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GuideDémarches🇫🇷 France
French Naturalization by Decree: 2026 Procedure (Conditions, Application, Prefecture Interview)
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Becoming French by decree is not a formality. It is an administrative process that takes twelve to thirty months, marked by a thick application (often over fifty documents), an assimilation interview at the prefecture, and sometimes a long wait before the decree is signed in the Official Journal. For many foreigners living in France, it is the culmination of a life project, opening the door to dual nationality, free movement within Europe, the right to vote, and automatic transmission of nationality to future children.
This guide details the naturalization by decree procedure as it actually applies in 2026, under the authority of the Ministry of the Interior and the prefectures. Whether you are Chinese, Moroccan, Algerian, Senegalese, Vietnamese, Brazilian, or Portuguese, the framework is the same — only the consular documents vary. A parallel procedure exists through marriage (declaration), which is theoretically faster; we indicate the key differences to help you choose the right entry point.
Naturalization is a privilege, not a right. Even a complete application can be postponed or rejected if the administration believes you do not meet the spirit of the criteria. Six conditions are examined:
Three typical examples. Wei, a Chinese engineer living in Lyon for seven years, with a stable salary, DELF B2, and two children born in France: solid application. Karim, a delivery driver in Bordeaux for five years on a permanent contract but with eighteen months of RSA in his history: risky application, needs to be strengthened with recent pay slips and a motivation letter. Maria, a Brazilian married to a French citizen for three years in Marseille: she saves time by going through the nationality declaration by marriage (4 years of marriage required) rather than by decree.
Many confuse the two pathways. The differences are significant:
In practice, if you have been married for a long time, the marriage route is safer (no resource criteria). If you are single or recently married, the decree route is the only option.
This is the most laborious step. The Cerfa 12753 form lists the required documents; expect two to four months to gather everything. The main categories include:
Wei took three months to obtain his authenticated birth certificate in Beijing. Karim had his Moroccan "12s" extract and his criminal record from Casablanca translated by a sworn translator in Bordeaux for €180. Aminata, a Senegalese woman, had to complete her application twice after a request for additional documents from the prefecture.
Since 2023, most prefectures have switched to the national platform Online Naturalization (NATALI). You create an account on the Ministry of the Interior's portal, upload your documents (PDF), pay the stamp fee, and sign electronically. Some prefectures still allow paper submissions by appointment.
Upon receipt of the application, the prefecture sends you a receipt. Then expect 3 to 6 months before being called for the interview.
This is the step that causes the most anxiety. A prefecture officer (sometimes a police officer or clerk) will meet with you for 30 to 60 minutes. Three objectives: to verify your level of French, your knowledge of France, and the sincerity of your assimilation project.
Frequently Asked Questions in 2026:
The officer may also test your spontaneous French (describing an image, reading a short text). The citizen's booklet published by the ministry is the basis for revision. It is freely accessible on service-public.fr.
At the end, a report is written. You sign it after reading (you can request corrections).
After the interview, the prefecture sends the application to the Ministry of the Interior (Sub-Directorate for Access to French Nationality), which makes a decision. There are three possible outcomes:
Actual timelines in 2026: an average of 12 months in the most efficient prefectures (some small provincial prefectures), 20 to 30 months in Paris, Bobigny, Créteil, Marseille. Centralization in Nantes and dematerialization have reduced discrepancies, but the congestion in Paris remains real.
On Pionra, the communities Chinese, Moroccan, Algerian, Portuguese, Vietnamese, Senegalese, and Brazilian share their experiences regarding prefectural timelines, interview questions, and specialized immigration lawyers. Ask your questions on /fr/communautes.
Yes, as long as you are above the poverty line and self-sufficient. A full-time minimum wage job on a permanent contract passes without difficulty. Only receiving RSA does not qualify. An AAH, pension, or disability benefit can compensate. The administration looks at stability more than the amount: three regular years are better than an isolated peak.
No. Since 2020, formal proof is required. A French diploma (CAP, brevet, bac, license) provides equivalence. Otherwise, you need to take the DELF B1 (~ €145) or the TCF for the general public (~ €100) at an accredited center. Expect 1 to 3 months between registration and taking the test.
France allows dual nationality. However, your country of origin may not recognize it (China, India, Japan, Singapore, some Gulf countries) and may require you to renounce it. Check beforehand: the French administration imposes nothing, but your original passport may be canceled in your home country.
Build a solid application during the postponement period: 12 to 24 additional months of pay slips, ideally on a permanent contract, and reapply at the end. A letter from the employer confirming job stability carries significant weight.
The application alone costs a €55 stamp. An immigration lawyer charges an average of €800 to €2,000 for preparing the application and accompanying you to the interview. This is useful if you have a criminal record, a complex migration history (asylum, regularization), or a decision of postponement to contest.
