French Home Minister Bruno Retailleau Unveils Tougher Citizenship Criteria Amid Rising Naturalizations
French Home Minister Bruno Retailleau has announced sweeping changes to the process of acquiring French nationality, calling on prefects across the country to apply stricter standards. In a circular made public on Sunday, Retailleau outlined new conditions for naturalization, emphasizing “assimilation,” “exemplary behavior,” “financial autonomy,” and “sufficient knowledge of the French language.”
About The Move
The move marks a continuation of his hardline stance on immigration, following his January revision of the previous Valls circular concerning undocumented migrants. According to the five-page memo, naturalization remains a “sovereign decision of the government,” not a right. The circular reiterates that applicants must prove their assimilation into French society, respect for laws, and financial self-sufficiency. It also places new weight on language proficiency, calling it the “primary vector of assimilation.”
In January, Retailleau had already launched a new circular on the issuing of residence permits, wherein those applying for a residence permit will have to appear for civic tests to verify “adherence to a certain number of republican principles and values.” To date, this system does not exist to obtain French nationality.
However, now, in addition to demonstrating fluency in French (currently set at B1 level), applicants will soon be required to undergo a civic exam as well, starting 1 January 2026. This test is designed to evaluate their understanding of civic values, French history, France’s historical and institutional foundations, and the principles of the Republic—elements previously assessed in interviews but not through a formalized examination. Moreover, during the assimilation interview, prefects are now urged to give “full scope” to the Charter of Rights and Duties of the French Citizen.
Retailleau’s guidelines underscore the need for a sustained and stable professional life. Applicants will now need to show five years of continuous employment, including a permanent contract of over one year or two years of ongoing fixed-term contracts. Income will be assessed without factoring in social benefits, effectively excluding those reliant on state aid or foreign financial support.
“The applicant’s autonomy must be based on proven and sustainable professional integration,” the circular states. Prefects are instructed to prioritize rejections in cases where negative behavioral information is uncovered or if applicants fail to meet these economic criteria.
The circular has sparked discussion as it coincides with a paradoxical rise in naturalizations. In 2024, France recorded 66,745 acquisitions of nationality—an 8.3% increase over the previous year—largely due to administrative delays in prior years, according to the Directorate General for Foreigners in France.
Retailleau, who is vying for leadership of the center-right Les Républicains party, appears to be staking his political future on a tougher migration line. His proposed reforms seek to address public concerns over integration and national identity, positioning him as a champion of what he calls a “firm and coherent” right.
Prefects have been asked to begin immediate implementation and submit an assessment of the new measures within three months.
news