T
The Daily Insight

Can you hold French and American citizenship?

Author

Henry Morales

Published Mar 29, 2026

If you have dual citizenship, you have access to the same opportunities in both countries. You can vote and work in France and the US. You can own property in France and the US. You can take advantage of the government services in both countries.

How long do you have to live in France to get French citizenship?

five years
After living in France for five years – or less in some cases – you can apply for French citizenship. If you want to live in France long term or even permanently, you may be eligible to apply for French permanent residence or French citizenship after five years of living in France.

How can a US citizen get a French passport?

You can apply for a French passport at any official city office in France or at a French consulate. If you live in the United States, you can apply for a French passport at French consulates in major cities.

Does a baby born in France get citizenship?

Children born in France (including overseas territories) to at least one parent who was also born in France automatically acquire French citizenship at birth (double jus soli). A child born in France to foreign parents may acquire French citizenship: at birth, if stateless.

Can you live in France without being a citizen?

All you need is a passport that’s valid for at least three months. But for any stays longer than three months it gets complicated. Any Americans planning to stay in France – assuming they don’t have an extra European passport – will have to get ready for a truckload of paperwork.

Is it hard to get French citizenship?

It’s not an incredibly straightforward process – and it is clearly not an option available for everyone. It is only applicable to those who were born on French soil, who were born to French parents, who have lived in France for five years, or who are married to a French spouse.

Can I get French citizenship if I study in France?

Students on Long-Stay Visa French Government has allowed foreigners to apply for French citizenship if they have spent five years in France. This is a great option for French students because if you’ve completed two years of higher education in France, the five-year residency obligation is reduced to two years.

Is getting French citizenship difficult?

Who are US citizens who can travel to France?

The French government has defined essential travel as entry by French citizens, residents of France, all foreign (including United States citizen) students (with appropriate visa or residence permit), and spouses and children of French citizens.

When to apply for permanent residence in France?

After living in France for five years – or less in some cases – you can apply for French citizenship. If you want to live in France long term or even permanently, you may be eligible to apply for French permanent residence or French citizenship after five years of living in France.

How do you become a citizen of France?

How You Can Acquire French Citizenship. If a person is born in France to at least one French parent, he automatically gains citizenship at birth; otherwise, those born in France to foreign parents have the option of obtaining citizenship at birth or later in life.

Can a US citizen apply for a French visa?

The U.S. Embassy does not have the authority to grant French visa extensions or make determinations about French or EU immigration rules. You can visit the French government website for English-speakers in France for more information on this topic. What should I do if I’m in France and I think I may have been exposed to COVID-19?