A complete English-language guide to the translation requirements for your French citizenship application · whether you are applying by decree (residence) or by marriage. Pack offer: 5 core translations at €149.
French nationality law offers two main routes for foreign adults who want to become French citizens. Each has its own conditions and its own document checklist. Before you start collecting translations, identify which path applies to your situation.
For foreign adults who have lived in France for at least 5 years (2 years if you completed higher education in France, or no waiting period if you served in the French armed forces). Also requires economic stability, French language proficiency (B1), and successful assimilation interview.
For foreign nationals married to a French citizen. You can apply 4 years after marriage if you have continuously lived together in France during that time; 5 years if there has been a period living abroad or less than 3 years of French residence before application.
The following documents are required regardless of the path you choose. Foreign-language documents must be accompanied by a certified French translation by a sworn translator registered with a French Court of Appeal.
These are the documents that almost always require certified French translation (by a sworn translator) for naturalisation:
Depending on your personal situation, you may also need to translate:
5 core documents · birth certificate + marriage certificate + criminal record + divorce judgment + diploma/work certificate · translated by our sworn translators, delivered in 48h, PDF + paper originals.
For naturalisation, your birth certificate must be less than 3 months old at the time of filing. The criminal record(s) have the same requirement. This means you cannot use documents you translated years ago · you need fresh copies, apostilled, and translated, all within a few months of your application.
Marriage certificates and divorce judgments are typically not subject to the 3-month rule, because they refer to past events that don't change. But check your prefecture's specific checklist · some prefectures apply the rule more strictly than others.
All documents from non-EU countries require an apostille (or double legalisation if from a non-Hague country) before translation. The apostille must be on the original document · the translator then translates both the document and the apostille.
Canada joined the Hague Convention on 11 January 2024 · Canadian documents now require a Global Affairs Canada apostille (previously, double legalisation). US, UK, Australia, NZ, India, South Africa have been Hague parties for many years. Nigeria, certain other African countries, and some Middle Eastern states are non-Hague · double legalisation via the French Embassy applies.
Since 6 February 2023, most naturalisation files are submitted online via the ANEF platform (administration-etrangers-en-france.interieur.gouv.fr). Here is the submission map:
| Situation | Where to submit |
|---|---|
| By decree, living in France | ANEF (online) or local prefecture / sub-prefecture (departments not yet on ANEF) |
| By marriage, living in France | Prefecture of your department (currently paper procedure for declaration) |
| By decree, living abroad | French consulate of your country of residence |
| By marriage, living abroad | French consulate · special procedure with local declaration |
After submission, you will be called for an assimilation interview at your prefecture or consulate. The interviewer checks your French language, your knowledge of French history, institutions and values, and your integration.
French naturalisation is not fast. Expect 12 to 24 months between submission and final decision, with significant variation by prefecture:
During this period, you may receive additional requests (compléments d'enquête) for more documents or a clarification interview. Keep your French residence permit valid throughout the procedure.
We offer two ways to order your naturalisation translations:
| Option | Content | Standard (48h) |
|---|---|---|
| Pack (most popular) | 5 core docs: birth + marriage + criminal record + divorce + diploma/work cert | €149 -25% |
| À la carte · Birth certificate | 1 page, long-form | €39 |
| À la carte · Marriage certificate | 1 page | €49 |
| À la carte · Criminal record | 1 page (per country) | €39 |
| À la carte · Divorce judgment | Short (1–3 pages) | €59 |
| À la carte · Diploma or work cert. | 1 page | €39 |
| Additional criminal record (extra country) | +1 country lived in | €29 |
| Additional child birth certificate | per minor child | €29 |
Prices include certification, stamp, signature, digital PDF, and paper original delivered by tracked post in France. International shipping available at extra cost.
Naturalisation files are rejected or returned for completion more often than people expect. Here are the main avoidable causes:
Mandatory translations: your birth certificate (less than 3 months old, apostilled if non-EU), your marriage certificate if applicable, criminal records from your country of origin and from every country you lived in for more than 6 months in the last 10 years, divorce judgment if applicable, and a diploma or work certificate as proof of integration.
Additional documents may be required depending on your situation: children's birth certificates (if including them in the file), parents' civil status documents (for certain filiation cases), adoption orders, change of name orders, etc.
Processing time at the prefecture ranges from 12 to 24 months. Paris and Île-de-France are often slower (18–24 months). Naturalisation by marriage is typically faster (12–18 months) than naturalisation by decree. Consulates abroad are also at the longer end (15–24 months).
Par décret (by decree): the classic route via Article 21-15 of the Civil Code. Requires 5 years of continuous legal residence in France (2 years if you studied here), economic integration, French B1 language level, and a successful assimilation interview. Decision is taken by decree of the Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior.
Par mariage (declaration): available under Article 21-2 after 4 years of marriage to a French spouse with continuous joint residence in France. Extended to 5 years if there was any period abroad or insufficient French residence before application. This is a declaration, not a decree · the procedure is different and typically faster.
Yes. The prefecture requires a birth certificate issued within the last 3 months of submission. You need to request a fresh certified long-form copy from your country's vital records office, apostille it (if non-EU), then translate it · all within a few weeks before filing. We deliver translations in 48h to help you meet this deadline.
Yes. You need a police clearance certificate from your country of origin AND from every foreign country (outside France) where you have lived for more than 6 consecutive months in the last 10 years. Each record must be less than 3 months old, apostilled (if from a Hague country), and translated.
Example: if you are British, lived in Germany for 2 years, worked in Dubai for 8 months, and then moved to France, you will need: UK DBS + German Führungszeugnis + UAE police clearance + French police record.
Our naturalisation pack covers 5 core documents (birth certificate, marriage certificate, criminal record, divorce judgment if applicable, diploma or work certificate) at €149 · a 25% discount versus €220 if ordered individually. Additional documents are €29–€39 each. All delivered in 48h with paper originals by tracked post.
Since 6 February 2023, naturalisation by decree is submitted online via the ANEF platform (administration-etrangers-en-france.interieur.gouv.fr). Naturalisation by marriage is still generally a paper procedure handled at your prefecture or sub-prefecture. If you live abroad, the French consulate of your country of residence handles your application.
The main procedural reasons are: birth certificate older than 3 months, missing apostille, missing criminal record from a country where you lived 6+ months, insufficient French language proficiency (no TCF/DELF B1), unstable income or unclear professional situation, incomplete tax returns, and translations produced by non-sworn translators.
Substantive reasons for refusal (not just returns for completion): criminal convictions, concerns about assimilation, financial dependency on social benefits, or doubts on the sincerity of the marriage (for the "par mariage" route).
Order your translation pack online, receive it in 48h. Sworn translators, accepted by every prefecture. 25% off vs individual pricing.