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Local France
4 days ago
- Business
- Local France
'Rules have changed' - Préfecture confirms they can refuse French citizenship to retirees
Retirees in France have recently begun running into problems with the citizenship applications, with numerous reports of citizenship being refused due to not having sufficient French income. The change appears to be linked to a recent circulaire from the Interior Minister - but now one préfecture has confirmed to The Local that they are indeed treating applications differently, and are routinely rejecting people whose income is mainly derived from a pension from another country. The préfecture of Deux-Sèvres told The Local that the "rules had changed after May 2nd", which is when French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau sent out a circulaire (memo) clarifying how préfectures should process citizenship applications. READ MORE: Why do French ministers love to send 'circulaires'? The spokesperson said: "Each application is subject to an individualised, in-depth, and reasoned review, in accordance with the applicable regulations. "Prior to the circulaire of May 2nd, 2025, naturalisation applications were processed based on a comprehensive and global assessment of the applicant's situation. Advertisement "Thus, retirees receiving only a foreign pension as income could have their naturalisation application accepted, as long as the necessary conditions were generally met. "After May 2nd, the rules changed. In order to assess the applicant's financial independence, income derived mainly from abroad is no longer taken into account (except in very limited circumstances), on the basis that the applicant's centre of interest has not been completely transferred to France. READ MORE: What counts as 'French income' when it comes to citizenship? "Based on this criterion alone, the application for naturalisation may be refused. For practical purposes, people who are refused naturalisation do have legal avenues and time limits for appeal. These are referenced in their notification of rejection." What does this change mean practically? This insistence on French-sourced income would seem - if applied strictly - to make it impossible for people who have retired to France (as opposed to those who worked in France and then retired) to ever gain citizenship. Two foreign retirees who both met the other criteria for French nationality, such as language acquisition and integration in their local community, were denied citizenship by the Deux-Sèvres préfecture on the basis that they did not have sufficient French income. READ MORE: 'Doesn't seem fair' - British pensioners speak out over apparent change to French citizenship rules A circulaire is not supposed to change the law, just clarify how administrative staff interpret it. So far, it is clear that the préfecture of Deux-Sèvres has taken a strict interpretation of the circulaire and has interpreted it as a 'rules change'. This does not mean that other préfectures have taken the same approach, and it is common for variations to exist between préfectures. However, The Local has received reports of other retirees being rejected in recent weeks for the same reasons in the préfectures of Gironde and Haute-Garonne. The Local reached out to the Interior Ministry and other préfectures to confirm whether there has been a change in procedure. Advertisement Meanwhile, several of the retirees who told The Local they were rejected have appealed, which means they may still have a chance of gaining nationality, depending on the interpretation of the administrative court of Nantes. It is also possible that the interior ministry will offer more clarification in the future to préfectures on how to approach retirees with a majority non-French income. Crucially, these changes are being applied to people who made their applications months or sometimes years ago. This is contrary to full legal changes - such as the revised standards for French language levels - which can only be applied to new applications . What did the circulaire say exactly? To clarify, a circulaire cannot change the law, but it can offer 'clarification' for how préfecture staff ought to process citizenship applications. In the third section of the circulaire - titled 'the autonomy of the applicant' - Retailleau instructed staff on what to consider regarding l'insertion professionnelle (professional integration) and le niveau et l'origine des revenues (the amount and origin of income). Retailleau wrote: "You will also, with some exceptions, reject applicants whose income comes mainly from abroad, as this shows they have not completely transferred the centre of their interests to France." Retailleau did not reference any exceptions for retirees, though he did remind préfecture employees not to reject applications with 'insufficient income' if the applicant is ill or disabled. The interior minister also explained that this requirement is to demonstrate 'integration' to France and a long-term commitment to the country. He also wrote: "The applicant's autonomy must be based on proven and sustainable professional integration that provides them with stable and sufficient resources. "This not only demonstrates the stability of their settlement in France, but is also an essential element of their integration into the national community. "The applicant's autonomy must be based on proven and sustainable professional integration that provides them with stable and sufficient resources."
Local France
6 days ago
- Business
- Local France
What counts as 'French income' when it comes to citizenship?
