I know there are many posts on this subject for they all seem very old so I thought I would start a new thread.
I am thinking of applying for citizenship and wonder if anyone has any recent experience - and how to start the process.
I would be most grateful for information. I know I can search for it but time is precious and if I can shortcut the search, why not.
thanks in advance
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I’m part way through the process. I’m doing it in the Usa through the consulat in Washington but the process seems to be similar wherever you are. The instructions are very clear. I got the language test out the way first then started collecting documents. The language test is good for two years. The main issue is that some documents have to be less than 3 months old and this can be problematic. My only advice would be to follow the instructions exactly. You will be asked for missing documents , as I was, during the process so its not as if you only have one shot.
I have read online that certain requirements such as having background checks apostillated(?) is not totally necessary in practice.
Bless the french and their love of paperwork! I covered my living room floor with it all.
Manyof the french documents were through Service public website. free and very efficient.
If you are British and in France then less need for apostilles on documents.
The starting point is to google nationalité and your Department name to get the specific instructions for your préfecture. The requests for naturalisation by décret (ie by length of residence) are online now, and just by marriage that is on paper.
And as jgibson says the language certificate or diploma is essential. Again by marriage it is different as the level will I believe stay at B1. However by décret the level will shortly (we don’t know when) increase to B2. You have a choice of the TCF certificate which is valid for 2 years or the DELF diploma which lasts for life.
Then you collect your UK certificates - birth, marriage etc and other ones on list from your préfecture. And if you have been in France less than 10 years your ACRO police certificate (£55). Once all documents assembled you get the foreign ones translated, and collect up your French documents. Including ones you get at the end from your tax office here.
And then do battle with the online application service.
And then you wait.
By marriage?
Are you sure about the £55 for an ACRO certificate? Ours were free. The timbre fiscale was €55 per person, though.
Yes. The free one is not adequate now for nationality
https://www.acro.police.uk/s/acro-services/police-certificates
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I have been told that if you are seventy or older the process is simplified. I have therefore been waiting until June 2024 but am I going to gain anything.
I have lived in France full time since 2003. Is there a distinction between an application for citizenship and an application for naturalisation?
Thanks.
I believe that no longer applies nowadays. I think it was @JaneJones who posted something not long ago explaining that it was no longer the case.
You get citizenship via naturalisation by decree (or by marriage declaration or by birth of course).
There is a simpler process if you are over 65 if you have lived in France more than 25 years and have French children. Otherwise age gives no advantage any more. That was changed in 2020.
Well I can either wait another three years to qualify for the simpler process or I can just get on with it.
I think it will have to be the latter though I still do not understand how one qualifies for naturalisation (other than by birth or marriage) as opposed to applying for citizenship.
I am surely missing something.
My son applied just over four years ago as that is how long it takes down here. He has had all the interviews, provided all the recent documents concerning births of his children etc and still not heard anything new. He is a fonctionnaire in the national education and has lived in France for over 30years doing his education here so did not have to do any language tests etc. The prefecture said they have had so many applications over the past five years and more it has taken a very long time to investigate every applicant thoroughly. So be warned, it won’t happen for some years depending on where you live.
Yes, naturalisation is the process and citizenship is the result.
You have to fulfil all three conditions, not just age.
I missed the boat many years ago when it was very simple, I took and passed the language in 2016 before I knew that I didn’t need to (because of age) but stalled at the thought of all the hundred year old documents.
Now it is all too late, unless, I wait another 6 years and then get started on begetting some French children. 
Perhaps not. 
I have lived here full time since 2002 so would qualify in another three years. However, as stated, I think I will just get on with it.
If you have French children.
I can do it via my two french grandchildren but I can’t be bothered to be honest.
Oh yes…I misread your previous post. No children so no easy route.
Off we go.
Can I borrow them please?
I haven’t checked back, had a power cut, but didn’t @JaneJones say 30 years? That is why I said I had another 6 years to wait…plus the children bit, obviously. 
Is this any help? I’m not sure we make a difference between nationality and citizenship, I don’t think we do that ‘various grades of British’ thing. We are just French, or not. At least I think so as a born-French person who has never had to think about it.
To be fair, the UK isn’t as bad as the US where they have different legal definitions for a US citizen versus a US national.
The terms U.S. national and U.S .citizen are often used synonymously, when in fact they are different terms with two different meanings . First, it is essential to understand the concept that all U.S. citizens are U.S. nationals, but not all U.S. nationals are U.S. citizens .
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