French Nationality/Citizenship: Will I Have a Police Interview/Home Visit?

One of the less talked about steps of the French citizenship application process is the police interview or home visit. Typically, this step applies to application for citizenship through marriage, in which case, a home visit serves as proof of the legitimacy of your marriage – to check that you and your husband share a home together. However, in some cases, this is also required when applying for French nationality by decree.

Unlike other crucial steps, such as the French language exam or the interview at the prefecture, not every applicant will undergo this step when applying by decree, so it’s impossible to give a definitive answer on whether or not you will need to undertake an interview with the police or a home visit. To avoid any surprises, it’s best to assume that this is a possibility and prepare accordingly.

Police investigations

All citizenship applications will go through an “enquête commissariat” or “enquête de police” – an investigation carried out by the local police or gendarmerie. The purpose of this interview is manifold: primarily, it serves to confirm your place of residence and to check for any criminal convictions or complaints filed against you, but it can also serve to assess your moral conduct, your integration into local life, and adherence to French values.

Often this investigation takes place without your knowledge, but in other situations, you may be called to an “interview” at your local police station or receive a home visit by the local police or gendarme. Typically, this takes place close to the date of your interview at your prefecture, either before or after, although occasionally people have reported a police visit or interview request earlier or later on in the application process.

In my case, I didn’t receive a home visit or any correspondence from the police, but I’ve heard plenty of reports of applicants who have. In some situations, it seems that the prefecture may have requested the police investigate a candidate further (perhaps if there are questions as to your residency or integration into France), but more commonly, it seems to be linked to the department and commune that you live in. Many Paris arrondissements and communes in rural France seem to run these checks as standard. With this in mind, I wouldn’t read anything into it with regard to the viability of your dossier.

The important thing to note is that if you do receive a home visit, a request to attend an interview at the police station, or both, this step is mandatory – failing to respond or not showing up will likely lead to problems with your application.

So, what can you expect from a home visit or police interview?

As there is no official documentation of the police interview procedure, it’s hard to offer definitive advice on what to expect, but most reports from applicants indicate that it’s nothing to worry about, and often takes the form of an informal meeting or friendly chat.

Applicants report various means of contact, from receiving an official-looking convocation (summons) by post to receiving a phone call (typically from a private number, so it’s a good idea to answer any calls you receive in the weeks before and after your interview at the prefecture – they don’t usually leave a message). Some have received an email from the commissariat de police, often following a missed call. It should go without saying, but be wary of fraudulent emails or calls – unusual looking email addresses or phone numbers are a giveaway, but a good rule of thumb is to never click received links or give out any personal information over the phone. If you’re unsure, contact your local police station to double-check.

If you are invited to an interview at the police station (entretien au commissariat), make sure to take your passport or photo ID and any other documents that you are asked to bring. Expect to be asked basic information like when you came to France, what you do for a job, and your living situation. You might also be asked why you want to become French or additional questions about your life in France, your integration into the local community, or French values.

This is not the same as the interview at the prefecture (entretien d’assimilation), so you won’t generally be asked questions about historic dates, French geography, or politics, but it’s possible that general knowledge questions would come up in conversation, or you might find yourself having a conversation about a current news story or local events. The interview is likely to last anything from 5 minutes for a simple identity check to a 20-minute sit-down chat.

Finally, while almost all reports of these interviews describe it as informal and friendly, it’s still important to remember that you are a candidate for French citizenship – if the police have any reason to believe your intentions are dishonest, that you aren’t well-integrated into French life, or you lack a good command of the French language, this will certainly be noted in your dossier.

Some candidates applying for nationality by decree also report receiving a home visit. Typically, this visit is unannounced, and a local policeman or woman will simply ring the bell and see if you’re home; other times, applicants report receiving a phone call asking if they are home with the visit shortly after. The idea with a home visit is typically that you don’t have time to prepare, so don’t expect a formal date and time to be issued, or to have much say in organising when this takes place.

As part of your application for French citizenship, the local police or gendarme have the right to visit your place of residence and ask you questions, as well as speak with your neighbours or other members of the local community regarding your residence, integration, or adherence to French values if required. In the majority of cases, however, the home visit seems to take the form of a quick 5-minute visit to check that you live at the address you’ve given. You will likely be asked to show ID and may be asked a few questions similar to those asked in a police interview (detailed above).

For applicants applying by marriage, the home visit is usually much more thorough, as the police want to ensure that your marriage is legitimate. They might ask more personal questions about where you met, your life together, or your future plans, and they will likely ask to see the house and will be checking for signs that your home is lived in by a couple or family. You might also be asked questions to determine whether you practice French values at home, such as what language(s) you speak at home or with your spouse/children, your religious practices, or how you split up the housework. While you won’t be judged on your choices or beliefs (egality and liberty are, of course, core French values), you should be mindful of showing that you are both aware of and practice French values – for example, that you and your partner share household and childcare responsibilities, and that you support the French value of secularism (laïcité) even if religious practice is important in your household.

Please share your experiences in the comments. When did your visit or interview take place, and how did you find it? Do you have any advice for others in a similar situation?

If you missed the other articles in our French Citizenship series, you can find them here:

French Citizenship: Eligibility and Requirements

French Nationality/Citizenship: Application Process & Timeline

Your Dossier & Paperwork

Passing the TCF French Test

 French Nationality: Online Application via ANEF

 French Nationality: Interview at the Préfecture

Preparing for your French Citizenship Interview (Entretien d’assimilation)

Disclaimer: Please note that any screenshots or specific details of my own French nationality application apply to my situation only and are provided only to give you an insight into the process and what to expect. These are not intended as a blueprint for your own application, as your situation may be completely different to mine! 

Also, please remember that I am taking you through the process with me in real time! This means there is the possibility that I have made errors on my application form, or will be asked to submit extra documents as I continue in the process. There is also (unfortunately!) no guarantee that my application will be accepted and that I will be granted French nationality.