Tougher rules for nationality: rights watchdog criticises already ‘complex’ process

Plans to make the requirements for obtaining French citizenship more stringent have been criticised by France’s rights chief, as the process is already “too complicated’” . 

Problems with the digitisation of the system for applying for residency cards were also highlighted by Défenseure des droits Claire Hédon, in an interview with public service broadcaster FranceInfo. 

“What I have observed is that, contrary to what is being claimed, the acquisition of nationality is already excessively complicated,” she said.

“It can take several years from the time people file an application to the time they receive a response from the prefecture, so the reality is that it is already very difficult.”

A circular on the matter was given to department prefects by Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau at the start of the week, detailing a stricter approach into background checks and financial autonomy. 

Prefectures were asked to be more cautious in their assessment of citizenship applications, and were, amongst other points, asked to reject those who had previously been living in France as an undocumented individual.

The minister also wants to introduce stricter rules on assessing a person’s integration into France. He also referred to wanting citizenship candidates to undergo a test in French culture and history, which is not currently required. 

Read more: Did you know? France has a team ready to defend foreigners' rights

Increasing complaints over procedures 

Ms Hédon, who heads up France’s independent watchdog for citizens’ rights in their procedures with state bodies, also highlighted a steadily-increasing number of complaints by non-French people applying for residency card renewals.

“This has become an enormous part of the complaints made to us. 

“These are people who are perfectly integrated, who pose no problems, who have been in France for several years, who have a job, and who are put in an irregular situation by the administration,” said Ms Hédon.

In some cases, applications take so long that some people are left illegally living in France as their residency rights expired, putting them into a legal limbo and in some cases causing them to lose their jobs, Ms Hédon said.

She added, however, she was not laying the blame on the prefectures themselves “which are already in a bad way,” understaffed and facing problems with the IT systems put in place by the government for residency card procedures, in particular the ‘Anef’ site.

In 2022, over 20,000 complaints were levied with the watchdog over residency card renewal issues.

Ms Hédon criticised “the computer system used to apply for certain residence permits and permit renewals, which is buggy, both for users, who are not able to change their address or phone number and complete their applications, and for staff in the prefectures.”

Complaints have previously been raised by the watchdog body over IT issues in the system. 

In February 2024 it highlighted cases where prefectures had failed to provide the necessary récépissé (receipts) to allow people to continue to live in France while their application for naturalisation was processed.

In 2023, it also highlighted the poor quality of service for non-French people. 

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