The interview that decides your future in France
The naturalisation interview is conducted by a préfecture agent, usually lasting 30 to 60 minutes. Three things are assessed: your oral French level (minimum B1 required), your knowledge of French values and institutions, and the reality of your integration in France. This isn't an academic examination — the agent wants to know whether you're genuinely rooted in French society, not whether you've memorised a textbook.
The most frequently asked questions
About France and its institutions: "Who is the President of the Republic?", "How does Parliament work?", "What is laïcité?", "What is France's motto?". About history: the 1789 Revolution, the world wars, women's right to vote in 1944. About your life in France: how long you've been here, your professional situation, your involvement in local life, why you want to become French.
Documents to bring on the day
Prepare a complete folder: your ID and residence permit, your French language qualifications (TCF, DELF, DALF — minimum B1), proof of integration (employment contracts, association or volunteering certificates), and any document proving your ties in France (lease, children in school, French spouse).
How to prepare concretely
Use FrenchDesk's civic exam simulator to revise questions on republican values and institutions. Prepare to explain your journey in France fluently and naturally in French. The agent must feel that France is your real life, not just an administrative step.
After the interview: the next steps
The final decision (naturalisation decree) can take a further 6 to 18 months after the interview. If refused, you receive the reasons and can file an appeal with the administrative tribunal within 2 months.