Naturalization (acquisition of French citizenship): requirements and timelines for Ukrainians
The standard path to naturalization in France for Ukrainians requires five years of residence; however, years spent under temporary protection count toward this period, and refugee status entirely exempts the applicant from the waiting requirement.
International Law Firm "Zahist" has a presence in France and supports clients at every stage of preparation for naturalization. Our experience shows that most refusals occur not because of a formal lack of rights, but because of an incomplete set of documents or untimely preparation for the new requirements of 2026.
How many years one must live in France for naturalization
Article 21-17 of the Civil Code requires ordinary and continuous residence in France for five years before filing the application — the so-called “stage” period.
Time spent under an APS marked with temporary protection counts toward this five-year period as regular residence, provided the document remains valid throughout the entire period.
The period is reduced to two years for those who have obtained a French diploma at master’s level or higher, or who have rendered outstanding services to France.
The main advantage for refugees: full exemption from the waiting period
Article 21-19 of the Civil Code entirely waives the five-year residence requirement for persons who have been granted refugee status through OFPRA.
The logic of this exemption is straightforward: a refugee effectively cannot return to the country of origin, so there is no basis for requiring them to wait five years before applying for citizenship.
An important nuance is that this exemption does not extend to subsidiary protection; holders of that status are therefore subject to the standard five-year period on the same footing as holders of temporary protection.
New requirements from 2026: level B2 and the NAT civic examination
The Immigration Act of 26 January 2024 substantially tightened the language and integration requirements for naturalization, and some of these changes took effect on 1 January 2026.
| Requirement | Situation before 2026 | Situation from 1 January 2026 |
| French language level | B1 oral and written | B2 oral and written |
| Civic examination | Was not mandatory | Mandatory NAT examination, pass mark 32 out of 40 |
| Proof of level | Diploma or TCF/DELF test | The same diploma or test, but at a higher level |
Without a certificate of having passed the civic examination, a naturalization application will not be accepted for consideration at all, as this document has become a mandatory component of the file.
Temporary protection, subsidiary protection, and refugee status: different periods
Confusion between the three protection statuses often leads to mistaken expectations of benefits that in fact apply only to refugee status.
| Status | Waiting period for naturalization |
| Refugee status | Entirely waived (Article 21-19) |
| Subsidiary protection | Standard five years of residence |
| Temporary protection (APS) | Standard five years of residence, including years under APS |
This means that for most holders of temporary protection or subsidiary protection there is no point in expecting an automatic reduction of the period — it is available exclusively after official recognition of refugee status through OFPRA.
Main documents for the naturalization file
The naturalization file consists of several major blocks of documents, each of which evidences a separate statutory condition.
- Documents proving identity and the continuity of regular residence throughout the entire five-year period.
- Certificate of having passed the NAT civic examination with a result not below the prescribed pass mark.
- Diploma or certificate confirming French language level B2.
- Income statements for the last two to three years and proof of tax payment.
- Criminal record certificates from Ukraine and from France.
For documents issued in Ukraine, an official translation into French is usually required, and in certain cases an apostille or legalization.
Naturalization of children together with their parents
Minor children of the applicant may acquire French citizenship at the same time as the father or mother, provided they reside with the applicant and are listed in the application.
Children are not required to provide separate proof of French language level or to take the civic examination — these requirements apply only to the naturalization applicant themselves.
If a child reaches the age of majority while the parents’ case is still being examined, their inclusion in the joint procedure should be clarified separately with the prefecture, as the rules for adult children differ.
Financial and other conditions for naturalization
In addition to the residence period and language level, the applicant must meet several further conditions that are checked when the file is examined.
- Stable and sufficient income over the last two to three years, evidenced by regular receipts.
- Absence of tax arrears — if a return was not filed for any year, it should be filed retroactively before applying.
- Absence of criminal convictions incompatible with the grant of citizenship.
- Adherence to the values of the Republic, which is assessed in particular during the interview at the prefecture.
How to file the application and how long the examination takes
The application is filed through the ANEF platform; the file is then examined by the prefecture of the place of residence and subsequently forwarded to the competent ministry unit for a final decision.
- Assemble the full set of documents, including the certificate of having passed the NAT civic examination.
- Submit the application via ANEF and await an invitation to the interview at the prefecture.
- Attend the interview, during which language level and degree of integration are assessed.
- Await the decision of the competent unit and publication of the naturalization decree in the Official Journal.
From the filing of a complete file to publication of the decree usually takes between 18 and 36 months, depending on the prefecture and the workload of the competent unit.
The interview at the prefecture: what to expect
The interview is usually conducted by a prefecture officer and includes questions about the applicant’s history in France, work, family, and basic knowledge of French society and the structure of the state.
The purpose of the interview is to assess the real level of integration, not merely formal compliance with the documents, so one should prepare substantively rather than memorize answers by rote.
Our experience shows that applicants who come to the interview with a clear account of their path in France — work, children’s schooling, participation in local life — make a better impression than those who confine themselves to formal answers.
Typical grounds for refusal of naturalization
Five grounds account for most naturalization refusals: insufficient French language level, unstable income, a criminal record, doubts as to adherence to the values of the Republic, and an incomplete file.
Our experience shows that it is precisely an incomplete file or the absence of the civic examination certificate that causes the most unnecessary delays, as such applications are returned for completion even before examination on the merits.
Challenging a refusal of naturalization
In the event of a refusal, within two months of notification a hierarchical appeal may be lodged with the minister responsible for naturalization.
If the appeal is rejected or no reply is received within four months, within the following two months an application may be made to the Administrative Court of Nantes — the only court competent to hear disputes concerning naturalization.
It should be borne in mind that naturalization remains a discretionary decision of the administration; therefore even full compliance with the formal conditions does not guarantee an automatic positive decision.
Is it necessary to renounce Ukrainian citizenship
French law allows dual citizenship, so acquisition of a French passport specifically through the naturalization procedure does not require a formal renunciation of Ukrainian citizenship.
The issue of retaining Ukrainian citizenship upon naturalization in another state is regulated separately by Ukrainian law, so this aspect should be clarified with the consulate of Ukraine, and not only with the French authorities.
Who is exempt from taking the French language proficiency test
Not all applicants are required to take a separate language test — a diploma from a French educational institution or full schooling at a French secondary school already confirms the required level without an additional language examination.
At the same time, the NAT civic examination remains mandatory for all applicants regardless of whether they hold a diploma, as it assesses not language skills but knowledge of the values and structure of the Republic.
Expert view: how to choose the optimal moment to apply
An analysis of our cases shows that applicants who submit their file immediately after reaching five years of residence and confirming level B2 receive a decision faster than those who postpone filing because of minor gaps in their documents.
We recommend starting preparation for the NAT examination and collecting financial certificates at least one year before the planned application date in order to avoid rushing before the deadline.
International Law Firm "Zahist" has a presence in France and assists clients in preparing a complete file for naturalization in France for Ukrainians taking into account the new requirements of 2026 and the applicant’s individual situation.
Each case has its own particularities — protection status, language level, income history — so a preliminary consultation helps accurately determine whether the file is ready for submission.
The more carefully an applicant prepares the documents for naturalization in France for Ukrainians, the lower the risk that the file will be returned for revision and the shorter the overall review period turns out to be.
