There are 2 main ways to obtain French nationality: declaration of nationality and naturalization.
If you are married or related to a French person (descendant, child, grandchild, great-grandchild, brother or sister, etc.), you can declare your nationality.
Naturalization applies in all other cases, and is subject to a number of conditions, in particular length of residence in France.
You are a foreigner, born abroad and living in France
You can become French :
by declaration of nationality (French spouse, ascendant, descendant)
Or by naturalization (all other cases)
Declaration of nationality
You can become French by declaration if you are married to or related to a French person:
Your spouse is French
You have a French child or grandchild
You have a French brother or sister
You have been adopted or fostered by a French person.
Declaration of nationality by marriage
You need to wait 4 years after marriage, or even 5 years in certain cases (where the couple is not resident in France).
This is known as the “délai préalable” or waiting period.
Declaration of nationality by an ascendant of a French national
Declaration of nationality by a brother or sister of a French national
Naturalization
You can become French by naturalization. This is known as “French naturalization by decree” or “applying for naturalization”.
A minimum of 5 years’ uninterrupted residence in France is required.
However, there are exceptions.
No minimum period of residence in France is required if you are in one of the following situations:
You have refugee status
You come from a French-speaking country and speak French as your mother tongue.
You come from a French-speaking country and have been educated for 5 years or more in a French-language school.
You did your military service in the French army.
You joined the French army or an allied army in wartime
You have rendered exceptional services to France
A minimum of 2 years residence in France is required if you are in one of the following situations:
You have obtained a diploma from a French higher education establishment after 2 years of study.
You can render (or have rendered) significant services to France, given your abilities and talents.
You have completed an exceptional integration program (activities or actions in the civic, scientific, economic, cultural or sporting fields, etc.).
If you are in one of these situations, you can apply for naturalization.
You were born in France of foreign parents
If you were born in France of foreign parents, you can become French by making a declaration to the local court.
If you were born in France of foreign parents, you become a French citizen at the age of 18.
You must meet the following 3 conditions:
Reside in France at age 18
Have had your habitual residence in France for a continuous or discontinuous period of 5 years or more since the age of 11.
Your foreign parents are not diplomatic agents or career consuls.
If one of your parents is foreign but was born in France, and you were born in France, you are French by birth. You are also French if at least one of your 2 parents is French.
