France Tightens Naturalization Criteria for Foreigners Seeking Citizenship

Another Retailleau circular on foreigners in France. This one is dedicated to their naturalizations. Presented by the minister on Monday, the document, in form, places more emphasis on provisions likely to restrict access to French nationality, without major changes in substance, according to Le Figaro. "This circular is a break," but "not with our law," Retailleau emphasized, while visiting the prefecture of Créteil, in Val-de-Marne. For him, "becoming French must be earned, and we must be very, very demanding." "We base French nationality and French citizenship not only on ancestry, but first on a sense of belonging," he specified.

Foreigners seeking to be naturalized as French must meet three criteria. "The first effort seems so obvious, but it needs to be reiterated, it’s respect for our laws," he explained. "I ask prefects to reject applications from foreigners who have been in irregular situations in the past." Second criterion: better "know our language, also know and recognize French history." The minister intends to raise the level of the French oral exam. And "we will create, from January 1, 2026, a civic exam that will allow us to assess the applicant’s knowledge of our history through their knowledge of civic culture," he declared. Third criterion: regarding work, prefects will have to verify "if applicants have sufficient resources to not depend on social aid," Retailleau continued.

The minister distributed the five-page text, to which the charter of rights and duties of French citizens is annexed, to all prefects.