French nationality of a child born in France to foreigners parents - At 18

Verified 28 février 2023 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

Your situation

  • Birth in France
  • For a major
Edit

Step-by-step approach

If you are born in France of foreigner parents, you get the French nationality at age 18.

You must complete the 3 conditions following:

  • Reside in France at age 18
  • Having had your habitual residence in France during a continuous or discontinuous period of 5 years or more since the age of 11
  • Your foreigner parents are not diplomatic agents or career consuls

If you do not meet these conditions, check if you can to become French by another procedure.

Specific rules apply to Mayotte.

If you engage in the French army, you obtain French nationality at the date of your incorporation.

Please note

if one of your parents is a foreigner but was born in France and you were born in France, you are native French. Besides, you are French if at least one of your 2 parents is French.

You have no no steps to take to acquire French nationality.

This acquisition is automatic.

However, to obtain an identity card or passport, you must prove your french nationality.

So you have to ask from your 18th birthday one certificate of french nationality.

Once obtained, keep your certificate of french nationality because it is authentic until proven otherwise.

1. Check the conditions to be fulfilled to refuse French nationality

You must meet the following conditions:

  • Being born in France to foreigner parents
  • Be between 17 and a half and 19 years old
  • Fulfilling the conditions for becoming French
  • Have another nationality
  • Not being engaged in the French army

2. Make the declaration of refusal of French nationality

You have to make a declaration between 17 and a half and 19 years.

The declaration shall be made on free paper.

FYI  

the legal representative of the minor makes the step if he is guardianship or if a disability prevents him from expressing his will.

3. Attach supporting documents to your return

Attach the following documents to your return:

  • Full copy of your birth certificate
  • ID
  • Recent photo ID
  • Certificate issued by the authorities of the country of which you claim to be a citizen, proving that you have, by filiation, the nationality of that country
  • All documents from the National Service's offices proving that you have not contracted a commitment in the French armies
  • If necessary, a medical certificate issued by an approved medical specialist stating that your mental or physical faculties prevent you from expressing your will.
  • If you are a national of a non-EU country European (EU) and that you went into the Schengen area from a State that is not part of this area for a period of less than 3 months during the 5 years preceding the submission of your application, provide your passport or any equivalent document (for example a Schengen visa), and those of your minor children who could become French by their majority

Please note

Depending on your situation, the instructor department may ask you for additional documents and gives you a time limit to provide them. One receipt is addressed to you when your file is complete.

You must respect the instructions following for 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.

However, you should be able to present the originals of the documents if necessary.

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.

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.

4. Send or file your return

You must contact the court judicial or proximity to your domicile.

You can put down your file or mail it.

Who shall I contact

5. If the declaration is accepted, keep 1 copy with the words "registered"

If there is no response within 6 months depending on the date of the receipt, this means that your declaration of refusal of french nationality is recorded (accepted).

Declaration of refusal of French nationality takes effect to the date of its subscription.

A copy of the declaration shall be sent to the declarant together with the mention of registration.

6. If the declaration is refused, make a possible appeal

The court notifies you of its decision reasoned Refusal.

You can appeal within 6 months from the date of notification.

The notification shall indicate how to appeal.

The lawyer is obligatory. He's the one takes care of the gait.

Who can help me?

Find who can answer your questions in your region