Section actions
Duration: EU registration: 30 min; naturalisation: 5+ years
Cost: Free (registration, voting)
Possible online
Who this guide is for
Section actions
- You if you are an EU citizen and want to vote in municipal or European elections in France
- You if you are a foreigner outside the EU and want to understand your participation rights
- You if you consider naturalization to obtain the right to vote
To be prepared in advance
Section actions
- Knowledge of your nationality (EU or non-EU)
- Address in France and proof of domicile
- For EU: electoral register of the municipality of residence
Step-by-step procedure
Section actions
- 1EU citizens: possibility to vote in municipal elections (all 6 years old) and European elections (all 5 years old) in France, if you are registered in your municipality's electoral lists. No vote in the presidential elections, in the legislative elections, in referendums.
- 2Registration on the list of electors: in town hall (or online on service-public.fr). Complete the form, attach EU ID and proof of residence. Registration at any time, but for a specific election, you must register before the December 10 of the previous year.
- 3In order to keep the vote in the EU country of origin: you can retain your right to vote in the presidential/legislative elections there, but for the municipal/European elections only one country (France or country of origin) must be chosen.
- 4Foreigners outside the EU: NOT entitled to vote in any election in France. Participation is only possible after naturalisation (which opens up all the rights of the citizen).
- 5Citizen without a vote — participation in public life: associations, citizen council (some cities have advisory councils of inhabitants regardless of nationality), district council, student parent on the school council.
- 6Naturalisation: access to voting rights for non-EUs. The procedure by decree verifies in particular the French B2 in oral and written, civic examination and other conditions. After the acquisition of nationality, check your registration on the electoral list with the town hall.
- 7Attendance at the polling station: Even without the right to vote, it is possible to be present as deputy returning officer (observer) at the invitation of a candidate or party — civic engagement.
- 8Local referendums and consultations: in rare local consultations (voter consultation) only registered voters participate, but some communities experiment with a citizen council.
Common mistakes
Section actions
- To believe that a residence permit gives the right to vote: only nationality (French or EU for local/Europeans).
- Do not register on the list of electors — without registration, even an EU citizen cannot vote.
- Vote both in the EU country of origin and in France at the municipal level — only one country has to be chosen.
- To believe that naturalization is equivalent to an automatic registration: you must inform the town hall after the decree.
- Confounding citizen consultation and election: only the second opens the right to vote.
Official sources
Section actions
Important remark
The right to vote is governed by the Electoral Code and the Constitution. Indicative information; registration rules with your town hall.
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