Five years in France. You open the naturalisation application and stop at the first question: five years of what, exactly? Since the visa? Since the first card?
What the law counts
Article 21-17 of the Code civil asks for “habitual residence in France during the five years preceding the application”. Not “five years of residence cards”. It is about where your life is.
In practice, the services look at your history of residence documents. If you are right on the edge, waiting a few extra weeks to be clearly past five years from your first card can avoid a debate.
Some people can apply after two years instead of five, for example after two successful years of higher education in France (art. 21-18).
The ANEF trap nobody reads
The “attestation de dépôt” you receive when you file a renewal online does not prove legal residence (CESEDA, art. R431-15-1). What does: the “attestation de prolongation d’instruction”, if you filed a complete application on time, or the attestation of a favourable decision.
Download them from your ANEF space and keep them. They cover the gaps between cards. And one hard rule: no naturalisation if your stay is irregular (Code civil, art. 21-27).
How long they can make you wait
Under article 21-25-1, the administration has at most 18 months from the day your file is complete and you receive a récépissé, or 12 months if you have lived in France for at least ten years. It can extend once, by three months, with a reasoned decision.
And the 2026 basics: French at B2 and the civic exam.
Checklist
- list every residence document with its dates
- download the ANEF attestations now, before you need them
- show stable income with no blank months