“French Citizenship is a privilege, and not a right”, this is the summary of the circular issued by Minister of the Interior Bruno Retailleau on 2 May 2025.
While this circular has echoed in the expat community, its substance does not bring a lot of novelty compared to the current state of applicable law. It relies on the laws already in force, including the infamous 2014 Immigration Law, as well as judicial precedents, to give orientations on how to evaluate a citizenship application.
The criteria to evaluate a citizenship application can be summarized into:
(i) Assimilation and integration in the French society, in terms of culture and values;
(ii) Upholding the law, especially the immigration-related rules; and
(iii) Financial self-sufficiency, avoiding reliance on State aids.
Integration into the French society
The circular makes a reminder of the new language threshold for citizenship applications, a DELF B2 level. This new threshold will apply starting January 2026.
Important note: This circular confirms it will also apply to spouses of French nationals.
However, it’s not only about the language; The circular also emphasizes the importance of adopting the principles and values of the French Republic (ex: secularism, freedom of speech, equality, solidarity, rule of law), demonstrating “sufficient” knowledge of history, culture, French society, and the rights and obligations that come with citizenship.
While not yet confirmed, the circular made a suggestion that a new civic exam could be introduced in the future for citizenship applications on the history and culture of France. This will put citizenship applicants in the same position as those who apply for a 4-year card. Nevertheless, it is unknown whether both civic exams will be the same or not.
Respecting the law
A citizenship application must have an “exemplary profile”. That means a fully fledged respect for the law, and not committing any substantial crimes, especially those related to terrorism or that could lead to revoking the foreigner’s residence permit.
The applicant must strictly comply with immigration laws, and must not have any record of irregular stay or overstaying on French territories.
Financial self-sufficiency
In summary, the candidate must have sufficient and sustainable resources that guarantee a stable financial situation. This would not only show their stability, but also their integration in the French society.
Furthermore, the prefecture will evaluate the candidate’s professional record over the past five years to assess whether they have maintained financial self-sufficiency, regardless of their status (employee, independent, liberal profession, entrepreneur).
One of the highlights of the circular that it emphasized on the following points:
- If the candidate is a holder of an indefinite employment contract (CDI), they must have held it for at least one year at the date of evaluating their application by the prefecture
- If the candidate is a holder of a definite employment contract (CDD), they must have held successive CDDs for a total period of 24 months.
These rules do not apply to persons with disabilities or those suffering from a long-term illness.
Special consideration may be granted to those who present a significant benefit to France, such as high-level students and holders of “Passeport Talent” residence permits.
Finally, the candidate’s total income will be evaluated in relation to the SMIC (which currently stands at €21,621.60). Receiving state aid can undermine the candidate’s application. Also, deriving the majority of their income from abroad rather than from France could compromise the candidate’s chances.
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