Declaration of French nationality of the ascendant of a French person

Age

You must have 65 years of age or older.

Offspring

You must have a descendant direct (e) of french nationality, i.e. child, one grandchild or a great grandchild.

Residence in France

You must reside in France for 25 years or more in a usual and regular (you must have a valid residence permit).

In addition, you must not have been the subject of a deportation order or a prohibition of french territory still in force.

Lack of criminal conviction

You must not be in one of the following situations:

• Have been sentenced in France to a prison term without reprieve 6 months or more
• Have been convicted for a crime or a offense constituting an attack on the fundamental interests of the Nation or a act of terrorism.

However, this obligation does not apply to you in case of rehabilitation or exclusion of the mention of the conviction of the bulletin n°2 of your criminal record.

Documents to be provided

Prepare the following documents to build your file:

1. Form, photo, electronic stamp, identity, domicile

• Form cerfa no. 15561 in 2 copies
  You have to fill it out, date it and sign it.
• 2 recent identity photos
  You must paste the photos on the 2 copies of the form.
• Electronic tax stamp of €55 (except in the case of an application made abroad)
• Copy of an identity document (passport or residence permit)
• If you are a national of a non-EU country European (EU) and that you went into the Schengen area from a country that is not part of this area for a period of less than 3 months during the 5 years preceding the filing 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 at their majority

2. Civil status

• Your original birth certificate
  The birth certificate issued in France must be less than 3 months old.
  The birth certificate must be issued by the registrar of the place where the birth certificate is kept.
  The birth certificate must indicate the surname, first name, date and place of birth of your parents.
  If any of this information is missing, the instructor service may ask you to birth certificates of your parents.
  If it is not possible to provide your birth certificate or if a multilingual extract is presented, other documents will be requested.
• Documents showing the date, place of birth and marriage of your parents if they were married.
• If you are married, your marriage certificate
• If you have entered into a CIVIL PARTNERSHIP, the registration receipt issued by the court, mayor or notary
• In case of previous marriages, marriage certificates and any documents justifying their dissolution.
  For example, copy of the divorce judgment, death certificate.
• In case of previous CIVIL PARTNERSHIPS, proof of registration of the CIVIL PARTNERSHIP(s)

3. If you have children

• Birth certificates of your minor children
  A birth certificate issued in France must be less than 3 months old.

For your minor children foreigners may become french at the same time as you:

• Civil status documents or court decisions establishing the parentage children with you
• Documents proving their habitual residence with you, or alternating residence with you in the event of separation or divorce
  For example, certificate of attendance in nursery, certificate of schooling of the current year.

4. Affiliation with your French descendant

• If this descendant is your son or daughter, his birth certificate of less than 3 months including his parentage
• If this descendant is your grandchild, his birth certificate of less than 3 months + the birth certificate of his ascendant of which you are the father or mother, including his filiation

5. French nationality of your descendant

You must provide one of the following documents:

• the birth certificate of your descendant if he/she was born in France to 2 parents born in France

• or his birth certificate stating that he is a French national,
• or the court decision recognizing him as a Frenchman,
• or any document issued by the French authorities indicating that he/she has acquired French nationality,
• or a certificate of French nationality.

6. Residence in France on the date of declaration of French nationality

• Copy of your valid residence permit, or passport if you are a European who is not required to hold a residence permit
• Any recent document in your name with your current address.
  For example, recent electricity, water or landline telephone bill, last rent receipt

7. Regular and habitual residence in France for 25 years

• All documents proving the continuity of your regular and habitual residence in France for 25 years.
  You can produce different documents to cover this period.
  For example, career statement issued by a social security organization or individual status statement, income tax notice.

• If you are married, a copy of your spouse's valid residence permit or passport if he/she is European and not subject to the requirement to hold a residence permit
• If you have minor children, documents proving their residence in France

Francization of surname and/or first name

During your request, you can ask the francization of your surname and/or first name(s), and the francization of your children's first names.

You can also ask for a French first name, if you or your children do not have one.

Instructions for documents to be provided

Deed of civil status

One deed of civil status must be provided in full and in original in the language of the country of origin.

A French civil status document must be issued within 3 months.

A copy of a foreigner civil status document must be accompanied, if necessary, by a copy of the decision in execution of which it has been drawn up, rectified or amended.

Copy or original of a document

You can provide copies of the requested documents with the exception of civil status documents.

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

A copy of a foreigner act must 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 French translation of each document written in a foreign language. You must provide the original translation. The translation must be done by a certified translator or authorized to intervene with the judicial or administrative authorities of another european countries. If you are abroad, contact the French Embassy or Consulate for a list of accredited translators.

The translation of a multilingual extract of a birth certificate or marriage certificate in which one of the languages is french is not necessary for a person of full age.

In addition, to avoid having to translate certain documents issued by a the European Union, one multilingual form can be joined. Consult the e-justice site for further information.

Legalization or Apostille

Certain documents issued abroad must be legalized or apostillate to be accepted in France. Ask the French embassy or consulate in the country concerned for legalization, and the embassy or consulate of the country concerned for the apostille.

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