How long does a French citizenship application take?

Checked on 2026-10-25

Service-public.fr says the administration has at most 18 months from the receipt to answer a naturalisation application, or 12 months if you have lived in France for at least 10 years. Either deadline can be extended once by 3 months, with reasons. For a declaration by marriage, the ministry has 1 year to refuse registration.

Key facts

What	The ministry’s guidance says	Source
Naturalisation deadline	At most 18 months from the receipt (récépissé)	Service-public.fr F2213, step 7 “délai de réponse”
After 10 years in France	12 months, if you have had your habitual residence in France for at least 10 years on the date of the receipt	Service-public.fr F2213, step 7
Extension	Once, by 3 months, with reasons given	Service-public.fr F2213, step 7
When the clock starts	The receipt is issued once you have provided all requested documents	Service-public.fr F2213, step 3
Marriage declaration	1 year to refuse registration; 2 years if an opposition procedure is started; counted from the receipt given after the interview	Service-public.fr F2726, step 6
Effective date	Naturalisation: date the decree is signed. Marriage: date the declaration was subscribed	Service-public.fr F2213, step 8; F2726, step 7

Naturalisation by decree

Service-public.fr says the administration has a maximum of 18 months from the issue of the receipt to answer an application for naturalisation or reintegration. The deadline is 12 months if you prove you have had your habitual residence in France for at least 10 years on the date the receipt is issued.

Either deadline can be extended once, by three months. The administration must then give reasons for needing more time.

The receipt is issued once you have provided all the documents requested, so the clock doesn’t start on the day you first file. If you don’t send requested documents within the deadline set, your file can be closed without examination.

You can follow an online application in your personal space; you receive an email at each step, including the date of the decree and its publication in the Journal officiel. The decree takes effect on the date it is signed.

Declaration by marriage

For a declaration by marriage, the ministry has one year to refuse to register it, or two years if an opposition procedure has been started. The period runs from the receipt handed to you at the end of the interview. If the declaration is registered, your French nationality takes effect from the date you subscribed it.

If naturalisation is refused or postponed, you have 2 months to file an administrative appeal with the minister.

Sources

Naturalisation française par décret (Service-public.fr, DILA, checked by the source 16 July 2026) checked 2026-10-25
Déclaration de nationalité française par mariage (Service-public.fr, DILA, checked by the source 1 May 2026) checked 2026-10-25

Change history

2026-10-25: Page created

This is general information, not legal advice, and Lumen is not a law firm. Rules change and offices differ: check the official sources above before you act. Found something wrong or out of date? Write to support@lumen.observer.