Introduction

Becoming French by decree is no formality. It is a twelve-to-thirty-month administrative journey, with a thick file (often more than fifty documents), an assimilation interview at the prefecture, and a wait that can stretch on before the decree is published in the Official Journal. Yet for many foreigners living in France, it crowns a life project — and unlocks dual citizenship, free movement across the European Union, the right to vote, and automatic transmission of nationality to future children.

This guide covers 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 details change. A parallel route through marriage exists (declaration), faster on paper; we flag the key differences so you pick the right door.

Substantive conditions: what the administration checks

Naturalization is a favor, not a right. Even a complete file can be postponed or rejected if the administration feels you do not meet the spirit of the criteria. Six conditions are reviewed:

Three typical examples. Wei, a Chinese engineer in Lyon for seven years, stable salary, DELF B2, two French-born children: solid file. Karim, a delivery rider in Bordeaux for five years on a permanent contract but with eighteen months of RSA in his history: risky file, to be reinforced with recent payslips and a strong cover letter. Maria, a Brazilian married for three years to a French citizen in Marseille: she saves time by going through declaration of nationality by marriage (4 years of marriage required) rather than by decree.

Difference with naturalization by marriage

Many people confuse the two paths. The differences are major:

• Decree: 5 years of residence, income, assimilation, discretionary review, 12 to 30 months. No marriage required.
• Marriage (declaration): 4 years of marriage to a French citizen (5 if you have not lived 3 years in France after the wedding), uninterrupted shared life, B1 oral and written, no income condition. This is a declaration procedure (article 21-2 of the Civil Code), not a decree. Practical timeline is also long (12 to 24 months) despite a theoretically simpler framework. The public prosecutor can object within one year of registration.

In practice, if you have been married for a while, the marriage route is safer (no income test). If you are single or recently married, the decree route is the only option.

The file: more than 50 documents to gather

This is the most laborious step. Form Cerfa 12753 lists the supporting documents; allow two to four months to assemble everything. Main categories:

Wei spent three months obtaining her authenticated birth certificate from Beijing. Karim had his Moroccan "12s" extract and his Casablanca criminal record translated by a court-sworn translator in Bordeaux for 180 €. Aminata, Senegalese, had to top up her file twice after the prefecture asked for additional documents.

Filing: online platform or paper

Since 2023, most prefectures have moved to the national platform Naturalisation en ligne (NATALI). You create an account on the Ministry of the Interior portal, upload PDFs, pay the stamp and sign electronically. A handful of prefectures still accept paper filing by appointment.

On receipt, the prefecture sends you an acknowledgment. Then count 3 to 6 months before your interview is scheduled.

The assimilation interview at the prefecture

This is the step that worries applicants most. A prefecture officer (sometimes a police officer or court clerk) receives you for 30 to 60 minutes. Three goals: check your French level, your knowledge of France, and the sincerity of your assimilation project.

Common 2026 questions:

• Why do you want to become French? Why now?
• What are the three branches of the Republic? Who is the President? The Prime Minister?
• Name three French historical figures. What happened in 1789? In 1944?
• Is France secular? What does that mean in daily life?
• Gender equality: can you give concrete examples?
• What is your profession? Your income? Your housing?
• Do you intend to keep your original nationality? (France allows dual citizenship, but not all countries do — China and India, for example, do not — and may require renunciation)

The officer may also test your spontaneous French (describe an image, read a short text). The livret du citoyen published by the Ministry is the reference document. It is freely available on service-public.fr.

A written report is drafted. You sign it after reading (and may request corrections).

Timelines and outcome: favorable, postponement, rejection

After the interview, the prefecture forwards the file to the Ministry of the Interior (sub-directorate for access to French nationality), which decides. Three outcomes:

• Favorable: your name is listed on a collective decree published in the Official Journal. You take the oath at a naturalization ceremony (prefecture or city hall), receive a French birth certificate and can apply for a French ID card.
• Postponement: the decision is delayed 1 to 3 years, time for you to consolidate a criterion (income, assimilation, residence duration). You may refile after the delay.
• Rejection: a reasoned decision. A grace appeal to the Ministry is possible within 2 months, then a contentious appeal before the Nantes Administrative Court (which has exclusive jurisdiction in this matter).

Real 2026 timelines: 12 months on average in the smoothest prefectures (some smaller provincial ones), 20 to 30 months in Paris, Bobigny, Créteil, Marseille. Centralization in Nantes and digitization have narrowed the gap, but the Paris-region backlog is real.

Summary

• 5 years of regular residence (2 for master's-and-up graduates), center of life in France, stable income
• B1 oral and written proven by DELF, TCF or French diploma

On Pionra

On Pionra, the Chinese, Moroccan, Algerian, Portuguese, , and communities share their experience on prefecture timelines, interview questions and lawyers specialized in immigration law. Ask your questions on .

FAQ

My tax statement shows modest income. Can I still be naturalized?

Yes, provided you are above the poverty line and self-sufficient. A full-time SMIC on a permanent contract passes easily. RSA alone does not. AAH (disability allowance), pensions, or invalidity benefits can compensate. The administration looks at stability more than amount: three steady years are worth more than one isolated peak.

I don't have a DELF B1 but I speak French well day-to-day. Is that enough?

No. Since 2020, formal proof is required. A French diploma (CAP, brevet, bac, license) gives equivalence. Otherwise you must take the DELF B1 (~ 145 €) or the TCF tout public (~ 100 €) at an accredited center. Allow 1 to 3 months between registration and the test.

Can I keep my original nationality?

France allows dual citizenship. But your country of origin may not (China, India, Japan, Singapore, several Gulf states) and may require renunciation. Check beforehand: France imposes nothing, but your origin passport may be cancelled at home.

My application was postponed for "lack of professional integration". What now?

Build a solid file during the postponement period: 12 to 24 more months of payslips, ideally on a permanent contract, then refile. A letter from the employer confirming the stability of the position carries weight.

How much does the procedure cost with a lawyer?

The file alone costs 55 € in stamps. An immigration lawyer typically charges 800 to 2,000 € for file preparation and interview support. Useful if you have a criminal history, a complex migratory path (asylum, regularization), or a postponement decision to contest.