Last Updated on 30th January 2025
Becoming a French citizen is often a long-term aspiration for expatriates who either plan to, or have already settled in France, established their family, home and business in the country, and wish to gain a second French passport.
The benefits are compelling. French citizens are permitted to hold dual nationality, have the freedom of travel granted to all European Union (EU) residents, and can become fully immersed in the French lifestyle, culture and community, with the right to vote in French elections.
Like many countries, France offers a broad range of potential visas and routes to citizenship, although the right options may depend on your circumstances, whether you intend to work or retire in France, and whether you are already living in France as an expatriate resident.
Let’s examine the options you may wish to consider and some of the most common routes to obtaining French citizenship used by expatriates at different stages of their international relocation.
Guidance on Applying for French Dual Citizenship for Foreign Nationals
The first point to clarify is that, for many, citizenship isn’t immediately available. Most expats tend to relocate under a relevant visa category, upgrading this to permanent residency status and then applying for citizenship after at least five years.
It is almost always beneficial to consult an experienced adviser, wealth manager and tax specialist before making any decisions.
Much may depend on your existing familial links to current French citizens, whether you are married to or plan to marry a French national, or whether you need to consider alternative ways to establish eligibility for a Carte de Résident —a step toward permanent residency.
Generally, anybody moving to France from outside the EU and EEA and from countries excluding Switzerland, Monaco, and a few other specific locations will need a residence permit if they wish to live in France for three months or more.
This is usually a residence permit, or a long-stay visa called a VLS-TS, short for the Visa de Long Séjour Valant Titre de Séjour.
The French VLS-TS Long Stay Visa for Non-EU Citizens
This visa is considered the equivalent of a residence permit for expatriates from outside of the EU. It is usually valid for stays in France of between three and 12 months. The norm is to apply for an appropriate visa category for the first year of residence, which could be one of the following:
- The VLS-TS Salarié: Available to professionals with an employment contract within France for a job or post that lasts more than 90 days.
- The VLS-TS Passeport Talent: Provides a residency route for those who can demonstrate that they would contribute to the French economy – including investors, freelance professionals, well-qualified workers, and business owners.
- The VLS-TS Vie Privée Et Familiale: Offered to individuals with a family member, including a spouse, partner, children or dependent French parents already living in the country.
Applying for the correct visa is important since each has varied rules, such as whether or not the resident is permitted to work while in France.
Applying for French Residency at Different Stages of Your Relocation
Once you have settled in France, you can apply for a Carte de Séjour, a French residence permit, which is available either on arrival or most often after your first year living there.
This residence permit can be either temporary, lasting one year, or a multi-year permit, typically with a Carte de Séjour Temporaire provided, which can then be renewed and upgraded to a Carte de Séjour Pluriannuelle, which can be valid for up to four years.
Another option is to apply directly for the Carte de Résident, a residency card granting the right to live in France for longer.
Most expatriates can apply for a 10-year Carte de Résident de 10 Ans when renewing their Carte de Séjour, although this is discretionary. It is, though, sometimes provided automatically if the applicant has lived in France for at least three years, has renewed their residency permit every year, and meets other specific requirements.
Importantly, longer-term residency permits carry conditions such as proving French language proficiency to at least A2 level, having a clean criminal record certificate, and signing a contract that states an obligation to respect and understand the local culture and societal principles.
In less usual circumstances, you may be eligible to apply for a 10-year residency card on arrival, usually because you have French national parents, are relocating to France as a permanent retiree, or are married to somebody of French nationality.
Securing Permanent Residency in France as a British Citizen
Depending on the types of visas or permits you have held thus far, you may qualify for the Carte de Resident Permanent after at least two years, although usually much longer.
As the name suggests, this form of residency permit is permanent and gives you the right to live and work in France indefinitely, although the permit is renewable every 10 years.
Expatriates usually apply after an initial period of living in France when a 10-year residency permit or other long-stay visa is due to expire. However, those over 60 with two consecutive French residency permits can be granted permanent residence automatically.
Otherwise, you must have lived in France for at least five years, demonstrate that you have a stable and sufficient income to be financially independent, have integrated into French society, and meet all the other conditions and requirements.
Understanding How to Obtain French Citizenship and a Second Passport
Regardless of the residency route you follow or the nature of your visa or permit, you can only apply for citizenship after at least five years of permanent residency. This is why the process tends to be fairly protected, progressing from initial residency to longer-term visas, then permanent residency and onward citizenship.
To retain permanent residency status, you cannot leave France for more than six of every 10 months but can apply for citizenship at any point after the minimum five years provided you can satisfy all the eligibility criteria.
This is also known as citizenship by naturalisation, where you have lived in France uninterrupted for a full five years.
If you’d like more information about becoming a French citizen and holding dual nationality, the implications from a financial planning and wealth management perspective, or to discuss any of the details shared in this guide, you can contact the Chase Buchanan team here in France to arrange a good time to talk.
*Information correct as at January 2025