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FRENCH CITIZENSHIP

France introduces new simplified process for citizenship

Foreigners living in France who want to apply for French citizenship can now access a simplified process with the opening of a new online portal. Here's how it works and who is eligible.

Published: 13 February 2023 10:27 CET
Updated: 18 February 2023 08:48 CET
France introduces new simplified process for citizenship
French President Emmanuel Macron attends a citizenship ceremony in 2017. Photo by Michel Euler / POOL / AFP

If you’re not French but would like to become French, the government has now launched a (slightly) simplified process for Naturalisation française par décret, with the opening of the NATALI online portal.

Who?

NATALI is an online service for submitting your citizenship application – and it’s important to stress that it doesn’t change the qualifications required for citizenship, only how you go about applying.

For foreigners living in France there are two main routes to citizenship; living in France for at least five years (or two years if you completed higher education in France) or marriage to a French citizen for at least four years.

You can find a full list of all the routes to citizenship (joining the French Foreign Legion, for example) HERE, plus a breakdown of all the paperwork you will need HERE. 

You cannot use the portal at present if you live in the French overseas départements of French Polynesia, French Guiana, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Saint-Martin-Saint-Barthélémy, New Caledonia or Wallis and Futuna.

You can find NATALI (no, we don’t know what it stands for) here.

What changes?

The new system is intended to streamline the application process by creating a single, nationwide portal where you can submit your citizenship application online.

Once the dossier is submitted, you will only need one in-person appointment – at your local préfecture where you go for the interview where you will be tested on your knowledge of France and French culture, to see if you are sufficiently integrated to become a citizen. Successful applicants will then be invited to an in-person naturalisation ceremony, which again is held at the local préfecture.

Philosophy, household chores and cheese – what you might be asked in your French citizenship exam

Just as before, it is your local préfecture that actually makes the decision on your application, the online portal is just a streamlined way to submit the dossier.

The portal also allows you to create an online account where you can track the process of your application, and where any requests for extra documents or more information will be sent.

When?

The portal went live on February 6th and now all new applications must be made in this way, according to the government’s public service site.

Previously some préfectures would accept applications online, while others demanded a paper dossier be submitted.

At the time of writing, most préfecture websites still contain instructions for the old system, but the government’s public service site says that: “All applications for naturalisation by decree must now be made electronically. Any paper application sent after February 6th, 2023 will be returned to the sender.”

What if I already made my application?

If you have already made an application and received a file number you do not need to make a new one.

Will this process be quicker?

On average getting citizenship takes between 18 months and two years from first submission of the dossier to being given the certificate of naturalisation, although it varies quite substantially between different préfectures.

No-one is promising that this system will be any quicker in delivering decisions, but it should be easier for applicants to use. 

Can I do any advanced preparation?

If you don’t yet qualify for citizenship, but intend to apply in the future, you can begin in advance with preparation of your dossier.

You can head to the French government’s naturalisation simulator HERE, which takes you through a list of questions about your personal circumstances, and then provides you with a downloadable list of documents that you will need in order to submit your dossier.

Some of them are basic and obvious like a passport, some you will need to get nearer the time like recent payslips or tax returns and others may require contact with authorities in your home country such as a recent copy of your birth certificate or a declaration that you have a clean criminal record.

You may also need to get some of your documents translated into French, using the services of a certified translator.

It’s also worth noting that unless you completed higher education in France, you will need a recent certificate of a French language exam to at least B1 level – full details HERE. 

QUIZ Is your French good enough for citizenship?

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For members

HEALTH

What to know about using a mobility scooter or wheelchair in France

From speed limits to insurance, via costs and reimbursement, here is what you need to know about using a mobility scooter or wheelchair in France.

Published: 9 September 2024 15:51 CEST
What to know about using a mobility scooter or wheelchair in France

There are approximately one million people people in France who use a wheelchair, plus many more who use a mobility scooter.

Despite this large population, wheelchairs and mobility scooters can be very expensive, sometimes reaching as much as €50,000.

Mobility scooters and wheelchairs

In France, a ‘motorised mobility aid’ is any device that is intended to help compensate for an inability or difficulty with walking.

These include manual and electric wheelchairs (fauteuil roulant), as well as mobility scooters (Scooter électrique Mobilité réduite, or Scooter électrique PMR).

In general wheelchairs are used by people who have little or no mobility, while mobility scooters are used by people who are mobile but who have difficulty walking for sustained periods of time, typically the elderly. There are, however, many crossovers and exceptions within these broad categories.

Example from Service-Public.fr about wheelchairs

Rules of the route

When it comes to the rules of use, however, both wheelchairs and mobility scooters are considered ‘fauteuils roulants‘ within the relevant French legislation.

