A young British firefighter has seen his dream of joining France's elite navy fire brigade collapse after authorities rejected his application for citizenship despite him living in the country since the age of 3.

Archie Morrissey, 23, who was born in London and raised in the valley of Giffre, in the French department of Haute Savoie, said he was left devastated by the decision on 13th February.

He had applied for French naturalisation in September 2023 in order to join the Bataillon des marins pompiers de Marseille, an elite unit responsible for sea rescues and firefighting duties in Marseille.

French nationality is a mandatory requirement to apply for the unit and Archie has lived in France since the age of three after his parents moved to the area from the UK.

He completed all of his schooling in France before becoming a volunteer firefighter in 2021.

Archie works as a multi-skilled agent in Samoens and earns EUR 1,628 (GBP 1,392) net per month.

But despite his long residence and employment, his naturalisation request was adjourned for two years on the grounds of what the administration described as insufficient and unstable resources.

An appeal examined at the beginning of February was rejected.

According to reports, the authorities considered that his professional situation did not guarantee sufficient stability for citizenship.

Employed in the public sector, he cannot be granted full tenure without French nationality and now only has two years left to become naturalised and still be able to join the unit.

Archie said that the lack of tenure was then used to classify his income as unstable, even though tenure itself requires French citizenship.

He said: "When you have had a dream for years and you are told it will not be possible, it turns everything upside down."

Archie also said: "I do not see what makes me different from my colleagues who are trying for the Paris firefighters. We grew up together. It is just my place of birth that is different."

After the age of 25, candidates can no longer apply to join the Bataillon des marins pompiers de Marseille, leaving him with limited time once the two-year adjournment period expires.

In the valley of Giffre, support has grown for his case and an open letter has been addressed to President Emmanuel Macron requesting a re-examination of his file.

In the meantime, Morrissey continues to serve as a volunteer firefighter while retaining British nationality on his passport.

(Joe Golder/CEN)