France: Information on whether one can join the French Foreign Legion without being a French citizen and, if so, whether a foreigner who joins the Foreign Legion is entitled to French citizenship
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 March 1998 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | FRA28998.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, France: Information on whether one can join the French Foreign Legion without being a French citizen and, if so, whether a foreigner who joins the Foreign Legion is entitled to French citizenship, 1 March 1998, FRA28998.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ab9768.html [accessed 22 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The Website of the Embassy of France in Washington has a section on the French Foreign Legion which makes the following statement:
After three years of service, a legionnaire can ask for the French nationality and may also be entitled to a French resident permit if he has obtained a certificate of satisfactory military service. The resident permit is valid for ten years and is renewable.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
Reference
Embassy of France, Washington DC. [Internet],
