Authored by the expert who managed and guided the team behind the France Property Pack
Everything you need to know before buying real estate is included in our France Property Pack
If you are a foreigner wondering whether buying a residential property in France can help you secure permanent residency or citizenship, the short answer is: property ownership alone does not create any immigration pathway in France.
France welcomes foreign buyers, but its residency system is built around visa categories like work, family, study, or "visitor" status, not around real estate purchases.
We constantly update this blog post to reflect the latest rules and data, so you always have accurate information for your planning.
And if you're planning to buy a property in this place, you may want to download our pack covering the real estate market in France.
Insights
- Non-residents owned only about 1.5% of all French residential real estate in 2019, worth roughly 125 billion euros, so foreign ownership in France remains a small slice of the market.
- By early 2026, we estimate non-resident ownership in France has grown to approximately 1.7% of the housing stock, based on a slow but steady upward trend since 2001.
- Foreign non-residents accounted for just 1.8% of existing home transactions in France in 2022, meaning the vast majority of buyers are French residents.
- A large portion of "non-resident owners" in France are actually French expatriates living abroad, not new foreign arrivals looking to relocate.
- France has no "golden visa" or property investment residency program, so buying a home worth any amount, even millions of euros, does not grant you the right to live there.
- The closest non-working long-stay option in France is the "visitor" residence permit, which requires proof of sufficient resources and health coverage, not property ownership.
- France's Talent Passport for investors targets business investment of at least 300,000 euros in a French company, not residential real estate purchases.
- To qualify for French citizenship through naturalization, you typically need five years of habitual residence in France, regardless of whether you own property.
- Minor children can become French citizens alongside a parent under the "effet collectif" rule if they share habitual residence, but spouses must follow their own separate pathway.
Can buying property help me get permanent residency in France?
Does buying a property qualify or at least help for residency in France?
As of early 2026, buying a residential property in France does not qualify you for any residency permit because France's immigration system is based on visa categories like work, family, or "visitor" status, not on real estate ownership.
There is no minimum property investment amount that unlocks residency in France, so whether you buy a studio apartment for 100,000 euros or a chateau for 5 million euros, the immigration outcome is exactly the same: zero direct residency rights.
However, owning property in France can indirectly support your application for a "visitor" residence permit because it demonstrates stable accommodation and, if rented out, can contribute to the financial resources you need to show.
The "visitor" permit requires you to prove sufficient income (roughly 1,600 euros per month in early 2026), have health coverage, and commit to not working in France, so the legal basis remains your financial situation, not your property deed.
Is there any residency visa directly linked to property ownership in France right now?
As of early 2026, France does not offer any residency visa that is directly linked to purchasing residential property, so there is simply no "buy a home and get a visa" program available.
Buying a primary residence in France, even as your main home, does not qualify you for any residence permit because French immigration law does not recognize homeownership as a basis for legal stay.
Similarly, buying a rental or investment property in France provides no residency benefit either, since the only investor pathway that exists is the Talent Passport, which requires a business investment of at least 300,000 euros in a French company, not in real estate.
Can real estate investment lead to citizenship in France?
Can property investment directly lead to citizenship in France?
Property investment in France does not directly lead to citizenship at any amount because France does not operate a citizenship-by-investment program tied to real estate purchases.
A higher property investment, whether 500,000 euros, 1 million euros, or 10 million euros, does not accelerate or create any citizenship timeline in France since the naturalization process ignores real estate holdings entirely.
The typical timeline from arriving in France to citizenship eligibility is at least five years of continuous, lawful, habitual residence, plus the time it takes to process your naturalization application, which can add another 12 to 24 months.
The key difference is that France grants citizenship through naturalization based on residence, integration, and assimilation, while "citizenship-by-investment" programs in other countries grant citizenship primarily in exchange for a financial contribution, which France does not do.
Is citizenship automatic after long-term residency in France?
Citizenship in France is never automatic after long-term residency because you must submit a formal naturalization application and go through a review process that evaluates your integration, resources, and background.
You generally need at least five years of continuous legal residence in France before you become eligible to apply for citizenship through naturalization.
Beyond time, you must demonstrate sufficient French language skills (typically B1 level), knowledge of French civic values and history, stable financial resources, and genuine integration into French society.
The typical processing time for citizenship applications in France after meeting all eligibility requirements ranges from 12 to 24 months, though this can vary depending on the prefecture handling your file.
What are the real requirements to become a citizen in France?
Do I need physical presence for citizenship in France right now?
France requires "habitual residence" rather than a specific day count, but a practical and conservative target in early 2026 is to spend at least 183 days per year in France to demonstrate that your life is genuinely centered there.
The physical presence requirement is assessed over the five-year period cumulatively, meaning authorities look at whether France has been your real home throughout that time, not just whether you hit a specific number each calendar year.
French authorities verify physical presence through tax records, utility bills, employment history, school enrollment for children, and entry/exit stamps, building a picture of where your life actually takes place.
There are no broad exemptions to the physical presence requirement, though certain categories like those who have rendered exceptional services to France may qualify for a reduced residence period of two years instead of five.
Can my spouse and kids get citizenship too in France in 2026?
As of early 2026, minor children who share habitual residence with you can become French citizens at the same time you naturalize under the "effet collectif" rule, but your spouse must follow a separate pathway.
Family members cannot apply together in the same way: your children can be included in your naturalization, but your spouse must file their own application, typically through the "nationality by marriage" declaration route.
Children can generally be included as dependents up to age 18 at the time of your naturalization, provided they live with you in France; adult children must pursue their own independent naturalization.
Spouses face a different requirement: they can apply for French nationality by declaration after four years of marriage to a French citizen, provided the couple still lives together and the French spouse has maintained their nationality throughout.
What are the most common reasons citizenship is denied in France?
The most common reason citizenship applications are denied in France is insufficient integration and assimilation, meaning applicants failed to demonstrate adequate French language skills, civic knowledge, or genuine participation in French society.
Two other frequently cited reasons for denial are unstable financial resources or employment history, and having a criminal record or public order concerns that raise doubts about the applicant's suitability.
Applicants can reapply after a denial, typically after a waiting period of two years, though this can be shorter if the grounds for refusal have been clearly addressed.
The single most effective step to avoid citizenship denial in France is to invest seriously in learning French to at least B1 level and to document your integration through community involvement, stable work, and genuine ties to French life.