	12 months if you have lived in France for at least ten years
Extension of the period	once, by three months
Decision on marriage	a year to refuse, two years under the objection procedure

The application is filed online through your ANEF account; the prefecture then invites you to an interview and receives the original documents. The naturalisation decision is made by ministerial decree.

Dual citizenship and the duty to notify

France allows dual citizenship and does not require you to give up your previous passport. A restriction may come from the other side — from the country of your first citizenship.

Russian citizens who obtain a second citizenship must notify the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs within the set deadline; failure to do so carries liability. The rules have changed, and interpretations differ for different documents — the procedure and deadlines are covered separately: notification of second citizenship and residence permits.

How to reach citizenship: the whole path

Citizenship is the top of the ladder, not a separate door. First a ground for a residence permit, then a multi-year card, then a resident card, and only then naturalisation. All grounds with their conditions are gathered in our overview: French residence permits on all grounds.

An important detail for those going the business route: “talent” card holders are exempt from the integration contract, and therefore from the civic exam and the A2 level for the first multi-year card. But the exemption ends at the resident card, and by the fifth year you will have to deal with the language and the exam at once. The route is covered in our article on the French Talent Passport.

Frequently asked questions

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

Five years of ordinary residence. Two years for graduates of French universities at master’s level and for those whose integration is recognised as exceptional. Refugees, French speakers and several other categories can apply with no minimum period.

What level of French is required?

B2 spoken and written — for both naturalisation and the declaration by marriage. Until 2026 B1 was enough, and certificates at that level are no longer accepted. It is proven with a TCF or TEF certificate issued less than two years ago, or with a diploma of at least B2 level.

What is the civic exam?

A test of knowledge of the principles, values and institutions of the French Republic. It is mandatory from 1 January 2026 for naturalisation, and also for the first multi-year card and the resident card. The list of possible questions has been published; only the situational tasks are undisclosed.

Do you have to give up Russian citizenship?

France does not require it. But a Russian citizen must notify the Ministry of Internal Affairs of their second citizenship within the set deadline, and this is an obligation under Russian law, not French law.

Does having a child in France give the parents citizenship?

No. The child gains the right to citizenship on reaching a certain age and provided they live in the country, while the birth of a child gives the parents no status.

How much does applying cost?

€255 for both routes, half that in French Guiana. Plus the cost of sworn translations, apostilles and the language test.

Official sources

• Naturalisation by decree — conditions, timescales, fee
• Declaration by marriage
• Citizenship of a child born in France to foreign parents
• French language requirements — level, certificates, exemptions
• Ministry of the Interior on the civic exam
• ANEF — filing the application

This article is for information only and does not replace legal advice. The conditions for naturalisation in France have changed twice in two years: the language requirements have risen and a mandatory exam has been introduced. Check thresholds, fees and timescales as of the date you apply.