French citizenship: popular passport programs in the European Union
A French passport gives you new rights and opportunities to work, live, do business in Europe and travel around the world
France PASSPORT DASHBOARD
Mobility Score
175Visa-free
124Visa on arrival
42eTA
9Visa required
23Passport Power Rank
3World reach
88 %What makes being a French citizen attractive
A French passport grants you a wide range of interesting privileges throughout the EU and beyond
Visa-free travel to 160+ countries around the world
French citizens can travel to the most popular destinations, including the USA, Canada, China, Japan, Australia, UK, New Zealand and all EU countries.
Immigration to the EU with employment rights
With a French passport, you can move freely to any EU country without the conditions of a residence permit or proof of income, including taking family members with you.
Favorable conditions for doing business
French citizens can develop a company in the country and abroad, use grants and investment programs for entrepreneurs, switch to loyal tax residency.
Easy obtaining of EU documents for families
Your children can apply for a French passport after you, and your spouse can first obtain a residence permit and later apply for EU citizenship under a simplified program.
Minimum waiting time for the result
Naturalization in France takes from 2 to 5 years, and in some cases (for example, by right of birth or descent) it is possible to obtain citizenship without prior residence in the country.
Access to prestigious education and medicine
With a French passport you can apply for budget places in the best universities in Europe, as well as use the services of quality health care system on favorable terms.
Who can obtain citizenship in France?
French law defines several grounds for granting citizenship
Foreigners who have lived in the country for a long time and are sufficiently integrated
Standard naturalization takes 5 years (2 years with a completed two-year higher education in France), requires passing an integration and language exam (level B1), no criminal record or tax debts, financial security and housing in the country.
Spouses of citizens of the French Republic
Citizenship by marriage is granted under a simplified procedure 3 years after the move, provided that the family union is at least 48 months old and the applicant is French-speaking and law-abiding.
Persons with proven French ancestry
France allows citizenship for those who have close relatives (children and grandchildren, brothers and sisters) in the State, provided they have lived in the Republic for a long time and are sufficiently integrated into society.
Those who have special merits before the state
The authorities of the Republic have the right to grant citizenship status on an individual basis to a person who demonstrates significant achievements for the benefit of France.
Availability of supporting documents
In order to apply for French citizenship, it is necessary to prove compliance with the conditions of the chosen program by documentary evidence:
- naturalization – language and integration certificates, income certificate, information about real estate in the Republic, residence card;
- citizenship through marriage – certificate of marital union, residence permit, proof of French language skills;
- origin – civil status certificates proving kinship with a French person and a language certificate;
- special merits – the list of supporting documents is determined on a personal basis.
Get an individual free consultation
Fill in the short form below to have an immigration lawyer answer your questions at your convenience
How the process of obtaining French citizenship works
In order to obtain French citizenship, you will need to go through several official steps and avoid making mistakes. Mycitizenagency lawyers accompany clients at every stage and carry out most of the tasks of the procedure themselves, which guarantees you a successful result with minimal effort
Checking the data on the questionnaire and concluding the contract
You provide the lawyer with brief information about yourself and basic documents. Next, a Mycitizenagency specialist will analyze your situation comprehensively in order to choose the best citizenship program:
- advises you on the peculiarities, nuances, conditions and norms of French law;
- analyzes your biographical and personal data through documents and official sources;
- selects the best option for obtaining a passport, assesses the risks and determines measures to minimize them;
- draws up a citizenship plan and concludes a bilateral cooperation agreement with you.
Preparing the case for citizenship application
After the verification, the Mycitizenagency specialist starts building the case file. The procedure includes:
- requesting missing documents through official channels (archives, registry offices, state agencies);
- compilation of the dossier in accordance with the requirements of the French legislation and the selected program;
- translation, notarization of certificates and certificates, if applicable – also apostilization;
- joint completion of the application forms and applications for citizenship in accordance with current regulations;
- legal verification of the file before submission to avoid errors and guarantee a positive result.
Applying for French nationality
The online application for French nationality is submitted online through the website of the General Directorate for Foreigners. Then, depending on the situation, the documents are submitted to the prefecture of the applicant’s place of residence, or to the authorities of the Ministry of the Interior:
- the authorities register the request and assign it a case number;
- in some cases, an interview is conducted with the authority;
- the authorized authorities check the completeness and authenticity of the documents;
- if everything in the file is correct, the client receives a notification of approval.
Visit France to obtain citizenship
Once the application has been approved, you travel to France together with a Mycitizenagency lawyer for the final procedures:
- Visit to the prefecture to participate in the ceremony.
- Signing the charter of rights and obligations of French citizens.
- Receipt of the certificate of nationality of the Republic.
Obtaining the French citizen's documents package
In the status of citizen, with the support of a migration specialist, you obtain EU documents:
- French passport for traveling abroad;
- Carte Nationale d’Identité (internal ID card);
- tax and social security numbers;
- metric documents (birth, marriage certificates).
