Benefits of French Dual Citizenship and Ways to Get It

Nationalities That Qualify for French Dual Citizenship

Nearly one-half of all the states in the world allow dual citizenship. However, some of them have restrictions, so you'd better discuss your individual circumstances with a legal expert.

For instance, Argentina technically supports dual citizenship — but in practice, it's an exception rather than a rule. If you are from Argentina and you want to relocate to Europe, you'll be allowed to get a second Spanish or Italian citizenship. If you want the French one, you'll have to renounce your Argentinian passport.

By contrast, let's consider an example of a country with less rigid rules. If you want to be a citizen of the UK and France simultaneously, you'll be allowed to hold both passports.

Benefits of France Dual Citizenship

Here are the primary advantages of French dual citizenship:

• France is one of the most developed countries in the world. It's the birthplace of modern Western democracy, so its social institutes are remarkably strong. The national economy confidently copes with crises and keeps growing.
• The local healthcare and educational systems are excellent.
• If you want to launch a business, you might be able to access government grants and incentives. The French authorities go to great lengths to stimulate investment and entrepreneurship. You'll face much fewer administrative barriers, compared to other countries.
• Real estate owners can also benefit from varied perks, including low taxes. The selection of properties on offer is impressive.
• As a citizen, you'll be able to vote in elections at all levels, including the EU one. Plus, you'll have the right to run for office if you want it.
• After you become a French citizen, it will be easy for you to relocate all your family here. Your dearest and nearest will benefit from the same privileges as you.
• This country boasts an extremely rich cultural heritage. Tourists can never get enough of its sights. Its cuisine and wines are world-famous.
• France is a superb place to live. Its climate is mild and diverse. In winter, it's not too cold. In summer, you can spend days on gorgeous beaches and swim in the ocean.
• France is an EU member. After you become its citizen, you'll be able to travel, live, study, and work anywhere within the Union. For instance, you may want to purchase a vacation house in Italy, send your kids to a German university, and launch a branch of your company in Austria. You'll be able to do it hassle-free, without excessive paperwork and need to wait for approvals.
• When you travel abroad, nearly 190 countries will either welcome you without a visa or issue it to you upon arrival. These include the UK, the USA, and Canada.

Now, let's have a look at how you can become a French citizen.

Routes for Obtaining French Citizenship

There are multiple ways for foreigners to obtain French citizenship. We'll describe them briefly, without going deep into details.

By Birth

This route is valid for individuals who have at least one parent born in France or Algeria before the latter became an independent state.

The biggest drawback of this variant is that it's available only to a limited number of foreigners.

By Descent

The target audience of this option is individuals whose mother, father, or both are French. If one parent is not French and the French father or mother spent many years abroad, the latter will need to prove that they preserved close ties with their motherland. For instance, the parent can work or volunteer for organizations that promote the French language and culture around the world.

Just like the previous option, this route is not available for expats whose families never had anything to do with France.

By Marriage

This one is for individuals who become the spouse of a French citizen and spend at least four years together with them. It's mandatory to live in France for at least three years out of four. For at least 12 months, the couple needs to avoid leaving the country. These requirements were implemented to prove that the foreigner is well integrated into French society and their marriage is not fictitious.

This naturalization option is rather popular among expats.

By Adoption

This route is relevant for individuals who were adopted by French citizens and entirely cut their ties to their biological families. If the adopted person stays in touch with their family outside France, they will fail to qualify for naturalization.

The shortcoming of this variant is that only kids younger than 18 can benefit from it.

After Serving in the Foreign Legion

This route can be used by individuals who serve in the French Foreign Legion for three years honorably and without changing their identities. If they get severely wounded while performing their duties, they might be allowed to apply for citizenship faster.

Military services can open impressive career opportunities for ambitious people in the EU. On the flip side, this route can involve considerable health risks.

After Having Legally Lived in the Country for at Least Five Years

This option is for individuals who live in France with a regular residence permit. For instance, it can be highly qualified professionals who get employed in this country or artists who are invited to live and perform here. The most challenging part is to obtain the initial residence permit. It's essential to have skills and talents that are scarce in the French market.

Refugees and some other minor categories of applicants might be accepted as citizens faster. It's because they need to adjust to the circumstances beyond their control.

