The country has made the whole process easier for all foreign nationals. As long as you’ve lived in the country for up to five years, you qualify to apply for both French permanent residency and citizenship. Whichever option you should allow you to stay in the country as long as you want.
Holding dual citizenship rights for France and your home countries comes with a lot of benefits and possessing two or more nationalities does not affect your French naturalization process.
France denounced Chapter I of the Council of Europe Convention of 1963 on the Reduction of Cases of various Nationality and on Military necessities in Case of Multiple Nationalities.
This will allow foreigners from other countries even with multiple nationalities to reside and naturalize for the country without any problem at all. A lot of people have lost the chance to become citizens of France because they did not understand the entire process and conditions.
If you are interested in obtaining dual nationality in this EU country, this guide has everything you should know if you want to qualify and have a successful application.
How can you get French dual nationality?
There are a lot of documents involved in applying and processing your application but the government has been kind enough to explain the whole process for anyone to understand.
However, there are eligibilities and conditions that you have to meet before you can begin processing your application. You must meet all the listed requirements before you can acquire French nationality by naturalization.
- You must be at least 18 years old before you can begin processing your France dual nationality application.
- You must have resided in France for a minimum of 5 years and possess a valid residence permit at the time of your application if you are a Non-EU national.
- You must have assimilated into the French community with sufficient knowledge of French history, culture, and society. You can download the citizen’s booklet for more information. You must possess a diploma to prove that passed the oral/written B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages Examination (CEFR) in French. In short, you need a document that proves that you speak and understand French.
How to qualify for dual citizenship
You can become a citizen with dual citizenship rights either through naturalization, marriage, or birth. Since France accepts dual citizenship rights, there’s no need for you to renounce the rights given by your home country.
Here’s a list of procedures that you can use to acquire French dual nationality.
Citizenship by marriage
French laws allow spouses of French citizens to obtain citizenship rights if the couple has been married and lived in France for up to three years.
The spouse that intends to naturalize for France must have a good knowledge of the French language both oral and written forms and also be registered and married [not divorced or separated] during the time of the application.
Citizenship by birth
If you were born in France or to French parents, you automatically become a citizen of France.
Children that are born to foreign nationals in France can claim citizenship by descent on their 16th birthday but receive full citizenship rights when they turn 18 years old and stayed in the country for 5 years.
A 2015 citizenship amendment allows children to acquire citizenship they have lived in France since the age of six, attended a French school, and have a sibling who obtained French citizenship. Parents can also claim these rights if their children qualify.
If you were not born in France but your parents are citizens of the country, you can apply for a demande d’attribution (droit du sang, or blood relation) to naturalize for this EU country.
Foster and adopted children can also obtain citizenship if their guardian or parent is a citizen of the country.
Citizenship by naturalization
People that have their primary source of income in France and have lived in the country for 5 years can naturalize and obtain dual citizenship rights in France.
To meet this requirement, you must possess a valid residence permit. You will not need a residence permit if you are an EU national, Swiss national, and countries that were former French colonies.
Required Documents to apply for French citizenship
Once you qualify for getting dual nationality in France, you’ll need to submit a couple of documents before your application can be processed. You should visit the government website for more answers and details concerning your French dual nationality application.
If you want to possess dual nationality in France through naturalization or marriage, you must sign a Reception and Integration Contract (CAI) and submit it with some documents required by the authorities.
Here’s a list of documents you need to process your application
- Two printed copies of the French nationality application form.
- Two copies of National ID or Passport [You may need to make copies of your spouse’s documents if you are married].
- Proof of address.
- Birth certificate [translated to French]
- Marriage certificate [If applicable]
- A declaration of honor
- Evidence of the relationship if you are married [birth certificates your children, a mortgage contract, joint tax, property deeds, or shared bank account].
- Proof of the partner being a French citizen [If you are married].
- Proof of sufficient knowledge of the French language.
- Criminal record
- Proof of employment or financial sufficiency.
Application Procedures and cost
Before your application can be processed, you will have to pay €55 that is subject to stamp duty and submit your application to the police, mayor’s office, French embassy, or government departments near you.
After your application is submitted, it would take about 18 months for your application to be processed. If your application was accepted, congratulation, you are now a citizen of France.
You’ll receive a national ID card and passport at the naturalization ceremony. As long as you obey the laws of the country and do not commit any act of treason, your children and relatives will have the chance to even naturalize for the country and attain dual citizenship rights for France.