Reintegration into French nationality by decree

Prior French nationality

You must establish that you have previously possessed the French nationality.

Age

You can be reinstated in French nationality at any age.

If you have under 16 years, you must be represented by your legal representative to make the request of reintegration into French nationality.

From age 16, you can make the request yourself, without permission.

Residence in France

You must reside in France at the time of signing of the reintegration decree.

This means that you must equity in France the center of your material interests (including professionals) and your family ties.

If you reside in France but your spouse and/or children reside abroad, you may be denied French nationality.

However, you can be reinstated as a French citizen if you live abroad subject to compliance one of the following conditions:

• You carry out a public or private professional activity on behalf of the French State or an organization whose activity is of particular interest to the French economy or culture
• You live in Monaco
• You are doing your national service or are engaged in regular training of the French army
• You're a national service volunteer

If you meet any of these conditions, your spouse and your minor children who live with you must also meet them.

Regularity of stay

You must have a valid residence permit at the time of filing your application.

However, you don't need it if you are European (EEA) or Swiss.

You must not have been expulsion order or a prohibition of French territory still in force.

Assimilation to the French community

You must prove your assimilation to the French community, in particular as follows:

• You have to agree with the principles and core values of the Republic
• You must have knowledge about the story, the cultivation and the French business

The citizen's book indicates the knowledge required.

You can download this booklet or consult it at the reception of the prefectures.

Knowledge of French

You must show proof of a sufficient knowledge of the French language.

Professional Insertion

Employability is an essential condition for assimilation and integration in France.

Employability means that you must have stable and sufficient incomes to support yourself and your tax shelter.

Morality and lack of criminal convictions

You must be good people.

This means in particular that you must not have been the author of facts contrary to public order.

Documents to be provided

Prepare the following documents to build your case:

• Where the application is sent by post, form cerfa no. 12753 in 2 copies, completed, dated and signed. Please see the enclosed information leaflet before filling out the form.
• Tax stamp of €55
• Duplex copy of your residence permit valid
• Where the application is sent by post, 2 photos identity format 35 x 45 mm, bare head. Enter your name, first name and date of birth on the back
• Official document of identity
• Proof of your civil status and nationality
• Proof of your domicile
  Proof of your resources and taxes
• Diploma or certificate justifying your level of knowledge of French
• Supporting documents if you live as a couple
• Supporting documents if you have already been married (divorce or widowhood)
• Supporting documents if you have dependent children
• If you are veteran or legionnaire, status of services, decorations and quotations obtained
• If you have lived in France for less than 10 years, original extract of foreigner criminal record or equivalent document. It must be issued by a competent authority of the country or countries in which you have lived, or failing that, of the country of your nationality.
  This document is not required if you are a political refugee, stateless or if you entered France before you were 18 years old.
• If you are a national of a non-EU country European (EU) and that you went into the Schengen area from a state not included in this space for a period of less than 3 months during the 5 years preceding the filing of your application, provide your travel document and those of your minor children who could become French by their majority

If you wish, you can complete your request online with information that you feel is of particular interest (if the request is sent by post, please provide this information on free paper). For example, your participation in associative life in France.

One receipt is issued to you when you have provided all the requested documents.

Francization of surname and/or first name

To facilitate your integration, you can request francization of your surname and/or first names when you apply for acquisition of French nationality.

Instructions on the documents to be provided

Civil status record

One civil status document must be supplied in full and in original in the language of the country of origin.

A French civil status certificate must have been issued less than 3 months ago.

Copy or original of a document

You can provide copies of the requested documents except for civil status records.

A copy of a foreigner act shall be accompanied, if necessary, by a copy of the decision in implementation of which it has been drawn up, rectified or amended.

You will, however, be required to present the originals of the documents when you are called for an interview.

Translation

You must attach a translation of each document written in a foreign language.

You must provide the original translation.

The translation must be done by a translator on the list of experts approved by the courts of appeal.

However, translation is not required for a multilingual birth certificate extract one of whose languages is French.

In addition, to avoid having to translate some documents issued by a the European Union, one multilingual form can be attached.

See the e-justice site for more information.

Legalization or Apostille

Certain documents established abroad must be legalized or apostilles to be accepted in France.

Inquire at the embassy or consulate of the country concerned.

In France

To the foreigner

You must file your application for reinstatement in French nationality with a French consulate.

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