A foreigner veteran of the French army can get a resident card subject to the regularity of the stay.

It must meet one of the following conditions:

• Served in a combatant unit of the French army or an allied army
• Have spent at least 3 years under contract with the Foreign Legion and have obtained the certificate of good conduct
• Fighting in the ranks of the French Interior Forces (FFI)

It can also to acquire french nationality, on a proposal from the Minister of Defense. As a member of the French armed forces, he can be naturalized if he was wounded while on an operational engagement.

When the applicant is in the armed forces, the application for naturalization is submitted to the military authority, which files it within 8 days, accompanied by its opinion, with the administrative authority responsible for receiving it. The latter shall draw up the file.

When the applicant has returned to civilian life, he or she files an application for naturalization by decree.

On the other hand, being the foreigner child of a French army veteran does not entitle you to stay. For obtaining a entry visa or a residence permit in France, you have to meet the requirements.

Likewise, being the foreigner child of a former combatant of the French army does not confer a right to naturalization, except in exceptional cases (on the proposal of the Ministry of Defense, for the orphan of the soldier who died on mission during an operational engagement).