After Getting a French Higher Education Diploma

If you get a higher education diploma from a French establishment, the requirements for your naturalization will be more liberal. It will be enough for you to legally stay in the country for only two years instead of five. To achieve this, you can find a job offer, for instance. The years that you spend studying won't be taken into account for this naturalization route.

For Tech Talents

Unlike some other European states, France fails to offer the Golden Visa — that is, the opportunity to buy residency and then citizenship in exchange for investment in the local business, culture, science, or real estate. However, this country wants to become one of the world leaders in technological progress. That's why it welcomes foreign talents who can contribute to its tech sector.

The French Tech Visa can be issued to founders, investors, and employees of companies that meet the eligibility criteria. Entrepreneurs need to present their projects to the French Tech Mission for validation. Startups need to be acknowledged as part of the French Tech Hubs. We won't focus on the criteria in detail in our article because each case is individual and requires a consultation with an expert.

Foreigners who obtain the French Tech Visa can stay in the country for at least four years and then, renew their visas. Such professionals don't have to get a dedicated permit to get down to work. They can benefit from easy access to networking events, co-working spaces, and other profile facilities. After spending five years in the country, they will get a chance to apply for citizenship.

Paperwork

To apply for French citizenship, you should prepare the following documents regardless of the route that you opt for:

• Birth certificate
• Passport
• Proof of having always been law-obedient in all the countries where you have spent at least 3 months in the past 5 years
• Proof of having enough funds
• Proof of being familiar with the French laws, history, and culture
• Proof of language proficiency
• Receipt of application fees

Plus, you'll need to prepare the papers that are relevant to your chosen route. For instance, if you apply for citizenship by descent, you should attach your parent's birth certificate to the set of documents. If you tie the knot with a French citizen, attach your marriage certificate, the document that proves your change of family name if you did it, and the bills that confirm that you have lived together.

In selected cases, the list of the required papers can be shorter. For instance, you might not need to complete the language test if the state of your health prevents you from doing it.

Make sure to translate all the papers into French and legalize them.

Applying for Citizenship

To apply for French citizenship, stick to this algorithm:

1. Make sure you meet the eligibility criteria for the chosen route
2. Prepare the required documents
3. Fill in the application — the form is available for free download on the official French administration website as well as the websites of the local prefectures
4. Attend the interview where the representatives of the French state will ask you questions about your intentions and check whether you are well-integrated into the national culture and society
5. Wait for a few months until the authorities come up with the final decision
6. Attend the citizenship ceremony and confirm your agreement with the local laws and norms in written form
7. Get a nationality certificate and apply for a passport

Normally, the passport will be issued to you within a month.

Application Rejection Cases

If you tick all the eligibility boxes and thoroughly prepare for the interview, you'll have good odds for approval. However, some foreigners fail to demonstrate a sufficient level of language proficiency or integration into French society. Others forget to provide selected documents. Then, the authorities can give them time to prepare better and set a deadline for submitting the application once again.

In the worst scenario, an application might end up being rejected. It happens rarely. Then, the foreigner has the right to appeal to the Ministry of the Interior within two months of the decision. If this fails to help, there is a chance to appeal the decision in the court.

Paying Taxes with French Dual Citizenship

France has signed over 100 double taxation treaties with states from different parts of the planet. These include the USA, the UK, Singapore, Japan, Australia, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Russia, South Africa, China, and many others. Few other states in the world can outperform it in this aspect.

As a general rule, if you hold the passports of two states that have signed such a treaty, you pay your taxes only in one of them. It will be the state where you spend most of your time and qualify as its tax resident. It's impossible to be a tax resident of two territories at once. Such an approach can save substantial sums of money for people and businesses.

However, each case is individual. Please make sure to consult a tax expert to discuss your situation.

Losing or Renouncing French Citizenship

In theory, it's possible to lose French citizenship if you do something extraordinarily bad for the country. For instance, if you become a terrorist or arrange a serious criminal offense. However, even in this case, you might have chances for rehabilitation. If you behave well, it's highly unlikely that the authorities will ever have a reason to revoke your citizenship.

Sometimes, foreigners decide to renounce their French passport. For example, it can happen if they want to relocate to a country that fails to support dual citizenship. In such a situation, you should contact your local prefecture and its representatives will explain to you what to do.

If you decide to reapply for French citizenship later on, you'll be most likely allowed to do it.