Will you be seeking French Citizenship?

Alistair… It was like a jigsaw puzzle getting the docs together…some docs are now over 3 months old, whilst others arrived just before Christmas.

Really determined to see things through…

Quick question to the Group - we are about to start looking into French citizenship and wonder if anyone has done it with any specialist assistance and whether it is worth it, or just wade through the paperwork and processes ourselves? We’re 2 Brits (one is naturalised British), read reasonably well french and do ok speaking french. Thanks!

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I have it on good authority that if you are over 60 you don’t have to do the test, just the translated paperwork and an interview at your prefecture about your participation in your community and general Qs re French history etc. Anyone done this interview got any advice?

My wife and I have lived in France for just over three years now.
We have a 9 year old son who speaks French fluently and we own no property in the uk. My wife was born in Italy and although lived her whole life in the Uk I think she can still get an Italian passport
My question is as she is technically Italian would that allow her and our son to stay as EU residents and obviously would it allow me to stay as her husband ?

Thanks

I’ve lived and worked here since 1986 but won’t be seeking nationality.

Me niether.

“Technically Italian” - she either is or she isn’t ! Being born in a country doesn’t automatically give you that nationality (the case in France, not sure about Italy but I think it’s the same). If she has Italian nationality then yes, Brexit doesn’t change anything for here and your son should be able to claim italian nationality as her child (again not always that easy and depends on italian law.). You have to live in France for 5 years before applying for French nationality and the process often takes up to 2 years. Would they kick you out - I don’t think so, but that’s what we’re all waiting to find out, just like all the EU citizens living in the UK. Watch this space! :wink:

Thanks for the reply. Looks like we all just have to wait and see, with Fingers crossed

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Does having a property in UK count against you?
We recently sold out too big house and garden here in Provence and with the money, bought a flat in Chichester which is Let for income and we now rent a smaller house in Provence.
We did this to make things easier for our children from 2 earlier marriages …5 in all, to access their inheritance when the day comes…

Not really, Susanne, but as I said, the more you can show that you are living the French life, the better. French driving license, holidays in France, income from U.K. paid into French bank accounts, French friends etc. All these matters were put to me when I was going through the system, but that was a long time ago, so I’m rather out of touch now. Good luck.

Thank you… we do all of that i.e. pensions taxed here, we’ve joined many groups through Vaison Accueil… Randonnées, Art and Patchwork etc…and have bought and sold 2 houses all French made with artisans etc… and many plants to make lovely gardens plus all white goods! Oh and of course meals coffees clothes … in fact everything !!!
I rarely ask a friend to bring back anything…apart from a big jar of Marmite !!!

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Just another point … after your first interview at the prefecture, remember and make a note of all your answers. About a year later, you will likely be interviewed by the police, when the same questions will be put to you, in a different way. That was our experience anyway.

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Thanks… good advice!!

At 78 it’s a bit late to change my nationality so I applied for a 'Titre de Sejour, basis ‘European Citizen’. If you have lived in France continuously for five years and can support yourself this CANNOT BE REFUSED. There is even an EU department that will support you if you are refused.

The documents that you need SHOULD be listed on your Department’s web site. They are also listed on the Ministry of the Interior’s site. You will find that they conflict and it is probable that the locals will add a few more requirements of their own. I overcame my difficulty by writing to the President. It was amazing how quickly everything went after that.

It is very important that they understand that it is a European Citizen’s TdS that you want as there is no application form and staff don’t seem to be well informed, perhaps before the threat of Brexit it was not needed, I have lived here for twelve years, paid my imports sur revenues, belong to the French health system, and voted in local elections without any questions.

A last point. If you check on your situation in the French Social care system you will find that it is limited to French Citizens and E.U. CITIZENS. As we are about to loose that citizenship it might be wise to consider your VOTE in the coming election. My experience over the past eighteen months is that the present government doesn’t understand our situation or doesn’t care. The only answers from my MP or government officials is either wrong or ‘I don’t know’

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This is really interesting and helpful, Richard - thanks.

Yes, very interesting.

But could you explain that bit please, because I have to admit I don’t understand it.

If you live here you will be aware of the French love of acronyms. While trying to untangle one of these I came across a French government site which listed the social assistance available in France. I found the site by accident and I can’t remember the acronym.

The important fact was that our generous hosts not only make these levels of assistance available to their citizens but also to E.U Citizens, something else that wasn’t mentioned in the Brexit debate.

What happens after Brexit removes our European citizenship is, like everything else, either not considered or not known. I have been trying to get answeres for eighteen months now and all I get are lies (you’ll be OK, The Vienna convention will protect your current rights.) or refusal to acknowledge the problems that will have to be negotiated? (will a UK car have to have a ‘carnet’ to be taken out of the uUK. “What is a carnet?”). We do know that we will loose our European citizenship.

Keep your fingers crossed and VOTE in your own interests, meanwhile maybe PUMA will keep us healthy in France.

Sorry to drag up an old comment from the past but a question if I may?

Florence and I have been married for 11 years (she is the French half of the partnership) but we have lived in the UK all our married life. Will this time served still be acceptable to the Authorities as “4 years minimum” even though the entire time has been outside France? Citizenship is something I am looking into for when we move permanently to France in 5 years time. I will be 60 by then so, whilst my French is passable, I shouldn’t have the stress of having to pass the B1.

Thanks in advance for any replies :slight_smile:
Carl

Have a look here, Carl , looks like it’ll be 5, not 4, years marriage but that doesn’t change anything in your case :wink:

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Thank you Andrew - a little light reading before bed!

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