France citizenship: how to get a passport and residence permit by investment

Marriage. French citizenship is not automatically issued to those who officially register relations with the citizens of the country. But this simplifies the procedure for obtaining citizenship: you can apply after four years of residence in France or after five years if the spouses live in another country.

Naturalization. An applicant with a residence permit status has the right to obtain a permanent residence permit or French citizenship after five years of permanent residence in the country. The main thing is to know French, have a steady income, pay taxes and not have problems with the law.

Descent. The applicant is eligible to obtain French citizenship if he has close relatives with French citizenship or ancestry. The applicant submits documents confirming the relationship to the French consulate or visa center at the place of residence.

Birth or adoption. A child of French citizens is automatically granted citizenship. If the parents do not have French citizenship, the child can acquire citizenship at the age of 18, provided that he was born in France and lived there for at least five years.

Children adopted by a French citizen acquire citizenship if they permanently reside in the country and do not keep in touch with their former parents.

Adult foreigners most often obtain citizenship through marriage or naturalization. We will explain these two primary ways below.

To do this, you will need to be married for four years, if the spouses live in France, and if in another country, five years. When a marriage is contracted abroad, it is registered in the French civil registry.

The applicant takes two tests:

1. Knowledge of the French language at level B1.

2. Knowledge of the history, culture, traditions and government of France.

Spouses need to have their own or rented housing and sufficient income for the entire family. A French passport can be obtained after four years of living together with a citizen of the country, and not immediately after the wedding.

The first step towards citizenship is to obtain a residence permit. The status allows you to stay in the country and entitles you to certain types of activities like work or study.

A residence permit is mandatory for everyone who comes to France for the purpose of staying more than three months. The residence permit is valid for one to ten years. After completion, the status can be renewed.

The cost of an application for a residence permit depends on its category: it ranges from €269 for family reunification to €19 for asylum seekers and veterans.

The applicant must receive income in France and pay taxes. As a rule, the amount of income for each person must not be lower than the minimum established wage (Smic).

The minimum amount of annual income in France for one person in 2021 is €18,655.

Documents confirming income:

• an employment contract;

• bank statements;

• tax statements.

The applicant for a French resident status must have their own or rented housing sufficient for all family members. The minimum arearnfor two persons is 16 m² plus 9 m² for each additional family member.

Supporting documents for real estate:

• a lease agreement or certificate of house ownership;

• rent receipts for real estate of the last three months;

• the last invoice for telephone, internet, electricity or gas services.

In order to confirm integration into French society, the applicant takes a knowledge test of French history, culture and society and confirms that he speaks French at the B1 level, sufficient for everyday communication.

The French language test (Test de Français International, or TFI) is taken at a government-approved language center, ETS Global.

You do not need to take the test if you have a certificate for the B1 level of local language courses TCF, TEF, DELF/DALF, DCL or BULATS. Or if the applicant graduated from a school, college or university in the country.

Applicants over 60 are exempted from taking the test. However, they will need to demonstrate knowledge of the language at B1 level at an interview in the prefecture, which lasts up to one and a half hours and takes place without an interpreter.

Compliance with the law is confirmed by certificates of no criminal record in the countries of citizenship, residence and in France over the past 10 years. Certificates are valid for 180 days from the date of receipt. The documents are translated into French and certified with apostille.

Citizenship is available after five years of permanent residence in France with a residence permit status. In order to fulfill the condition for permanent residence, one cannot leave the country for more than six out of ten months.

For outstanding achievements in sports, economics, science or art that contribute to the prosperity of France, a French talent passport is given. In this case, the term will be reduced to two years.

Family reunification, if the applicant has family members with permanent residence or citizenship status in France. The process of obtaining a passport is similar to naturalization, only faster: you can apply for citizenship after three years of residence in the country.

Military service. Citizenship can be obtained by men from 18 to 40 years old after three years of service in the French Foreign Legion.

