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Can you francize your first and last name by becoming French?
Verified 24 February 2023 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
Yes, if you are applying for French nationality, you can apply for francization of your surname and/or first name. You can also apply if you have recently become French.
What applies to you ?
You want to become French
To facilitate your integration, you can request francization of your surname and/or first names when you request acquisition of French nationality.
Step-by-step approach
Several possibilities exist for francization of the name :
- Translate your name if it can be
In this case, you must provide an attestation by a sworn translator.
For example, Dos Santos en Dessaint. - Transform your foreigners name to make it sound French
Your new name should not be too far from your birth name.
For example, Fayad en Fayard. - Use the French name of a ascendant French
- Use the French name before a decision is taken by the authorities of your country of origin in the case of reintegration
However, you cannot take a new name that is not related to your birth name or that has never been carried in your family.
Warning
if you don't have a first name and ask for francization of your name, you must ask for a french first name.
Several possibilities exist for francization :
- Replace your foreigners first name or foreigners first names with one or more French first names
In the case of a plurality of first names, it is possible not to francize them all.
For example, Maria, Antonia in Marie Adrienne or Marie, Antonia or Maria, Adrienne.
The French first name can be the translation of your foreigners first name or any other French first name.
For example, Antonia in Adrienne. - Add a French first name to your foreigners first name
The French first name you added can be placed before or after your original first name.
For example: Ahmed becomes Ahmed, Alain, or Alain, Ahmed. - Replace your foreigners first name or foreigners first names with one or more French first names and add one or two French first names
For example, Giovanni en Charles, Patrick. - Delete your foreigners first name or foreigners first names and keep only your French first name or obtain such a first name.
For example, Kouassi, Paul en Paul. - Flip First Names
This operation is accepted only if a French first name already exists in the corpus of your first names.
This French first name must be placed in 1era position.
FYI
you can also get a french first name if you don't have a first name on your birth certificate.
The francization request is made when you deposit your application for a declaration of french nationality, naturalization or reintegration.
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
You send your application for French naturalization online
You must use the online service to apply for francization.
Online application for French naturalization or reintegration into French nationality
You use a paper form for your application for French nationality
You must fill out the cerfa form n°65-0054 for you and your children concerned.
You must then attach this form to your application for acquisition of French nationality.
A minor child with your last name changes with you.
A minor child who becomes French at the same time as you can also change his or her first name.
In the 2 cases (for name and forename), the child aged 13 years or older must express his agreement in writing.
The decree of naturalization and francization of your name and/or your first name is published in the Official Journal.
You are informed by email of your registration in the decree of naturalization after its publication in the Official Journal (or by mail if you did not send an email when you created your file).
You must download your naturalization decree on the website Légifrance.
The excerpt of the decree concerning you mentions the change of name and/or first names.
Your civil status records are automatically updated.
Francization appears on your birth certificate or that of your children.
In the event of birth in France, francization is mentioned in the margin of civil status documents.
You are informed by mail (or by email if you have used the online service to make your request).
The refusal decision must be reasoned.
You can challenge the refusal decision before the Administrative Court of Nantes within 2 months of its notification.
The use of a lawyer is not mandatory.
Who shall I contact
Before the appeal dispute in front of the administrative court of Nantes, you can make a ex gratia appeal to the Ministry of the Interior.
The period during which you can challenge the refusal decision is 2 months according to its notification.
Applying for an ex gratia remedy to the Ministry of the Interior gives you extra time to file a contentious appeal before the administrative tribunal.
Example :
the administration notifies you of a refusal on april 4, 2023. You file an administrative appeal on May 26, 2023. Your administrative appeal is dismissed on June 24, 2023. You can then refer the matter to the administrative judge until August 25, 2023.
Who shall I contact
Ministry of the Interior - Naturalization
By mail
Ministry of the Interior
Directorate-General for foreigners in France
Directorate for Integration and Access to Nationality
Sub-Directorate for Access to French Nationality
12 Francis-le-Carval Street
44404 REZÉ CEDEX
By email
sdanf-accueil@interieur.gouv.fr
FYI
a child born after 2004 may bear the name of the mother or father, or both. Parents should choose name which will be carried by their child through a specific and separate process from the process of acquiring nationality.
