How to become a French citizen

According to the Law on the Entry and Residence of Foreigners promulgated by France, foreigners who are allowed to enter France enjoy three residence qualifications during their stay in France. The first is the temporary population, mainly including tourists, international students, businessmen and seasonal workers. For example, temporary workers in Italy and Spain are generally allowed to stay for 3 months, 6 months or 1 year; The second type is short-term residents, mainly labor immigrants who sign contracts, and the residence period is 3 years; The third type is long-term residents, including family members of French citizens, refugees and applicants in the second type mentioned above.

Only people who meet the following conditions can become French citizens

Foreigners applying for naturalization must have legal residence documents in France. You must also be able to prove that you have lived in France for at least five years since the date of application.

It can also be reduced to two years in the following two cases:

Normal study and further study in French institutions of higher learning for at least two years;

A person with special talents or skills who has made special contributions to France.

In addition, there are seven situations in which applicants do not need to live for five years:

The applicant is underage and at least one of his parents is French;

Foreign spouses or adult foreign children of French nationals;

Participated in the foreign legion in France;

The applicant's country of origin is controlled, protected or entrusted by France;

The applicant has legal refugee status;

If one of the official languages of the applicant's country of origin is French, and French is his mother tongue, or the applicant has studied in a school with French as the teaching language for at least 5 years;

If the applicant has made special contributions to France or can make special contributions to France after naturalization.

In addition, the applicant must prove that he has sufficient sources of income during his five-year residence in France; The most important factor for the French government to decide whether to grant a naturalization permit is the applicant's degree of naturalization in French society, especially the applicant's proficiency in French, and his understanding of the rights and obligations that will be granted to him after naturalization (excluding asylum seekers, stateless persons who have lived in France for more than 15 years and elderly people over 70 years old). Foreigners who are expelled or prohibited from entering French territory, illegal immigrants and foreigners with criminal records are not eligible to apply for naturalization.

Legal basis:

Article 3 of the Law on the Entry and Residence of French Foreigners: Foreigners who are allowed to enter France enjoy three residence qualifications during their stay in France. The first is the temporary population, mainly including tourists, international students, businessmen and seasonal workers. For example, temporary workers in Italy and Spain are generally allowed to stay for 3 months, 6 months or 1 year; The second type is short-term residents, mainly labor immigrants who sign contracts, and the residence period is 3 years; The third type is long-term residents, including family members of French citizens, refugees and applicants in the second type mentioned above.