Since 1 January 2026, a French Interior Ministry directive instructs préfectures to scrutinise the source of an applicant's income — not just whether they pay French tax on it. Applications where the majority of income originates outside France are now likely to be refused.
This catches a lot of UK expats off guard: a UK State Pension or private pension declared correctly on Form 2047 every year is still classed as foreign-sourced for this purpose. Full tax compliance doesn't change that.
The rule mainly affects retirees living primarily on UK pension income. Those with a blended income — some French-sourced earnings alongside UK pensions — are in a stronger position.
The same change also introduces a higher B2 language requirement and a new mandatory civic exam, but the income rule is the one with the most direct financial planning implications.
Read the full guide: French Citizenship and Foreign Pensions →