You have just obtained French nationality
To facilitate your integration, you can request francization of your surname and/or your first names after to have obtained French nationality.
You must apply for francization within one year .
Depending on your situation, the 1-year period starts from;
- The signature of the naturalization decree
- The signature of the decree on reintegration into french nationality
- The date of registration of your declaration of French nationality
Step-by-step approach
Several possibilities exist for francization of the name :
- Translate your name if it can be
In this case, you must provide an attestation by a sworn translator.
For example, Dos Santos en Dessaint. - Transform your foreigners name to make it sound French
Your new name should not be too far from your birth name.
For example, Fayad en Fayard. - Use the French name of a ascendant French
- Use the French name before a decision is taken by the authorities of your country of origin in the case of reintegration
However, you cannot take a new name that is not related to your birth name or that has never been carried in your family.
Warning
if you don't have a first name and ask for francization of your name, you must ask for a french first name.
Several possibilities exist for francization :
- Replace your foreigners first name or foreigners first names with one or more French first names
In the case of a plurality of first names, it is possible not to francize them all.
For example, Maria, Antonia in Marie Adrienne or Marie, Antonia or Maria, Adrienne.
The French first name can be the translation of your foreigners first name or any other French first name.
For example, Antonia in Adrienne. - Add a French first name to your foreigners first name
The French first name you added can be placed before or after your original first name.
For example: Ahmed becomes Ahmed, Alain, or Alain, Ahmed. - Replace your foreigners first name or foreigners first names with one or more French first names and add one or two French first names
For example, Giovanni en Charles, Patrick. - Delete your foreigners first name or foreigners first names and keep only your French first name or obtain such a first name.
For example, Kouassi, Paul en Paul. - Flip First Names
This operation is accepted only if a French first name already exists in the corpus of your first names.
This French first name must be placed in 1era position.
FYI
you can also get a french first name if you don't have a first name on your birth certificate.
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
You have sent your application for French naturalization online
You must use the online service to apply for francization.
Online application for French naturalization or reintegration into French nationality
You used a paper form for your application for French nationality
You must fill out the cerfa form n°65-0054 for you and your children concerned.
You must then attach this form to your application for acquisition of French nationality.
A minor child with your last name changes with you.
A minor child who becomes French at the same time as you can also change his or her first name.
In the 2 cases (for name and forename), the child aged 13 years or older must express his agreement in writing.
The decree of naturalization and francization of your name and/or your first name is published in the Official Journal.
You are informed by e-mail of your registration in the decree of naturalization after its publication in the Official Journal (or by mail if you did not communicate an e-mail when building your file).
You must download your naturalization decree on the website Légifrance.
The excerpt of the decree concerning you mentions the change of name and/or first names.
Your civil status records are automatically updated.
Francization appears on your birth certificate or that of your children.
In the event of birth in France, francization is mentioned in the margin of civil status documents.
You are informed by mail (or by email if you have used the online service to make your request).
The refusal decision must be reasoned.
You can challenge the refusal decision before the Administrative Court of Nantes within 2 months of its notification.
The use of a lawyer is not mandatory.
Who shall I contact
Before the appeal dispute in front of the administrative court of Nantes, you can make a ex gratia appeal to the Ministry of the Interior.
The period during which you can challenge the refusal decision is 2 months according to its notification.
Applying for an ex gratia remedy to the Ministry of the Interior gives you extra time to file a contentious appeal before the administrative tribunal.
Example :
the administration notifies you of a refusal on april 4, 2023. You file an administrative appeal on May 26, 2023. Your administrative appeal is dismissed on June 24, 2023. You can then refer the matter to the administrative judge until August 25, 2023.
Who shall I contact
Ministry of the Interior - Naturalization
By mail
Ministry of the Interior
Directorate-General for foreigners in France
Directorate for Integration and Access to Nationality
Sub-Directorate for Access to French Nationality
12 Francis-le-Carval Street
44404 REZÉ CEDEX
By email
sdanf-accueil@interieur.gouv.fr
FYI
a child born after 2004 may bear the name of the mother or father, or both. Parents should choose name which will be carried by their child through a specific and separate process from the process of acquiring nationality.
Choosing the Dual Name
FAQ
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National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE)