French naturalisation: conditions, deadlines and appeals in 2026

Becoming French by decree remains a favour granted by the State, not a right. Since 2025, prefectures have applied stricter criteria, and 2026 raised the bar again. So it pays to file a solid application first time. A lawyer assesses your chances in 20 minutes on Avocat20min.fr.

French naturalisation: the statutory conditions

The Civil Code sets the basis for French naturalisation. You must first have lived habitually in France for five years (article 21-17). You must also be staying lawfully in France when you apply, and still live there when the decree is signed.

Some applicants nevertheless benefit from a shorter period, or none at all:

• Two years after two successful years of higher education in France, or for an exceptional record of integration (article 21-18).
• No minimum period for a refugee, for a French speaker schooled in French for at least five years, or for a former member of the French armed forces (article 21-19).

Finally, certain convictions close the door: terrorism, harm to the fundamental interests of the Nation, or a sentence of at least six months' immediate imprisonment (article 21-27).

What changed in 2026: B2, civic exam and €255

Three new requirements weigh on every application for French naturalisation filed in 2026.

Requirement	Before	Since
Level of French, spoken and written	B1	B2, for applications filed since 1 January 2026
Civic exam	None	The "naturalisation" version, since 1 January 2026
Tax stamp	€55	€255, for files lodged since 1 May 2026

Level B2 is proved by a diploma, or by a TCF or TEF test less than two years old. The civic exam pass certificate belongs to the documents in the file. So sit the test before filing: our guide to the civic exam explains how. A disability or a health condition opens an exemption, on a medical certificate.

The circular of 2 May 2025: tougher criteria

The Interior Minister signed a circular on French naturalisation on 2 May 2025. It does not change the law, but it guides prefects. His successor told the Senate in January 2026 that he did not intend to revisit it.

Work and income

The circular assesses your professional integration over five years. For an employee, it expects an open-ended contract of more than a year, or fixed-term contracts without interruption over 24 months. Your income must reach at least the minimum wage, excluding social benefits.

Those criteria do not apply, however, to people with a disability or a long-term illness. The Conseil d'État indeed forbids holding low income against an applicant where it results from disability.

Irregular stay and conduct

A past irregular stay now leads, in principle, to a refusal. A current irregular stay or an expulsion order makes the application inadmissible. Poor reports about your conduct likewise lead to refusal, or to a postponement where the facts stay minor.

Conversely, the circular opens the way for high-level students and holders of a "talent" permit.

The NATALI file and the interview

An application for French naturalisation is filed online on NATALI, the ANEF portal. Gather your civil status documents, proof of income and your language certificate. Add the civic exam certificate and the €255 tax stamp.

The prefecture then invites you to an assimilation interview. It focuses above all on your commitment to the values of the Republic, such as equality between women and men or secularism. It ends with the signature of the charter of citizens' rights and duties. Failing to attend without a reason closes the file.

How long does French naturalisation take?

Article 21-25-1 of the Civil Code sets a period of eighteen months after a complete file is lodged. It falls to twelve months if you have lived in France for at least ten years. The administration may extend it once by three months, by a reasoned decision.

Once signed, the decree is published in the official journal. It takes effect on the date of signature. Your minor children named in the decree also become French. For the record, 62,235 people acquired nationality by decree in 2025, a figure down 6.8 %.

Refusal or postponement: the compulsory appeal

Against an inadmissibility, a postponement or a refusal of French naturalisation, a prior administrative appeal is compulsory. You send it to the minister responsible for naturalisations within two months of notification. For a file lodged on NATALI, the appeal also goes through the platform.

If the minister stays silent for more than four months, your appeal counts as rejected. You then have two months to apply to the administrative court of Nantes. Careful: skipping the appeal to the minister makes the court claim inadmissible.

Naturalisation or declaration through marriage?

Marriage to a French national opens another route, a safer one, because it rests on a right: French nationality by marriage. The declaration under article 21-2 of the Civil Code requires four years of marriage and a shared life. That rises to five years without three years of continuous residence in France since the marriage.

Level B2 also applies to declarations made since 1 January 2026. No civic exam is required, however. The stamp likewise costs €255, and a refusal is challenged before the judicial court within six months.

When to consult a lawyer

For French naturalisation, a lawyer helps you choose the right route and the right moment. An employee on fixed-term contracts for 18 months, for instance, often gains by waiting a few months. Likewise, a well-argued appeal to the minister avoids litigation in Nantes.

An immigration lawyer reads your file before you lodge it. If you were French in the past, reinstatement of French nationality is often simpler. If your permit expires in the meantime, think about renewing your residence permit. The official list of conditions sits on the service-public naturalisation page.