When I was pregnant with my daughter, I was surprised to find out a child born in France does not automatically have French nationality. In the US, any child born on US soil is an American citizen.
In France, one or both parents must be a French citizen for the child to gain French nationality. There are some exceptions. For instance, if the child was adopted by French parents, born to unknown parents (abandoned), born to stateless parents, or to parents who could not grant the child their nationality. Since my husband is French, my daughter has French nationality. I’m the only one who has to work for it!
If both parents are citizens of another country, then the child can gain French nationality at the age of sixteen if he has been a resident in France for at least five years from the age of eleven. Or, French nationality may be claimed by parents on behalf of the child if the child has been a resident of France for five years since the age of eight.
I think the idea of gaining nationality by blood makes more sense than the location the parents are at the time of the birth. What do you think? Should children be a citizen based on where they’re born or by right of blood?
Maria @ Busy as a Bee in Paris says
carrieanne, oh! this reminds me that we still have not done the paperwork for our two state-side born children to be french!!! i need to get working on that before my baby arrives!!! thanks for the reminder! xoxo
French Mamma says
Hahaha, get going! When is your due date again? How are you feeling?
Carol Larore says
Love the photo at the top! Says it all, doesn’t it? Love and miss you my daughter and granddaughter! You are helping so many navigate through the red tape of life in Beautiful France, as an American….I’m so proud!
French Mamma says
Juliana was only about 4 weeks old in this picture, I think. I remember that I wanted to pose her with a baguette, but my husband ate it before I had the chance! I love and miss you too, mommy! Maybe one day, you’ll be the one I help moving here ๐ A girl can dream ๐
Mohamed raafat says
ok i was born in france by forgien parents and i lived there for 7 months.. but i ve read an article that said if my parent one of them was a diplomatic agent there i could ahve the french citizenship.. as my father worked for 2 years in the consulate in paris.. so what are my chances plz tell me
Adeel Mirza says
Hi, I was born in France in 1980 then our family migrated back to Pakistan in 1986 due to family issues at that moment. Now, i sincerely regret the decision made by my parents and intend to go back to France. I would appreciate any assistance in this regard which helps me in getting to the right procedure of applying citizenship/immigration back to my birth place.
regards,
Adeel Mirza
Pamela says
I was born in France to one “French” (French Polynesian) parent and one Irish parent. The Irish one raised me. Recently I’ve had the Service-public.fr tell me that “nationality could not be established” based on my French birth certificate. That makes me STATELESS. Because no way people look at me and believe I’m “only” Irish. But I’ll file for “apatridite” anyway. Having “papers” that say SOMETHING is the only way to get a damn womens’ shelter bed in this messed-up sorry excuse for a “city.” (Paris) Because the French birth certificate and “I was BORN here” is getting me nowhere.
Florence says
Hi, couldn’t help but read your message.
What has happened for you and are you getting French citizenship or no way?
i was born in France too, to appatride Jewish parents.
Same story, born in France gets me no dul citizenship there either, but I am an American Citizen by naturalization.
France is effed up.Write me back if you will.
Florence says
Hi, couldn’t help but read your message.
What has happened for you and are you getting French citizenship or no way?
i was born in France too, to appatride Jewish parents.
Same story, born in France gets me no dul citizenship there either, but I am an American Citizen by naturalization.
France is effed up.Write me back if you will.