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Becoming French by decree is not a formality. It is an administrative process that takes twelve to thirty months, marked by a thick application (often over fifty documents), an assimilation interview at the prefecture, and sometimes a long wait before the decree is signed in the Official Journal. For many foreigners living in France, it is the culmination of a life project, opening the door to dual nationality, free movement within Europe, the right to vote, and automatic transmission of nationality to future children.
This guide details the naturalization by decree procedure as it actually applies in 2026, under the authority of the Ministry of the Interior and the prefectures. Whether you are Chinese, Moroccan, Algerian, Senegalese, Vietnamese, Brazilian, or Portuguese, the framework is the same — only the consular documents vary. A parallel procedure exists through marriage (declaration), which is theoretically faster; we indicate the key differences to help you choose the right entry point.
Naturalization is a privilege, not a right. Even a complete application can be postponed or rejected if the administration believes you do not meet the spirit of the criteria. Six conditions are examined:
Three typical examples. Wei, a Chinese engineer living in Lyon for seven years, with a stable salary, DELF B2, and two children born in France: solid application. Karim, a delivery driver in Bordeaux for five years on a permanent contract but with eighteen months of RSA in his history: risky application, needs to be strengthened with recent pay slips and a motivation letter. Maria, a Brazilian married to a French citizen for three years in Marseille: she saves time by going through the nationality declaration by marriage (4 years of marriage required) rather than by decree.
Many confuse the two pathways. The differences are significant:
In practice, if you have been married for a long time, the marriage route is safer (no resource criteria). If you are single or recently married, the decree route is the only option.
This is the most laborious step. The Cerfa 12753 form lists the required documents; expect two to four months to gather everything. The main categories include:
Wei took three months to obtain his authenticated birth certificate in Beijing. Karim had his Moroccan "12s" extract and his criminal record from Casablanca translated by a sworn translator in Bordeaux for €180. Aminata, a Senegalese woman, had to complete her application twice after a request for additional documents from the prefecture.
Since 2023, most prefectures have switched to the national platform Online Naturalization (NATALI). You create an account on the Ministry of the Interior's portal, upload your documents (PDF), pay the stamp fee, and sign electronically. Some prefectures still allow paper submissions by appointment.
Upon receipt of the application, the prefecture sends you a receipt. Then expect 3 to 6 months before being called for the interview.
This is the step that causes the most anxiety. A prefecture officer (sometimes a police officer or clerk) will meet with you for 30 to 60 minutes. Three objectives: to verify your level of French, your knowledge of France, and the sincerity of your assimilation project.
Frequently Asked Questions in 2026:
The officer may also test your spontaneous French (describing an image, reading a short text). The citizen's booklet published by the ministry is the basis for revision. It is freely accessible on service-public.fr.
At the end, a report is written. You sign it after reading (you can request corrections).
After the interview, the prefecture sends the application to the Ministry of the Interior (Sub-Directorate for Access to French Nationality), which makes a decision. There are three possible outcomes:
Actual timelines in 2026: an average of 12 months in the most efficient prefectures (some small provincial prefectures), 20 to 30 months in Paris, Bobigny, Créteil, Marseille. Centralization in Nantes and dematerialization have reduced discrepancies, but the congestion in Paris remains real.
On Pionra, the communities Chinese, Moroccan, Algerian, Portuguese, Vietnamese, Senegalese, and Brazilian share their experiences regarding prefectural timelines, interview questions, and specialized immigration lawyers. Ask your questions on /fr/communautes.
Yes, as long as you are above the poverty line and self-sufficient. A full-time minimum wage job on a permanent contract passes without difficulty. Only receiving RSA does not qualify. An AAH, pension, or disability benefit can compensate. The administration looks at stability more than the amount: three regular years are better than an isolated peak.
No. Since 2020, formal proof is required. A French diploma (CAP, brevet, bac, license) provides equivalence. Otherwise, you need to take the DELF B1 (~ €145) or the TCF for the general public (~ €100) at an accredited center. Expect 1 to 3 months between registration and taking the test.
France allows dual nationality. However, your country of origin may not recognize it (China, India, Japan, Singapore, some Gulf countries) and may require you to renounce it. Check beforehand: the French administration imposes nothing, but your original passport may be canceled in your home country.
Build a solid application during the postponement period: 12 to 24 additional months of pay slips, ideally on a permanent contract, and reapply at the end. A letter from the employer confirming job stability carries significant weight.
The application alone costs a €55 stamp. An immigration lawyer charges an average of €800 to €2,000 for preparing the application and accompanying you to the interview. This is useful if you have a criminal record, a complex migration history (asylum, regularization), or a decision of postponement to contest.