My Son is 13 and going into 5 eme for the rentree...He has decided that as a future career he wants to be a "Douane" or a customs officer. He is intelligent and motivated enough and has already looked into what he has to do over the next few years at school/lycee what type of BAC etc. He has even started to write a letter to the Ecole des Douanes at La Rochelle...The only problem and it could be a big problem is that he has to have French Nationality...He must do this before he applies (there is a concours)....My question is .Has anybody applied for duel Nationality at 18, does it take very long, and is it gauranteed if you fill all of the criteria?... My son doesn't want to base the next 6 or 7 years of his education on a very specific route if at the end of it he is unable to do this particular job just because he is English. I have tried to ring the naturalisation office but is only open on Monday and Tuesday between 9-12 and very hard to get through....Many thanks in advance... Sarah Bee (Chaunay)

I think he can have French nationality if he was born in France. Otherwise he will have to apply to become French, it is possible as a minor, I met a 14 year old girl a few years ago who had just been sworn as a French citizen, it was her decision, there is quite a long process, and you have to go to see a judge...Maybe the first thing to do is ask at the mairie, they might be able to help, or a solicitor.

is it guaranteed if you fill all of the criteria?


Apparently not: there was a someone on a similar thread the other day who said that his son had wanted to be a gendarme but they had been turned down for naturalisation and that was the end of it - no right of appeal.
I know a delightful woman who has lived in France most of her adult life and has been working here legally for 30 years... she was also turned down with no right of appeal.

As to how long it takes....... how long is a piece of string? Time was of the essence for me as I too was taking a concours and had to have the paperwork through before the oral exams.... it was touch and go and only came through in time because I got the local MP onto my case..... and mine wasn't a "maybe they'll let you have the nationality or not case"... it was mine by right (marriage to a French national) but that didn't make it any quicker......

Thanks for your reply .Been to see the Mairie but not really any help as they didn't really know anything. He doesn't want to become a French citizen until he is 18 (he doesn't really want to but has no choice ).It was really a question of how long it took etc. Sarah

Thanks Clara..i kind of knew it would take forever ..Hopefully things may change for the better in 5 years. if not we may just have to cross our fingers

Doubtless you've already read it, but here you go:

http://vosdroits.service-public.fr/F88.xhtml

Our son is 18 & is going thru this application right now so that he too can join the gendarmes, I hope the following will be of some help to you.

Please note that the info i give here is based on his/our circumstances, I do not know for a younger person or people with other life differences ie. full time work etc, every case is different. We live in the Charente so have to use the prefecture in Angouleme for this application process.

The prefecture in Angouleme is open weekdays (not Tuesday for naturalisation matters) 9-2pm only

He had to go to see them in person, no appt necessary, He took his UK passport only.
He had an informal 20 min interview to go thru procedure. The place can be busy & is on a ticket system not appointment.

They took his details down & went thru everything that is involved in application & broke each thing down so he would understand & get it right. She highlighted the parts of the application that related to him & made notes to help in in his app.

They told him theyve had all files for other applicants on hold for 7 months because of low staff levels so there is a back log & could take 18 months to get the application finalised ie acceptance or refusal.

They told him there is is no charge other than a 55€ cost for a fiscal stamp which he would obtain at a bar/tabac.
He came away with a dossier (file) this is containing the required paperwork list & highlighted sections that concern him individually. Also a form to fill in with family particulars. Also a form to complete if you wish to alter your name to French sounding ie William to Guillaume this is not obligatory however.

He has to provide quite a few original documents AND photo copies of them too, he will take these with him to the next & final interview, the originals will be checked then can be taken home again after the meeting but of course the photocopies will be kept in the app file. The documents required will depend on circumstances but he is college & has a bourse & is living with parents so is based on these circumstances & a few others. documents like parents proof of income & proof that we have lived here 5 years & tax avis d'imposition. scholarship cert. parents passport. Parents birth certs & now obligatory from this yr a pass for the delf test certificate, level B1 minimum (or dalf level c1c2 or c3). Any other exam diplomas etc. if he has or is working part or full time in France there is another form to fill in.

Basically he was told there is NO guarantee for anyone to be accepted for application to obtain dual nationality & she said it depends on whoever deals with your file if they deem you a good catch for France.

Once you have got your dossier complete & ready for handing the application over you have to make an appointment to go back for the 2nd interview, at this interview you will be tested on France & its history & French language too, not sure if this is a written test or an oral test at this stage.

I hope i havent missed anything out, plz feel free to ask if you think i have done & we will answer honestly, if we know we will tell you if we dont we will tell you this too.This is all from the horses mouth & totally 100% correct over the period of this last month.

Best wishes & how wonderful your son has such good enthusiasm for his future :)