That’s a fair point. I see provenir as referring to where income is generated in practical terms, not necessarily where the money first existed. For example, a French business that imports goods from abroad still earns its income in France — the goods originate elsewhere, but the commercial activity, taxation, and profit all occur here. In the same way, my pension funds may start in the UK, but the income I live on is managed, paid, and taxed within France through my Assurance Vie.
As I say, this is my plan. I just hope that I can get it in place asap with suitable attestations confirming the revised revenue flow.
This is a post that I tried posting on the big facebook site on applying for French nationality but I was again rejected. Luckily this forum allows reasoned discussion.
So a lady posted that she and her partner have just had their applications rejected dueto their sole incomes being UK pensions.
Like may of you, I too have a UK pension but I also have an Assurance Vie. My French cousins use An Assurance Vie to supplement their pensions and it is entirely normal and legal.
Last week I advised the Préfecture in Niort that I was re-organising my finances such that my primary income is now from a source recognised by France as legitimate.
Some expats reject this idea but I spoke to my Mayor at La Marie and many French people feel it should be acceptable PLUS I received a request from la Préfecture in Niort a few days ago which acknowledges my Assurance Vie and seeks documentary proof. Whilst I will not be able to send them previous years’ income from this source I should be able to send them an Attestation from the company demonstrating the validity of my income source from say, November 1st.
I will obviously use my UK Pension converted to Euros to replenish my assurance Vie; again a standard technique used by French pensioners to keep their investment ticking over whilst still drawing an income from their AV.
I repeat I am NOT saying that this will work but what I am saying is the the Préfecture will see that I am doing everything possible to meet the requirements. NB I am NOT interested at all in any tax implications etc at this stage . I have a single objective; to get to the interview stage.
Heres’ hoping this post is allowed so that some of you may at least have some hope.
This is what we have already discussed on this thread surely? So if this is referring to my (mild) scepticism that this will be accepted then I”m not rejecting just querying. Also not sure what influence the Maire or a random French person has in this.
(And by the way I’m not an expat as have been here 20 years and now have french nationality. )
What might also be interesting to others is to know how much this is going to end up costing you dues to tax liabilities and so on.
But as ever. Good luck. if you manage to persuade them you do realise they will probably adjourn the decision until this has been in place fore 2 years.
No, I was not referring to you Jane. My French family may be random but they understand how things work. The Mayor feels that he wants to support me and has written to the Préfecture with an attestation in support of my application. I guess I am “throwing the kitchen sink” at it as, I have zero to lose except time and some money.
I would like to hear of ANY Brits who have reached the interview stage with their dossier having been finalised post the May 5th circular.
The Prefecture has informed us that they are looking at my partner’s dossier with a view to finalising it. It had previously been finalised and he had his interview a year ago. Looks like they are re-examining dossiers post interview.
Hello all,
In two weeks’ time my primary source of income will be from my French accredited Assurance Vie and not my UK pension (although that will of course continue to provide me with a monthly income), but it will not be PRIMARY.
I am going to host a 1 hour Zoom meeting next Tuesday at 12:00 CET (French time) for anyone who is on this journey and who might wish to share their experience (briefly !)
Because this is a public forum I will not post the Zoom details here but will forward them by email to any and all who wish to attend .
I repeat, I am NOT saying that my approach will work but what I am saying is that my approach should demonstrate that I am now complying with the new requirements.
Have you worked through how this will be declared in your French tax return?
You must declare worldwide income, so will still have to declare your UK pension. Which will have to be put in the foreign income box. Putting this income into a French AV does not remove the legal requirement to declare its source.
And for AVs one declares that one exists, but no more than that (although under 8 years you are perhaps taxed on withdrawals I seem to recall?).
So from the impôts perspective surely this will change nothing as you will still be seen to be reliant on foreign income. And it is the impôts declaration that is examined.
Perhaps you will get lucky and have an open minded agent who is relaxed about this policy direction, and will listen to your approach and be prepared to accept this franciscation of your pension. And for your sake I hope this is what happens as this must be quite an expensive way to move money around.
I admit I was a little unsettled by your comment — not because it was offensive, but because it didn’t really offer any constructive way forward. Like many people, I’m simply trying to find a lawful and transparent way to comply with the circulaire Retailleau of 5 May 2025, which requires income that is stable, sufficient, and fiscalisé en France.
