French Citizenship

Citizenship By Descent Eligibility

A person is eligible for French citizenship if they fit the following criteria:

• The child has at least one parent who was a French citizen at the time of their birth.
• The child must have been born in wedlock or must have been recognized by the French parent.

Citizenship By Marriage Eligibility

French citizenship via marriage is a legal way for a non-French spouse of a French citizen to obtain French nationality to be with their partner.

To be eligible for this, the applicant needs to meet eligibility criteria and provide all essential documentation to prove they are eligible. The eligibility criteria include:

• The spouse must have been married to a citizen of France for a minimum of four years.
• The spouse must have lived in France for at least three years since the marriage, and one of these years must have been continuous.

Citizenship By Naturalisation Eligibility

Those who have lived in France for a certain amount of time may be able to acquire French citizenship. However, individuals do need to meet eligibility criteria to become candidates for French nationality, such as:

• The individual must be at least 18 years of age.
• The individual must have lived in France for a minimum of five years.
• The individual must have a valid residence permit.
• The individual must have sufficient knowledge of French culture and language.
• The individual can have no criminal record and cannot be under investigation.

Citizenship By Birth Or Adoption Eligibility

Those who are adopted or eligible to become citizens through birth have a straightforward process to citizenship. The documents needed are very simple; however, there are specific timelines for these applications depending on the age and circumstances of the individual.

Those who are eligible must meet the following criteria:

• The individual was born, has been adopted in France, or at least one parent is a citizen of France.
• At least one of the parents has been residing in France for at least five years. However, if certain conditions apply, it can be less, such as if the parent were acting as a civil servant abroad.

Citizenship By Descent Requirements

An applicant for citizenship by descent will need to provide the following documents for their application to obtain French nationality:

• The French parent’s birth certificate.
• The birth certificate of the applicant.
• The marriage certificate of the applicant’s parents.
• Proof of the French parent’s citizenship.
• Evidence of the French parent’s residency if they are living abroad.
• Any other relevant documentation, such as a divorce decree or adoption papers, if this is applicable.

Additional Requirements

• The applicant cannot have received a conviction for any serious crime.
• The applicant must not have engaged in any activity that is harmful to the interests of France.
• The applicant has to renounce any other citizenship, if this applies, upon acquiring their French citizenship.

Citizenship By Marriage Requirements

Those who are married to a French citizen and wish to obtain French citizenship can apply if they are eligible; however, much documentation is required, so applicants should ensure they prepare the necessary documentation in advance. This includes the following:

• A valid passport or other form of ID.
• A passport photo.
• Two copies, signed, of the declaration form.
• The marriage certificate.
• Proof that documents the French Spouse’s citizenship.
• Evidence that shows the couple’s shared residency, such as utility bills or a rental contract.
• Proof of the spouse’s language proficiency. This could be a French language test or a diploma showing this.
• A criminal record certificate from the home country of the spouse and France.
• Evidence that shows any previous marriages were dissolved, if this is applicable.

Additional Requirements

• The spouse needs to demonstrate a sufficient level of integration into France”s culture and society.
• The spouse will be required to renounce any other citizenship they have, if this is applicable, upon the acquisition of their French citizenship.

Citizenship By Naturalization Requirements

Obtaining citizenship by naturalisation is for those who have lived in France for a certain amount of time (usually five years) on an applicable visa. The documents required to apply for French citizenship by naturalisation include the following:

• Proof of ID, such as an ID card or passport.
• Proof of residency in France, such as a rental contract or utility bills.
• French language proficiency certificate.
• Criminal record certificate from the applicant’s home country and France.
• Proof of integration into society in France, such as an employment contract, proof of volunteer work, or community involvement.

Additional Requirements

• The individual is required to renounce any other citizenship, if it is applicable, when they acquire their French citizenship.
• The application process can take up to two years to be processed.

Citizenship By Birth Or Adoption Requirements

Those who are looking to obtain citizenship by birth or adoption will need certain documents when they apply. This includes the following:

• Proof of ID, such as an ID card or passport.
• A birth certificate or decree for adoption.
• Proof of a parent’s French citizenship or their residency in French.
• If the individual is born outside of France, proof of the parent’s French nationality at the time of birth is needed.

Additional Requirements

• If the child is born in France to non-French parents, they can apply for French citizenship before the child turns 18 years of age.
• Should the child be born to French parents outside of France, they will be able to apply for citizenship until the child turns 18.
• Those who are adopted will have to be 16 before the adoption is finalised.

There will be specific requirements and criteria that will depend on the specific circumstances of the applicant and the specific route that they take to obtain citizenship. There are many different routes, but there are some typical eligibility criteria, and there is also a specific process to take when applying to be a French citizen.

Firstly, individuals have to be 18 years old and have lived in France for at least five years, unless they have completed higher education in France or have a spouse in France.

The steps to take to obtain French citizenship are as follows:

1. Applicants need to collect the documents required for their citizenship application, depending on which route they are applying through. This can include residence permits, birth certificates, and proof of French language proficiency.
2. Once all documents are collected, submit the application to the relevant French government office or embassy.
3. Attend the interview that follows and take a civics test; a French language test is necessary.
4. Await for the application to be reviewed and then approved by the French government; this can take a substantial amount of time.
5. If successful, attend the citizenship ceremony and take an oath of allegiance to France.