There are several conditions for being able to apply for French nationality:

1. Have a valid residence permit

2. Be at least 18 years old

3. Have lived in France for at least 5 years and organized your life there

The calculation of the 5-year residency requirement begins from the date of the asylum application. Applicants must have personal, family, or professional ties in France: work, business, children, a relationship, etc.

4.Have a professional activity

You must have stable and sufficient income to live properly (with your family members if they are also in France).

5. Have a B2 level certification in spoken and written French.

Acceptable supporting documents:

• a diploma DELF B2 , DALF C1 or C2
• a certificate of French Knowledge Test " TCF Integration, Residence and Nationality " or " TCF for all audiences " or " TEF Integration, Residence and Nationality (IRN) " issued less than 2 years ago with level B2 in all four tests.
  Read the Refugees.info fact sheet: " Having an official certification of your French language level "
• a diploma or professional qualification obtained in France equal to or higher than level 3 of the national classification of training levels (baccalaureate, professional certificate, etc.) or the national diploma of the brevet.

Please note that not all professional qualifications and certificates can be used to demonstrate French language proficiency in a naturalization application. To check if your diploma or professional qualification is recognized AND at least equivalent to level 3, you can use the France Compétences search engine.

6. Pass the civic exam

You must answer questions about:

• the French Republic
• the rights and duties of French men and women
• French history, geography, culture and society.

You must register and take the exam before preparing the application.

Read the Refugees.info fact sheet: "Preparing for and taking the civic exam"

7. Never been convicted of a crime or committed acts against public order

You can use this simulator to find out which documents to send, depending on your personal and family situation.

Generally speaking, you need:

For civil status

• Birth certificate issued by the OFPRA
• Residence permit
• Travel document

For the level of French

• TEF B2 and TCF B2 certificates less than 2 years old
• or Diploma or certificate of achievement DELF B2 , DALF C1 or C2
• or a diploma or professional qualification obtained in France equal to or higher than level 3 of the national classification of training levels (baccalaureate, vocational certificate, etc.) or the national diploma of the brevet

Regarding the family situation

• If you are married or in a civil partnership:
  - marriage certificate issued by the OFPRA, or marriage certificate or receipt of registration of the PACS
  - Identity document of your husband, wife, or civil partner
• If you have a child: family record book , birth certificate or birth certificate issued by the OFPRA

For professional activity

• If you are an employee: employment contract and employer's certificate
• If you are a business owner: accounting documents, SIRET number
• Career summary

For the resources

• Tax returns for the last 3 years
• Tax status statement P237 for the last 3 years
• Payslips (last 3 + November and December of the last 3 years)

For the home

• If you are a tenant: rental agreement and the last 3 rent receipts
• If you are the owner: deed of ownership
• Electricity, gas, or internet bill
• Addresses from the last 5 years (housing, accommodation or mailing address)

To strengthen your application, you can add evidence of your participation in life in France: volunteering in an association, registration for activities, letters of recommendation…

Tip: Gather all your documents before starting the process. Once you have everything, follow these steps:

1. Go to the ANEF (Foreigners in France) website homepage and click on "I am applying for French nationality"

2. Log in:

• with your FranceConnect credentials
  Read the Refugees.info fact sheet: "Using FranceConnect to log in to a website"
• or with your Foreigners in France (ANEF) account
  Read the Refugees.info fact sheet: "Create a personal account on the Foreigners in France (ANEF) website"

3. Complete the first part with your personal information, your family, your professional activity (current and the last 5 years), your home (current and the last 5 years), your resources…

4. Download the documents of the second part
For each topic, you have a list of documents to submit separately.

The site remembers your information, click on "Save and exit" at the bottom left to save and continue the request later if needed.

5. Pay a tax stamp of 55 euros.
Read the Refugees.info fact sheet: "Buying a tax stamp"

6. Validate the file
At the end, you will receive a "Confirmation of sending your naturalization file" with a reference number.

When your application is complete, you will receive a " completeness receipt ".

If a favorable outcome is anticipated, you will receive a summons for an individual appointment with an agent from the prefecture. This interview is mandatory .

The civic exam tests your knowledge of France, while the interview at the prefecture serves to verify that you adhere to the principles and values of the Republic.

The summons includes a list of documents that must be brought to the appointment (without these documents, your case may be closed without further action).

The timeframe varies depending on the prefecture:

• A maximum of 18 months to respond, starting from the date your application is received.
• 12 months if your residence has been in France for at least 10 years on the date you sent your application.

If you have a technical problem (page blocked, error message, etc.), you can contact the Citizen Contact Centre (CCC):

• by phone at 0 806 001 620 (toll-free number)
• or with the Contact form (the "Contact" button at the bottom left of the screen). You must clearly explain your problem and send screenshots (website, date and time visible) along with the error message if you have one.

If you are unable to apply online, you can receive assistance at a digital access point in your department, at the prefecture or sub-prefecture. There, you can use a computer with internet access, and professionals can provide explanations about the ANEF (Foreigners in France) website.

Two possible cases if the decision is unfavorable:

• Your request is "inadmissible" = the necessary legal conditions are not met.
• • If the reasons for this refusal disappear with the evolution of your personal situation, you can file a new application.
• Your request is "inappropriate" = obtaining French nationality is not or not yet possible, even if the legal conditions are met.
• • If your file is "adjourned" (= put on hold), a deadline is imposed, for example to allow you to improve your professional integration. Once this period has passed, you can submit a new request.

In both cases, you have 2 months after the decision to lodge an administrative appeal with the Minister responsible for naturalization. This appeal is a mandatory step before making a contentious appeal.

You must send a letter to the following address:

Ministère de l'intérieur

Direction générale des étrangers en France

Direction de l'accueil, de l'accompagnement des étrangers et de la nationalité

Sous-direction de l'accès à la nationalité française

12 rue Francis-le-Carval

44404 REZÉ CEDEX

If you do not receive a response from the Minister responsible for naturalization within 4 months, this means that your appeal has been rejected.

You can then make a contentious appeal before the administrative court of Nantes. You have a period of 2 months from the date of rejection to appeal.

If the decision is unfavorable, several situations are possible:

Your request is "inadmissible"

The necessary legal conditions are not met. This means that your application does not comply with the laws governing naturalization.

If your personal circumstances change and you meet the requirements, you can submit a new application.

Your request is "not timely".

French nationality is not, or not yet , possible, even if your application complies with the laws for naturalization.

• If your application is untimely and rejected, you must wait a minimum of 5 years to make a new application, unless you can present new evidence.
• If your application is deemed unsuitable and postponed, you are given a grace period, for example, to improve your professional integration. After this period, you can submit a new application.

In all cases, the administration explains why the request is refused.

If you do not agree, you have 2 months after the decision to make an administrative appeal to the minister in charge of naturalizations.

It is mandatory to use the form available in your personal space on the ANEF (Foreigners in France) website, in the notifications.

If you receive a negative response or if you do not receive a response from the minister in charge of naturalizations within 4 months, this means that your appeal is rejected.

You can then file a legal appeal with the Administrative Court of Nantes.

You have 2 months from the date of rejection to make an appeal.