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French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau on Monday unveiled a new directive aimed at tightening the criteria for obtaining French citizenship, marking what he described as a “breakthrough” in immigration policy, though one that remains within the bounds of French law.
Speaking from Créteil, a suburb south of Paris, Retailleau stressed that French nationality should be earned, not merely granted. “This circular is a breakthrough, not with our law, but with past leniency,” he said. “One must be worthy of becoming French. We must be very demanding.”
The directive outlines three core areas where standards will be raised: adherence to French laws, proficiency in the French language and history, and integration into the labor market.
Retailleau emphasized that “respecting our laws may seem obvious, but it must be reiterated,” adding that prefects are now instructed to reject citizenship applications from foreign nationals who were previously undocumented, even if their legal status has since been regularized.
Language proficiency requirements will be strengthened as well. The oral French language exam will be made more rigorous, and starting in January 2026, applicants will have to pass a new citizenship test evaluating their understanding of French history and civic values.
Retailleau also linked citizenship to economic self-sufficiency, directing prefects to verify whether applicants have sufficient income to avoid dependence on public assistance. “Citizenship is not only about ancestry, but above all about a sense of belonging,” he said.
The minister, who is the right-wing Republicans party’s expected presidential candidate, distributed a five-page circular accompanied by a “Charter of the Rights and Responsibilities of French Citizens” to all regional prefects.
The announcement comes amid broader political debates in France over immigration, integration, and national identity. Earlier this year, Retailleau also revised a previous directive to facilitate the regularization of undocumented migrants in certain cases, indicating a dual-track approach balancing firmness and pragmatism.
In 2024, a total of 66,745 people acquired French nationality through decrees and declarations (including marriage, descent, and sibling ties), an 8.3% increase compared to 2023. The Ministry of the Interior attributed this rise to technical delays encountered the previous year.
Retailleau’s new directive is expected to spark further debate across the political spectrum, particularly as the country approaches the 2027 presidential election.
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