Citizenship

[alejandrauk78]

Hello, I have just this article and I am a bit confused about this pasrt, so could any of you explain. the second part where it say Reduction de stage
Principe : 5 ans minimum

Sauf exceptions, le demandeur doit avoir sa résidence en France au moment de la signature du décret de naturalisation. La notion de résidence est ici plus large que la notion habituelle de domicile. Elle implique que le demandeur doit avoir en France le centre de ses intérêts matériels (notamment professionnels) et de ses liens familiaux. Une personne résidant en France mais dont le conjoint et/ou les enfants résident à l'étranger pourrait ainsi se voir refuser la nationalité française.

Par ailleurs, il doit remplir une "condition de stage" sauf exception (réduction ou dispense de stage), c'est-à-dire justifier d'une résidence habituelle en France pendant les 5 années qui précèdent le dépôt de sa demande.

Cette résidence doit avoir été régulière au regard de la réglementation sur le séjour des étrangers en France, c'est-à-dire que le demandeur doit avoir disposé d'un titre de séjour.

Réduction de stage

La durée de résidence habituelle en France est réduite à 2 ans pour l'étranger :

qui a accompli avec succès 2 années d'études en vue de l'obtention d'un diplôme délivré par une université ou un établissement d'enseignement supérieur français,
ou qui a rendu ou qui peut rendre des services importants à la France par ses capacités et ses talents,
ou qui présente un parcours exceptionnel d'intégration, apprécié au regard des activités menées ou des actions accomplies dans les domaines civique, scientifique, économique, culturel ou sportif.

is this talking abiut someone who has already a work permit or something? I fid it interesting. In England, you have to be student for 10 years to apply for residency. or 14 years if you have somewhat been ilegal to be able to apply for the residency. does France have something different?
I am asking because I found this article very intereting but I dont know what it is refering to or if the person who obtains a degree in France has to have other visas as well before?
Very confusing, but then again I am not familiar at all with the French Residency or citizeship.
Please some enlightment.
thank you.

[_Sarah_]

Basically, it's explaining a variation to the residency requirement for naturalisation.

Usually, in order to naturalise (become French/obtain citizenship), one of the requiremens is that you have lived in France for 5 years (amoung other requirements) but under certain circumstances this 5 years can be reduced to 2 years:

La durée de résidence habituelle en France est réduite à 2 ans pour l'étranger :
The length of usual residence in France is reduced to 2 years for a foreigner:

- qui a accompli avec succès 2 années d'études en vue de l'obtention d'un diplôme délivré par une université ou un établissement d'enseignement supérieur français,
who has successfully completed 2 years of study at an establishment or university of higher education in France
- ou qui a rendu ou qui peut rendre des services importants à la France par ses capacités et ses talents,
who has aided or can aid (do a favour for) France with his/her abilities and talents
- ou qui présente un parcours exceptionnel d'intégration, apprécié au regard des activités menées ou des actions accomplies dans les domaines civique, scientifique, économique, culturel ou sportif.
or who demonstrates an exceptional path/progress of integration, measured/assessed in regards to activities lead or actions accomplished in the civic, scientific, economic, cultural or sporting domaines.

[Bevdeforges]

Each country has its own requirements for taking citizenship. The thing to remember about France is that there are other requirements than just the residence thing, and there is nothing automatic about taking French nationality.

While you "only" need to have completed two years of higher education (at the time you submit your dossier), you do have to be legally resident in France when your nationality comes through - which takes the better part of a year. So, in practice, yes, you probably have to have found a job and have obtained a work permit of some variety - or have the means to remain in graduate level education while your paperwork is being process. (They will ask you to submit your tax assessment forms for the years you have been resident in France.)

Besides the legal residency period, you need to demonstrate that you have a decent level of French (spoken, written and understanding), that you are properly "assimilated" into French life and culture and that you have your primary "center of interests" in France (including financial, medical, social, etc.) and that you have paid your taxes and all.
Cheers,
Bev

[alejandrauk78]

thank you for your prompt response. You seem to be very knowledgeable in these matters. I have a question. what happens if you have the means to remain at a graduate level? and you never work those 2 years? or is it imperative that you present your taxes?

is it talking about graduate of any sorts? or you are supposed to be 2 years studying a graduate course?
I agree with you totally in the fact that its more than that to just get the nationality.
thank you so much once again.

[Bevdeforges]

Originally Posted by alejandrauk78

thank you for your prompt response. You seem to be very knowledgeable in these matters. I have a question. what happens if you have the means to remain at a graduate level? and you never work those 2 years? or is it imperative that you present your taxes?

is it talking about graduate of any sorts? or you are supposed to be 2 years studying a graduate course?
I agree with you totally in the fact that its more than that to just get the nationality.
thank you so much once again.

If you're living in France for a couple years or more, then presumably you have some source of income you're living off. When you're resident in France, you are supposed to declare your worldwide income, whether or not it is ultimately subject to French taxation (and your foreign bank accounts and life insurance accounts). So ultimately, you have to file tax declarations, even if the assessment comes back saying that you owe no taxes to the French government. And yes, they'll ask to see those, because it does kind of "prove" that you have been resident in France during those two or more years.

When they talk about a university or institute of higher education, I think they are referring to post secondary education at a university level that would require a bac-level diploma for admission, not just a training course. But I'm not entirely sure about that.
Cheers,
Bev

[jacquest]

Hola Alejandra,

Do you have french greatgrandparents or greatgreatgrandparents? Some Chileans do, as do many many people just across the mountains in the Rio de la Plata region. If so, you "might" have an alternative, "faster" (though not fast) way.

Cheers,
jacques.