Retailleau says that he wants to make tougher the conditions for foreigners to gain French citizenship. He had already trailed this idea in a speech in mid April, but then he travelled to Créteil in Val-de-Marne, near Paris to officially 'launch' his memo to préfectures on the subject.
He said: "I've decided to tighten up the criteria, because no one can justify naturalisation without assimilation."
His speech was long on rhetoric but short and detail, and much of what he called for already exists in French law.
He did, however, say that he wants to add a written test on French history - at present citizenship candidates undergo an in-person interview which covers aspects of France's history, politics, geography and French values.
He announced that he wishes to create "a civic examination to measure the applicant's knowledge of civic culture and the history of France".
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The idea may still be subject to challenge, as it is not clear whether this kind of significant change can be done via a simple memo, or whether it will require a change in the law.
He added that citizenship should include "a certain level of proficiency in the French language, and a promise to integrate fully into French society".
Retailleau was not proposing any change to the existing law. He instead sent a circulaire (memo) to the local officials who deal with citizenship application, asking them to enforce the existing rules.
At the launch he told préfecture staff "perhaps some have forgotten the provision within the law that we cannot give citizenship to someone who cannot justify their assimilation into the national community."
"That is already the law in France and it must be applied strictly."
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People applying for French citizenship through residency or marriage already have to prove that they speak French to B1 level (intermediate) and are required to pass an interview in which they are grilled on French history, culture, politics and society.
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The country's 2024 immigration law raised the language requirement from B1 to B2 level (upper intermediate) - although that requirement has not yet come into force. It is expected to become law by January 1st 2026.
Retailleau also insisted that citizenship candidates must have 'sufficient and stable' economic resources in France - this is already part of the citizenship criteria but his speech emphasised "professional integration", such as a permanent or temporary job contract. He gave as an example a CDI (permanent) job contract, or having worked with CDD (temporary contracts) for 24 months.
It was not clear how this test would be applied in the case of retirees, students or self-employed people - or indeed whether anything would change for them, although Retailleau did add that exceptions would exist for those who are ill or have a disability.
Retailleau also said that economic resources "should not depend on national solidarity" - at present citizenship candidates can be approved if they are on certain types of benefits including unemployment allowance or are in receipt of family allowance.
He added that citizenship candidates must be 'exemplary', including not having been undocumented during their time in France.
The "circulaire" or memo is a document that ministers can send to local authorities requesting them to make changes to a certain system - it can be sent by the minister alone without involving parliament but it can essentially only tweak a system already in place and cannot impose new rules or conditions.
In this case it could affect how local officials interpret the rules on citizenship, but cannot change the aspects of citizenship defined by law.
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A major change to citizenship rules would require the agreement of parliament - last month parliament agreed upon changes to the droit du sol for children born in the French overseas territory of Mayotte. The parents will now need to have lived legally in Mayotte for at least a year before the birth of the child in order for the child to qualify.
France's droit du sol already has a number of conditions on it - parents can only apply on behalf of their children once the child reaches the age of 13, and they child must have spent the majority of their childhood in France and provide records, such as proof of school enrolment.
Guide: How to request French nationality for your child
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