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Immigration
We speak of immigration when people go to a foreign country for a long stay or to settle there. Immigration is part of the history of France.
Key points of the sheet
- The history of humanity is made of migration movements. Since the end of the 19th century, France has had several waves of immigration.
- Today, nearly 1/3 of French people are immigrants, children of immigrants or grandchildren of immigrants.
- In 2007, the Cité nationale de l'histoire de l'immigration was created. Today it is called the Musée national de l'Immigration, at the Palais de la Porte Dorée.
- From 1800 to 1945, immigration was linked to work and conflicts. In the 19th century, Belgians, Germans, then Italians, Poles and Spaniards worked in mines, construction and industry.
- Between 1914 and 1945, colonial workers were recruited to support the war effort. They came from the Maghreb, Indochina and sub-Saharan Africa.
- After 1945, France wanted to rebuild. It created the Office National de l'Immigration in 1945. Between 1950 and 1960, it signed agreements to bring in workers.
- These agreements were signed with Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria. After 1962, Algerian family reunification encouraged immigration.
- In 1974, work-related immigration was suspended. Since 1980, several laws have been adopted to regulate immigration and fight illegal immigration.
Words to know
- immigration
- It is when people go to a foreign country for a long stay or to settle there.
- waves of immigration (vagues d'immigration)
- France has had several waves of immigration since the end of the 19th century.
- colonial workers (travailleurs coloniaux)
- Between 1914 and 1945, they were recruited in the Maghreb, Indochina and sub-Saharan Africa for the war effort.
- National Immigration Office (ONI) (Office National de l'Immigration (ONI))
- France created this office in 1945, after the war.
- family reunification (regroupement familial)
- After 1962, Algerian family reunification encouraged immigration to France.
- illegal immigration (immigration clandestine)
- Since 1980, several laws have been adopted to fight illegal immigration.
Test yourself: 3 questions
Today, what share of French people are immigrants, children or grandchildren of immigrants?
In French, the language of the exam: Aujourd'hui, quelle part des Français est immigrée, enfant ou petit-enfant d'immigré ?
Today, nearly 1/3 of French people are immigrants, children or grandchildren of immigrants.
Which body did France create in 1945?
In French, the language of the exam: Quel organisme la France crée-t-elle en 1945 ?
In 1945, France created the Office National de l'Immigration (ONI) to rebuild.
In which year was work-related immigration suspended?
In French, the language of the exam: En quelle année l'immigration liée au travail est-elle suspendue ?
The sheet says that in 1974, work-related immigration was suspended.
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Source
Sheet “L'immigration” of the French Ministry of the Interior: formation-civique.interieur.gouv.fr. Content published under the Etalab Open Licence 2.0. This page is a plain-language adaptation made by Hexaciv, which is not an official site: if in doubt, the ministry's text is the one that counts.
Ministry sheet read on 23 October 2026, still identical on 25 October 2026.