In what cases is a child French?

Verified 29 April 2025 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

The French nationality of a childwhether or not he was born in France, depends mainly on the nationality of his parents.

A child is French by birth, i.e. by parentage, if at least one of his parents is French.

The French nationality of the child is linked to that of its French parent, from the day of his birth until he reaches the age of majority.

Never mind that the child either born in France or abroad.

And never mind that the parents either married or not, provided that the child's filiation is legally established in respect of the French parent.

The child's French nationality remains acquired even if his filiation is disputed after his majority.

If the parent loses French nationality while his child is of age, this has no effect on the child's nationality.

If the parent becomes French while his child is of age, this has no effect on the child's nationality.

The minor child becomes French when one of his parents becomes French if the 2 conditions the following are completed:

  • The child resides usually with this parent (or alternatively in the case of divorce or separation)
  • The child's name is appropriate in the decree of naturalization or the statement of French nationality of the parent (marriage, ascendant, sibling).

If the parent becomes French while the child is of age, this has no effect on the child's nationality.

FYI  

It is possible to ask for naturalization of a minor child remained a foreigner when one of his parents became a Frenchman. The child must, however, reside in France with that parent since at least 5 years on the date of the application.

Alone adoption by the plenary assigns the French nationality at birth.

Indeed, the plenary adoption gives the child a new parentage which replaces its original parentage.

Adoption decided abroad has an effect on the nationality of the adopted child only if it corresponds to a full adoption in France.

FYI  

The Kafala is not an adoption within the meaning of French law.

One child born in France of foreigner parents is French by birth only in one of the following 3 situations :

  • At least one of her parents was born in France (regardless of nationality)
  • At least one of his parents was born in Algeria before 3 July 1962
  • He is born stateless in France.

Please note

If the child born in France to foreigners parents is in another situation, he may become French from 13 years of age, under conditions.

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