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Thinking of applying for French citizenship? Then read on….

So with the British public having voted to leave the EU in June of this year, Theresa May is now working on how to make this happen. So the question on many British expats’ minds now living in France is what will happen to them? The answer is that no-one has really decided yet. But it is looking likely that Britan will stop the free movement of people throughout Europe and therefore European countries are likely teo reciprocate this decision.

So what does this mean? Well this probably means that British people would lose the right to move freely and work in any country in the European Union without a visa or residency permit. As a result, many Brits living in France are looking at applying for French citizenship to preserve their rights to live and work in France.

So what does this involve? Well you have to have lived in France for at least 5 years, show that you can support yourself and your family, prove that you are integrated into French society and of course prove that you are proficient in the French language. To apply for your citizenship, you have to be able to prove that you have a level B1 (intermediate) in French which you prove by taking one of the approved examinations which includes the TCF (test de connaissance de français).

One such person is Paul Watts who moved permanently to the area around 6 years ago with a ‘schoolboy’ level of French. Through continued learning, French courses with Alpine French School, working and socialising with French people, Paul has achieved a B1-B2 level of French. He took his TCF exam in October 2016 after an Intensive French Course with Alpine French School to prepare him for the exam. With the help of Lucile and Christelle, he learnt useful exam skills and techniques, he expanded his vocabulary and worked on all aspects of his French that would be tested during the exam. Despite finding the exam challenging, he passed both the listening and speaking sections and is delighted to be able to pursue his application for French citizenship!

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