This means that you are treated as a pedestrian, so you are expected to use the pavement and respect traffic lights for pedestrians. You are expected to drive the device at a moderate speed (max 6km/h), according to Service-Public.

You could risk a fine of €4 if you ride on the road. However, there are some exceptions – you can travel on road (on the right-side in the same direction as other vehicles) if the sidewalk is in poor condition or not-passable. 

There is no alcohol limit for operating an electric wheelchair or mobility scooter, as they are not considered a ‘vehicle’.

You are not required to have a separate insurance (as is the case for electric scooters) even though your electric wheelchair/mobility scooter uses an electric motor.

Still, it would be wise to ensure that your wheelchair/scooter is covered by your home insurance policy in case of any damage, similarly it would be wise (although not required) to equip your wheelchair/scooter with a reflective or light-up device to be more visible at nighttime.

READ MORE: The French words to use and avoid when talking about disability

Aid and help for purchasing a wheelchair or mobility scooter

As we mentioned these devices are expensive, but there are ways to get help with some of the cost.

Generally, Assurance Maladie can cover a portion of the costs, and then there are additional types of assistance available through the départements. 

As of 2024, Assurance Maladie can cover up to €600 for a standard wheelchair and up to €5,200 for electric wheelchairs, standing wheelchairs and scooters. Complementary health insurance (mutuelle) plans can cover additional expenses, depending on the policy.

Then there is the aid offered by the département – this can go up to several thousand euro in assistance, depending on the individual’s situation.

As for mobility scooters, you may be able to find more basic versions online – for example on the Leroy Merlin website.

How to get the reimbursement

The process is the same for any type of wheelchair – including mobility scooters.

In order to get financial assistance, you will need to receive a medical prescription, and your doctor will need to fill out une entente ou un accord préalable to request the reimbursement.

The prescription should include information such as the model of the wheelchair, as well as any necessary additions (eg. headrest).

The wheelchair/scooter in question will need to be on the approved LPP list, which you can find here.

Next, you can reach out to your mutuelle to see how much assistance their plan would offer.

For example, the MMA plan reimburses based on the social security base rate. They gave the example of one wheelchair that cost €5,280 – the person would receive €2,702.81 from social security and an additional €2,577 from MMA, leaving no remaining costs. Ultimately, it depends on your plan though.

The next step is the département.

Each French département has a ‘Maison Départementale pour les Personnes Handicapées’ (MDPH). These are one-stop shops for people with disabilities.

You can find these help centres on the Mon Parcours Handicap website under ‘Annuaire’, or by searching MDPH plus your département.

If you are looking for specific assistance with a wheelchair, scooter or other aide technique, then you might start by searching ‘Centre d’information et de conseil sur les aides techniques’ (Cicat).

Credit: Mon Parcours Handicap website.

They have several objectives – to welcome, inform, support and advise people with disabilities and their families. They also help to build a ‘life plan’ for the person with a disability and can offer them access to assistance, such as the PCH.

The PCH (prestation de compensation du handicap) is a benefit that helps with various categories, from housing adjustments to transport costs and technical assistance, which can include the purchase or rental of a wheelchair. This aid is available for people under 60 years old.

Like Assurance Maladie, the wheelchair must be on the LPP list. The application is cerfa n°15692*01 form. You can get assistance with this at the MDPH.

For those over the age of 60, the aid available via the département would be the Allocation personnalisée d’autonomie (APA). This covers costs related to a loss of autonomy. More info here.

READ MORE: Explained: The help available for older people in France

What about adapting my home?

There are several grants available to people with disabilities and the elderly to adapt your home.

For example, the ‘MaPrimeAdapt’ scheme is intended to help those beginning to experience reduced mobility (or already experiencing it) adapt their living environment.

Some of the work might include adding a grab rail or shower seat in the bathroom, installing a toilet adapted to the disability, widening doors to make rooms wheelchair accessible, adding an access ramp or installing an electric stairlift.

You may be eligible for up to 50 to 70 percent of the work, and after sending in an application you will be connected with a project management assistant.

READ MORE: GUIDE: French property grants you might be eligible for

What about borrowing a wheelchair or scooter?

If you are visiting France and you want to borrow a wheelchair for short periods of time, you may be able to do so at cultural centres and museums.

For example, the Louvre offers free wheelchairs for anyone with mobility issues to borrow throughout the duration of their visit. More info here.

It would be wise to call ahead or check online to see if this service will be available.

There are also websites and blogs, such as Wheelchair Travelling and WheelchairTravel.org with dedicated segments on visiting Paris and France.

READ MORE: ANALYSIS: How accessible is Paris for people with disabilities

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