Studying at a university. Residence permit for study is issued for a period of up to a year with the right of extension. Graduates of French universities can apply for permanent residence or citizenship after five years of residence in the country. The term will be reduced to two years if the student successfully studies and participates in government programs.

The condition for obtaining a French residence permit and French citizenship is to receive income above the minimum wage (Smic). In some categories of residence permits, the minimum income requirement is stricter. For example, employees of an innovative start-up will need to earn at least twice the minimum wage.

The amount of income includes the amount of salary and monthly bonuses for the results of work. This does not take into account overtime pay, seniority bonuses, reimbursement of expenses incurred, bonuses at the end of the year.

For any method of obtaining French citizenship, you will need:

1. Two copies of the application form with the date and signature of the applicant.

2. Two photographs 35×45 mm.

3. Originals of passports as well as notarized and translated copies of all family members passports.

4. Birth certificate.

5. Copy of the residence permit in France.

6. Documents on previous marriage and divorce.

7. Police clearance certificates for all family members in France.

8. Police clearance certificates for the last ten years in each country of residence and country of citizenship.

9. A copy of the lease or ownership of the home.

10. Copies of the last three real estate lease receipts.

11. Copies of the last invoice for services: telephone, internet, electricity or gas.

12. French language proficiency certificate at B1 level.

13. State stamp duty of €55.

14. A stamped envelope if the application is sent by mail.

In addition to the basic documents, the applicant for citizenship by marriage provides a marriage certificate and a signed consent of the spouse to the citizenship of the applicant. If the marriage is registered abroad, it must be included in the French civil registry.

The naturalization applicant additionally confirms his professional activity and financial position for the last three years. You must provide employment certificates, a P 237 tax status form, income statements and tax notices for the past three years.

To obtain citizenship through ancestry, applicants submit the same documents as for citizenship by naturalization. They also need a certificate confirming the French citizenship of the parent or ancestor in a straight line.

Students additionally submit a registration card of a French university. They will need to indicate a minimum income of €615 per month, which can be verified by bank statement, letter of guarantee, loan, scholarship or grant funding notification.

The documents are translated into French and certified with apostille.

The application for citizenship along with the necessary documents is transferred to the regional online platform of the prefecture. You can find out which online platform the prefecture is connected to on the website of the Ministry of the Interior.

Some prefectures require an online appointment to submit a dossier and be interviewed, while others apply through an agency. An employee of the prefecture conducts an interview, checks the documents and reports to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The Ministry reviews the application from 18 months to two years. If the decision is positive, the applicant receives a certificate of naturalization and then applies for a passport. The passport processing fee is €155.

The new citizen signs the Charter of Rights and Duties of French Citizens, takes the oath in a solemn atmosphere and receives a French passport.

A French passport can not be obtained by investment, but the country has a residence permit program. Investors over 18 with an official source of income and no criminal record can participate in the residence permit program. Together with family members, they are able to receive the status. This includes spouses, partners without marriage registration and children under 18. An advantage for family members is the right to live, work and study in France, travel within the European Union and receive medical services.

A residence permit by investment in Europe

There are three categories of a “golden visa” for people wanting to invest in France:

1. From €300,000 — investments in a new or operating company.

2. From €30,000 — starting a new business.

3. From €20,000 — creating an innovative startup.

You cannot obtain a residence permit in France by investments in securities, bonds or the purchase of housing.

Investments in the company can be transferred personally or through the investor’s company, in which he owns at least 30% of the shares. The main thing is to own at least 10% of the company in which the investment is made and provide at least 50 jobs for French citizens.

Residence permit card by investment is issued for four years. After that, the status can be extended if the investor’s company continues to work and jobs are saved in it.

Investors are not required to live in France permanently and prove their knowledge of the language if they do not want to obtain citizenship. They can apply for citizenship by naturalization under general conditions.

Establishing a business will require a competitive business plan to be approved. The applicant must have a master’s degree or professional experience of at least five years in the field of business.

The applicant confirms that he has the money to invest in the business, plus the money needed to live in the country for a year. In 2021, the cost of living for one person is €18,655 per year.

For an innovative startup, you must first obtain approval from one or more partner incubators and French Tech Visa accelerators. It is not necessary to have large funds for investments as partners often finance startups. Moreover, It is enough to have an amount on the deposit not less than the annual minimum subsistence level.

A residence permit for financially independent people gives the right to live in France, travel without visas within the European Union, receive qualified medical care, and study at French universities on the conditions provided for citizens.

If the applicant has legal income outside of France, it is possible to obtain a residence permit card for 12 months and then renew it annually for up to five years inclusive. To do this, you need to:

• have an annual income for each family member above the established minimum;

• rent or buy real estate, french citizenship by property investment;

• get medical insurance for each family member;

• make a commitment not to work in France;

• reside in France for 183 days a year.

Residence permit for financially independent persons in Europe

The amount of the minimum annual income in 2021 is €18,655 per year. Income is confirmed by documents: an employment contract indicating the position and monthly salary, confirmation of your own business or a deposit in a French or international bank.

There is no requirement for knowledge of French for financially independent persons. The condition will arise if the applicant wants to obtain permanent residence or citizenship.

To obtain French citizenship, you need to live in the country for five years, work, earn income, pay taxes and know French. This path is not suitable for everyone.

Some EU countries give investors the opportunity to obtain a residence permit, permanent residence status and citizenship in a much easier way. With these statuses, you can live, study and work in the chosen state whilst enjoying the right of visa-free entry to other countries.

Their conditions are often milder than in France: for example, in Malta, investors receive citizenship after one or three years in resident status, they do not have an obligation to pass language proficiency exams.

Maltese citizenship for exceptional services by direct investment requires applicants to be naturalized after one or three years as a resident. The size of the investment depends on the term.

Applicants fulfill several investment conditions:

1. From €600,000 — contribution to the National Development Fund.

2. €10,000 — charitable contribution.

3. From €16,000 per year or from €700,000 — rent of housing for five years or purchase of real estate.

You do not need to pass a language proficiency test to obtain citizenship and it is allowed to include spouses, children and parents in the application.

The average annual increase in the value of real estate in Malta before the pandemic was 5‑10%, in resort areas, up to 15‑20%.

Individual cost calculation for Maltese citizenship

Get the cost calculation

A residence permit in Greece can be obtained for investment from €250,000. Applicants invest in real estate, buy shrew or deposit money. The money can be returned in five years.

After five years, the investor can apply for permanent residence, and after another two years, obtain Greek citizenship.

With a residence permit in Greece, cosmopolitans travel without visas to the Schengen countries. A Greek passport gives investors additional opportunities: for example, to move to any EU country using a simplified registration procedure.

Examples of properties in Greece

Greece, Santorini

€388,000 — €905,000

Villa in a gated complex overlooking the sea and vineyards in Santorini

109 m² — 224 m²

3—5

2—4

Greece, Santorini

€505,000 — €550,000

Mediterranean style villa next to the sea in Santorini with guaranteed rent

84 m² — 94 m²

3

1

Greece, Kissamos

€830,000 — €1,550,000

Traditional style villas on the seafront in Crete, Greece

126 m² — 157 m²

3

3

A residence permit in Portugal can be obtained in a few months through participation in the investment program. The minimum investment contribution is €250,000. The applicant can buy real estate or securities, open a deposit, invest in business, science or culture.

An investor with the status of a resident can live in the country, conduct business and travel without visas to the countries of the Schengen zone. There is no requirement for permanent residence: it is enough to spend seven days a year in Portugal.

In the application for a residence permit in Portugal, you can include a spouse, children under 26 years old and parents over 65 years old. Children and parents must be financially dependent on the investor.

Citizenship applications can be submitted after five years as a resident. To obtain a passport, the investor and his family members take a language proficiency test.