Naturalizations: from professional integration to resource conditions, Retailleau hardens the tone

The document makes five pages. Bruno Retailleau hardens the tone on the subject of the naturalization of foreigners in a new circular which highlights provisions likely to restrict access to French nationality. The Minister of the Interior thus insists on “The exemplarity of the applicant’s journey”in particular with regard to a proven irregular stay. Is particularly highlighted the need for autonomy of the person concerned, which must result in a “Professional integration” now over five years, as well as “Sufficient and stable resources, excluding social benefits”.

A mandatory civic examination

Based on a provision of the Darmanin law on immigration, Bruno Retailleau also calls for strengthening the level of mastery required in French to obtain French nationality. The applicants will also be subject to a civic exam in order to ensure their membership in the values ​​of the Republic, specifies Le Figaro, which revealed the document. This circular has been sent to all prefects, who will take stock of its application in three months. Intangible on migration issues, the Minister of the Interior had already revised the Valls circular in January on the conditions of regularization of undocumented foreigners in France.

The Minister of the Interior, who must present the entire system on Monday during a trip to the Val-de-Marne prefecture in Créteil, recalls that “Jurisprudence establishes naturalization not as a right, but as a sovereign decision of the government”. The acquisitions of French nationality by decree and by declaration (marriage, ascendants and siblings) amounted to 66,745 in 2024, an increase of 8.3% compared to 2023. An increase which is explained by a catch -up after a year 2023 marked by technical difficulties, according to the general direction of foreigners in France which depends on the Ministry of the Interior.