Yes, this approach may be relatively new for British applicants, but there’s a reason so many French citizens and expatriates use the Assurance Vie as their main source of retirement income — it’s one of the most established and fully regulated financial instruments in France. The funds have already been through full money-laundering checks and, once invested, the withdrawals (rachats partiels programmés) are taxed in France and declared to the French tax authorities.
My goal is not to avoid anything, but to ensure that my primary income is now French-based, declared, and comfortably above the SMIC threshold (in my case, roughly +50%). My British pensions will, of course, continue to be declared as revenus étrangers — nothing changes there — but they will now be secondary. What will change is that my déclaration de revenus will now clearly show French income: the Assurance Vie, our gîte, and my French teaching.
Will the prefecture accept this interpretation? I can’t be sure. No one can, because the Retailleau criteria are new. But the circular speaks of revenus stables, suffisants et fiscalisés en France, and that is exactly what I am putting in place — fully transparent and 100% within the French fiscal framework.
So yes, I’m nervous, because this is a new path. But I’d rather take a reasoned and good-faith approach to comply with French expectations than do nothing and fall short by default.
I hope this clarifies my reasoning and shows that I’m not trying to be clever — just fully compliant.
Thanks
John
I find the obsession with obtaining citizenship baffling, most people have permanent residency for life (unless they do something daft) so why put yourself through years of torment just to be able to vote and get a French passport?
I suspect, in these unsettled times, some might want the certainty that citizenship is seen to provide.
Certainly, my wife had no confidence in the security provided by settled status in the UK and sought naturalisation and, in hindsight, that’s starting to look quite prescient.
1 i either belong in a place or I don’t. I don’t want to live among people I’m not one of when I have committed to the country.
2. As I’m committed and also considering I pay in etc I also want to have a aay in our future and how what I contribute is spent. So I want a vote, like everyone else. In particular I’m annoyed that as a resident paying local taxea I don’t get a vote in local elections.
Otherwiae I would be treating the country like a hotel, would not be integrated, and forever be a atranger. French bureauceacy is not worth putting up with for that.
Are you saying you can’t be integrated unless you’re a citizen as that’s just crazy and an insult to the majority of people on this forum who haven’t got French citizenship?
Certainly wouldn’t feel integrated, which is most of what matters.
Actually a lot of Brits in France and some on SF don’t seem to be integrated etc, France seems to be a place they live. I’ve slowly begun to realize this. Nothing wrong with their choice, for them.
For me, not something I’m comfortable with given tbe way I feel.
Though people are different. I could imagine some whose parents were military, or diplomatic, or other overseas government or corporate service in various places might find they are used to happily being in a place but not belonging.
I think we all know that not everyone will feel the same about any situation.
As I’ve already said … years ago I was in the throes of applying for French Nationality. Mountains of paperwork etc etc all on the go and (encouragingly no language test).
However, I was dissuaded by our Maire, explaining to me the costs and “for what?? so you can be Maire?”
Having confirmed I didn’t want to be Maire .. what he said made sense at the time.
No matter… as a foreigner, I’m as fully integrated in France as I can be and I am definitely a Citoyenne of our Commune!
The circular says, Vous écarterez également, sauf exception, les demandes de demandeurs dont les revenus proviennent majoritairement de l’étranger. That’s the key point.
The problem with your suggestion is that your main source of income will remain your pension. It’s irrelevant how many different accounts you put it through – although I suppose that processing in itself may cause the authorities to regard you with some suspicion, because it looks like money-laundering, albeit the laundering of legitimate income: Retailleau also mentions [la] lutte … contre la fraude par un renforcement de vos plans locaux en matière d’accès à la nationalité).
It’s hard to be constructive about something that has no prospect of success, and I’m afraid your wheeze falls into that category!
Hello Tim,
Gosh my post seems to have generated much comment !
I can understand your perspective because yes (as my wife says) it’s not as though we cannot continue to live here. This is true. Is being able to vote essential for me? No, but I do avidly follow French politics and have a view.
No, we each have our own personal reasons and whilst I would not characterise myself as being obsessive, I am certainly determined to try. Each person’s reasons are private but, briefly I have both parents, grandparents and great parents buried here in France. I have multiple French cousins here and I feel more at home (and hence French) than anywhere else. Also I do not like being seen as a foreigner in the country I call “home”.
It’s that simple really.
!)
.. what he said made sense at the time. 