With French documents you acquire all the rights and privileges of a citizen of the European Union:
- family relocation anywhere in the EU without additional conditions;
- official employment in the EU countries without separate authorization;
- access to quality medical care and social benefits;
- the possibility of bank accounts and mortgages on premium terms.
Why clients turn to our company
Official citizenship programs
We help you apply for a passport in France only on grounds that are verified and enshrined in EU law.
Support at every stage
Step-by-step support of an immigration specialist minimizes your worries and efforts and eliminates the risk of mistakes.
Honest terms of cooperation
We provide services under an official contract, with a fixed cost and deadlines.
High success rate
We guarantee the required result to our clients, as we have extensive legal experience in the field of international law.
Get a free analysis of your personalized request
To consult with a Mycitizenagency specialist, leave a request in the short form below
Frequent questions about obtaining citizenship in France
We have collected answers to the most popular questions about obtaining French citizenship. If you still have doubts or need more information, contact us and international law experts will advise you personally.
Standard naturalization in France requires from 5 years of residence in the country with a residence permit.
The period can be reduced to 24 months for those who have completed higher education in the Republic, have significant integration success or provide special services to the state.
Citizenship through marriage can be obtained 3 years after moving if you entered into a marital union with a Frenchman 48 months or more ago.
Sometimes the residency period does not apply at all, for example, if you immigrated from French-speaking countries (Canada, Belgium, some African countries – former colonies) or if you have an ethnic connection with the French.
Yes, for naturalization, including abbreviated naturalization, it is necessary to prove the level of French not lower than B1 according to the international scale CERF. To do this, you need to pass a certified exam (TCF, DELF or TEF) or provide a diploma of education in French.
If you have all the necessary documents according to your personal situation and you do not make any mistakes in the immigration process, the chances of your application being approved are very high – at least 90%.
Mycitizenagency specialists take care of most of the tasks in the procedure to speed up the process and eliminate possible mistakes.
The following documents are required to apply for French citizenship:
- application for citizenship in two copies;
- electronic tax stamps worth 50 EUR;
- residence permit with photocopies (if residing in the Republic);
- birth, marriage or divorce certificate;
- diploma or certificate confirming your level of French language;
- a criminal record certificate from your country of citizenship/residence;
- two recent 3.5 x 4 cm color photographs;
- in case of naturalization – a contract of lease or purchase of real estate in France, proof of financial security and absence of tax debts.
The full list of dossiers depends on the basis and your individual situation.
Mycitizenagency specialists take on the task of creating the right citizenship case, including the request of missing documents.
Yes, children of French citizens automatically acquire citizenship by “blood right” regardless of where they were born.
If the child is an adult, he/she will need to participate in a separate procedure.
The initial application for citizenship is done remotely, but you will need to come to France in person to complete the procedure.
This is to sign the French Citizenship Charter, attend the ceremony, submit biometric data and execute the European documents.
No, France allows dual citizenship, so you can keep your country’s passport.
The main thing is that the principles of multiple citizenship do not contradict the legislation of your country.
Yes, with a French passport you can:
- open and conduct business in France and abroad without restrictions;
- qualify for tax incentives and access to credit programs;
- provide goods and services in the EU Single Market without customs duties;
- participate in grant and tender programs for entrepreneurs.
Testimonials from clients who have obtained French citizenship
View allTo see Paris and die... No, I was not going to die, of course, but to see Paris and even to stay there for a few months - I was quite planning to. I have a passive income, so the main thing was just to draw up some document for a legal move. On the recommendation I turned to Mycitizenagency, and found out great news for me - I can get a European passport without any fuss, quite inexpensively and in a year at the most! In fact, everything took only 10 months, and I practically did not lift a finger - everything was done by experts. My sincere recommendation from the Champs Elysees to everyone who wants something new in life - contact Mycitizenagency!
I am very glad that I entrusted my immigration plans to Mycitizenagency lawyers on my brother's advice. They helped me with the missing documents, submitted the citizenship dossier by proxy (I did not have to waste time traveling), and also gave a lot of correct and useful advice on how to behave at the reception at the state authorities. All in all, I am happy that I didn't do it all myself. Now I am waiting for a new EU passport any day now and we are already preparing the whole family to move
The first thing I want to note about Mycitizenagency is the really individual approach to each client! No one tries to sell you the most expensive service. The lawyer first spent a long time studying something in databases, checked my documents, asked me to fill out a questionnaire and tell me about my future plans. Then I found out what citizenship programs in Europe would suit me best, and it was a sincere recommendation, not a basic “for everyone and everything” option. If you need to get a visa, residence permit or passport at once, I am sure you will not find better service than in Mycitizenagency
Learn more about the important nuances of acquiring citizenship in France
Leave a request and a Mycitizenagency lawyer will contact you shortly
