French naturalization: what proof of civil status and nationality?
Verified 30 July 2025 - Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
The proof of civil status and nationality following must be attached to your application for french naturalization :
- Your birth certificate. It 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 can ask you for your parents' birth certificates. If it is not possible to provide your birth certificate or if a multilingual extract is presented, other documents will be requested.
- Document justifying the date and place of birth of your father and mother, and their marriage if they are married
- Document proving your nationality concerning your country of origin. For example, copy of passport.
- If necessary, any document justifying a change in your name
Warning
Depending on your situation, other documents may be requested.
To be accepted, documents attached to a application for french naturalization must comply with the following rules:
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.
FYI
To make your application for french naturalization, one simulator allows to have the custom list of documents to be provided :
On the same subject
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
- Naturalization platforms
Administrative information by phone - Allô Service Public
For more information on this subject, you can contact Allô Service Public.
Attention: the service does not have access to users' personal files and therefore cannot provide information on their progress.
- 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
- Service free
The informants who answer you belong to the Ministry of the Interior.
Citizens Contact Center - French Nationality
You can get help with the online filing of your application for French naturalization and have information on the follow-up of your file.
By phone
0806 001 620 (number not overtaxed) in metropolitan France, from overseas territories and the foreigner.
From Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.
FAQ
Service-Public.fr
Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs