Cancelation, withdrawal or revocation of French nationality

Verified 24 February 2023 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

You have recently become French and you want to know if your French nationality can be challenged? You wonder who can be stripped of French nationality? This page indicates the situations in which French nationality may be withdrawn.

The public prosecutor can challenge the registration of your declaration of nationality in 2 cases.

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The legal conditions are not met

The public prosecutor may challenge your declaration of nationality within the 2 years following the date of registration of your return.

You lied or committed fraud

The public prosecutor can challenge the registration of your declaration of nationality within the 2 years from the discovery of the lie or fraud.

There is a suspicion of fraud if the spouses terminate their marriage community of life within 12 months of registration of the declaration of French nationality by marriage.

A life community survey can be done.

FYI  

cancelation from declaration to effect for the future and for the past. You're supposed to never had French nationality.

The Order in Council concerning your naturalization or your reintegration into french nationality can be canceled in 2 cases.

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You don't meet the conditions

Example :

Absence of residence in France, lack of assimilation, insufficient presence in France

The time to cancel your decree on naturalization or reintegration into french nationality is 2 years following its publication in the Official Journal.

The decision to cancel is taken by decree after the assent of the Council of State.

You lied or committed fraud

Example :

Concealment of a spouse or children residing abroad, concealment of a polygamous union, production of forged documents

The time to cancel your decree on naturalization or reintegration into french nationality is 2 years following the discovery of the fraud.

The decision to cancel is taken by decree after the assent of the Council of State.

FYI  

cancelation the order has effect for the future and for the past. You're supposed to never had French nationality. However, your rights acquired prior to the issuance of the Order remain valid.

Active exercise of a foreign nationality

You can lose French nationality if 3 conditions the following are completed:

  • You are a national of another State
  • You behave like the citizen of this state
  • You have committed acts contrary to the interests of France

The reasons justifying the loss of your French nationality are notified.

You then have 1 month to make your comments known.

The decision is taken by decree after obtaining the assent of the Council of State.

FYI  

the loss of french nationality has an effect only for the future.

Employment in a foreigner public service

You can lose French nationality if 2 conditions the following are combined:

  • You are active in a foreigners army, public service or international organization of which France is not a member
  • You are not stopping this activity despite the government's order.

The order to cease your activity is notified.

You are given a period between 15 days and 2 months.

If there is no known domicile, an information notice shall be published in the Official Journal.

At the end of the period laid down, it may be declared that you have lost French nationality.

The decision is taken by decree after obtaining the assent of the Council of State.

If the opinion of the Council of State is unfavorable, the decision can only be taken by order in council of ministers.

FYI  

the loss of french nationality has an effect only for the future.

Reasons

The revocation of French nationality may be decided in the following cases:

  • You've been convicted of a crime or a offense constituting a undermining the fundamental interests of the Nation
  • You have been convicted of a crime or an offense constituting a act of terrorism
  • You hold a public office and you have been convicted of a crime or an offense constituting a interference with public administration. For example, infringement of individual freedom, discrimination.
  • You have not complied with the obligations arising from the national service
  • You've accomplished acts for the benefit of a State foreigner, incompatible with being French

You risk disqualification only for the acts committed front acquisition of French nationality; or within 10 years from the acquisition of French nationality.

The delay passes to 15 years in the event of an attack on the fundamental interests of the Nation or an act of terrorism.

Conditions

You may be stripped of French nationality if 2 conditions the following are completed:

  • You have acquired French nationality
    For example, by naturalization or by declaration of marriage.
    A person of French origin cannot lose French nationality.
  • You have a other nationality.
    It is not possible to make a person stateless.

Procedure

The reasons justifying your revocation of French nationality are notified.

If there is no known domicile, an information notice shall be published in the Official Journal.

You then have 1 month to make your comments known.

The decision is taken by decree after obtaining the assent of the Council of State.

An appeal against this decree is possible before the Council of State.

Who shall I contact

FYI  

the revocation shall have effect only for the future.

Who can help me?

Find who can answer your questions in your region

  • Telephone administrative information - Allo Public Service

    For more information on this topic, you can contact Allô Service Public.

    Cost: free service

    The informants who answer you belong to the Ministry of the Interior.

    Attention: the service does not have access to users' personal files and cannot therefore provide information on their status.

    The service is available at the following times:

    • Monday: 8.30am to 5.30pm
    • Tuesday: 8:30 to 12:15
    • Wednesday: 8:30 to 12:15
    • Thursday: 8.30am to 5.30pm
    • Friday: 1 p.m. to 4:15 p.m
      • Lundi : de 08h30 à 17h30
      • Mardi : de 08h30 à 12h15
      • Mercredi : de 08h30 à 12h15
      • Jeudi : de 08h30 à 17h30
      • Vendredi : de 13h00 à 16h15

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