Residence permits and French nationality: Moroccans lead the way

The dual ranking emerges from the latest edition of The essentials of immigration in France, published by the French Interior Ministry. The data on first residence permits are presented as provisional.

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In 2025, France issued 35,585 first residence permits to Moroccan nationals. They were well ahead of Algerians, who obtained 28,531, and Tunisians, with 20,598 permits. China ranked fourth, with 15,899 permits issued.

The gap between Morocco and Algeria, its closest pursuer, thus exceeded 7,000 permits. The number granted to Moroccans nevertheless fell by 3.7% compared with the 36,962 recorded in 2024. This decline did not prevent them from retaining the top spot they already held the previous year.

In total, 377,462 first permits were issued to nationals of third countries in 2025, an increase of 9.2%. The ministry does not specify the breakdown by reason for each nationality.

More than 13,600 acquisitions of French nationality

Moroccans also topped the ranking for acquisitions of French nationality. In total, 13,643 people of Moroccan origin became French in 2025, compared with 11,551 people of Algerian origin and 6,978 of Tunisian origin.

Moroccans therefore accounted for just over 14% of the 96,158 acquisitions granted by decree or declaration during the year. The ministry’s table identifies, in particular, 6,526 acquisitions by decree, 2,929 by declaration and 4,091 early declarations concerning young people aged 13 to 17.

This top position confirms the trend observed in 2024, when Moroccans already topped the ranking for acquisitions of French nationality.

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Their position nevertheless comes in a context of an overall decline. All nationalities combined, the number of acquisitions granted fell from 101,509 in 2024 to 96,158 in 2025, a decrease of 5.3%. Acquisitions by decree declined by 13.5%, while those obtained by declaration increased by 2.3%.