Voluntary loss of French nationality - By declaration

Verified 28 mai 2025 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

Your situation

  • You were born abroad and only one of your parents is French
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You must make a declaration of loss of French nationality if you are in one of the following situations.

1Check conditions to be met

You can make a declaration of loss of French nationality if you are foreign born and if only one of your parents is french.

The declaration may be made from 17 years of age 1/2 and up to age 19.

Warning  

You cannot lose French nationality by declaration if your foreigner parent or stateless person became French during your minority.

2Make the application for declaration of loss of French nationality

The indicative list of the documents is as follows:

  • The application must include your name, first name, date and place of birth, and address. It is useful to specify your phone number and email address. The instructor service will draw up the declaration of loss of French nationality, in 2 copies, which you will have to date, sign and initial on each page.
  • Birth certificate
  • Official identity document
  • 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 of the administration in charge of the national service establishing that you have not contracted a commitment in the French armies
  • All documents proving that you are a French national and establishing that only one of your parents is a French national (certificate of French nationality or court order recognizing French nationality or magnification the decree on naturalization or reintegration into French nationality or declaration of French nationality or civil status documents)
  • All documents justifying that your foreigners or stateless parent did not acquire French nationality during your minority
  • If necessary, a medical certificate stating that you are prevented from expressing your will, any documents proving that your legal representatives exercise parental authority over you and their official identity document.

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. 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 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 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 country. If you are abroad, contact the French Embassy or Consulate to consult the list of approved translators.

In addition, to avoid having to translate certain documents issued by a country of 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 France in the country concerned for legalization, and at the embassy or consulate of the country concerned for the Apostille.

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.

3Send declaration of loss of French nationality

The approach varies depending on whether you live in France or abroad.

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In France

You must go to the court or the court near your home.

You can submit your file or send it by mail.

Who shall I contact

Abroad

You must contact the French consular or diplomatic authorities.

4If the declaration is accepted, keep the original submitted with the words ‘registered’

A decision to register the declaration or to refuse registration must be taken within 6 months according to the date of the receipt.

In the absence of a reply within that period, this means that the declaration of loss of French nationality is recorded (accepted).

The loss of French nationality shall take effect on the date of subscription.

The 2nde original copy is sent to you with the mention of registration. You must preserve this document proving the loss of french nationality: no other copy can be issued.

Check the declaration for report a possible error :

  • If there is an error in the information on the declaration, send a letter to the graft the court where you signed the declaration, or the French consulate abroad where you signed the declaration
  • In case of error on the birth certificate, send a letter to the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs (Central Civil Registry Service) or to the city hall where your birth certificate is kept.

5If the declaration is refused, make a possible appeal

The instructor service will notify 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 who does the walk.

Who shall I contact

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