Becoming French is a complicated process and requires applications to fulfil a number of criteria. For those applying by residency ( par décret ), one of those conditions is demonstrating the ability to support yourself financially by earning a 'stable and regular' income at or above the French minimum wage (SMIC). You also need to prove to French authorities that France is the "centre of your economic interests". A recent circulaire (memo) sent out by French Interior Minister, Bruno Retailleau, instructs préfecture employees to judge this quality more strictly, based on whether the majority of the applicant's income is from 'French sources'. Advertisement This is proving a particular problem for retirees , but can also affect other groups in France. So what exactly is counted as French-sourced income? Broadly, 'French-sourced' income ( revenu , or ressources ) is exactly what it sounds like - salaries and wages, 'movable or immovable' investments, real estate earnings, and pensions - that come from France. One of the easiest ways to answer this question is to look at where the income should be declared on your French tax declaration. If it is categorised as 'overseas' income ( source étrangère ), then it is not French-sourced. Pensions - If your pension (either public or private) comes from France, then it is French-sourced income. If your pension income comes from a foreign country - even if it is taxed in France - it is considered overseas income. READ MORE: Analysis: Has France really made it impossible for retirees to get citizenship? Real estate - If the property is in France, then the income is French-sourced. Movable investments - If you invested in French stocks, bonds, ETFs, life insurance wrappers (e.g. Assurance Vie ), then the income generated is 'French-sourced'. Savings accounts - If you have a French savings account that accrues interest, such as a Livret A, then it is possible that French authorities would consider this to be 'French income'. Keep in mind that, as per the circulaire , French authorities expect to see a 'majority' of French income, so a few euros in interest from a savings account may not suffice. READ MORE: EXPLAINED: The best money-saving options for foreigners in France Benefits - State benefits, such as housing aid, do count as 'French income'. However, the interior ministry noted in the circulaire that préfecture staff should assess total income "excluding social benefits. "This should lead, with some exceptions, to the rejection of applications where a person's income is mainly derived from social benefits," Retailleau wrote. The circulaire specifies an exception for people who have insufficient income due to disability or illness. Salary (employee) - A full or part-time employee's salary would be considered 'French-sourced' if the work was conducted in France and for a company registered in France. For proof, you must provide payslips, a relevé de carrière (summary of career), and tax documents. Advertisement Unfortunately, cross-border workers have been known to be rejected for French nationality because they could not demonstrate sufficient 'French-sourced' income. Wages (registered self-employed and business owners) - If you own a business or shop located in France, or you carry out a trade or profession in France, and it is properly registered here, then this would be 'French-sourced' income. You will need to submit an accounting certificate showing your business income. The picture is a little less clear for self-employed people who do remote work for foreign clients, but French fiscal authorities have been clear that any income generated while you are physically in France counts as French income. For example, if you are self-employed and have foreign clients, French fiscal authorities expect you to report this income as 'French income', so it can be taxed at the French rate. You must also be registered with URSSAF (France's administrative body responsible for collecting social security contributions), and you will be required to provide copies of your URSSAF declarations for the last 12 months when applying. Advertisement There would likely be difficulty if you declare your income from foreign clients as 'foreign income' to the tax man, and gain foreign tax credits. There have been many reports of properly registered self-employed people with foreign clients successfully gaining French nationality, and there is no indication that the préfecture/ interior ministry applies a different definition of 'French income' than URSSAF and tax authorities. That said, as préfectures approach applications more strictly, it is possible that self-employed people may come under greater scrutiny, particularly when it comes to demonstrating 'stable' income. Self-employed as a 'visitor' - Remember that if you are earning money in France, then you must be on a residency status that allows you to be self-employed or employed. Many foreigners in France on the 'visitor' status continue to work remotely for foreign companies, even though the visa requires a pledge not to work in France. READ MORE: 'What matters is your location' - The rules on working remotely from France Remote work for companies outside France has traditionally been seen as a grey area, but recent guidance by the tax office suggests that this is, in fact, viewed as 'working in France'. Advertisement While there is still ongoing debate about this status, for those applying for citizenship it would certainly be difficult to justify to French authorities that you satisfy the requirement of having a 'majority' French income. Why do they want 'French-sourced' income? The general idea is to demonstrate 'integration' to France and a long-term commitment to the country. In the circulaire , Retailleau wrote: "The applicant's autonomy must be based on proven and sustainable professional integration that provides them with stable and sufficient resources. "This not only demonstrates the stability of their settlement in France, but is also an essential element of their integration into the national community. "The applicant's autonomy must be based on proven and sustainable professional integration that provides them with stable and sufficient resources." His comments suggest that he has forgotten that retirees exist, and is assuming that all applicants are of working age. In the past, préfectures have been able to take a more holistic approach to the concept of having France as the 'centre of economic interest' - taking into account things like owning your own home in France and having no properties or investments in other countries. Other proof of integration into French life, such as doing volunteer work in the community, could also be taken into account. However it seems that préfectures are now focusing purely on the question of French income, with several retirees reporting being turned down on this basis - although, as ever, there is a wide variation between different préfectures. The strictures also seem to affect young people who have grown up in France but were not born here - they can apply for citizenship once they reach the age of 18 - but a stricter definition of income requirements suggests that students, for example, should wait until they have graduated and are earning.
