French nationality of an adopted child

Verified 24 October 2024 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

You adopt a foreigners child and want to know if he automatically acquires French nationality? We tell you what information to know depending on whether the child is adopted by simple adoption or by plenary adoption.

Adoption creates a link of parentage between the adopter and the adopted. It can be single or full.

In the case of simple adoption, the adopted person retains all his ties with his family of origin.

In the case of adoption by the plenary, the adopted has a new parentage which replaces the original one.

Simple adoption

Simple adoption does not change the nationality of the adopted person. Thus, to have French nationality, you must make a declaration of french nationality.

Step-by-step approach

The conditions vary depending on whether the adopter resides in France or abroad

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Adoptive resident in France

The adopted must meet the following conditions:

  • Be a minor (under 18) on the day of declaration of French nationality
  • Reside in France.

Adopter must be French on the date of adoption.

Adoptive resident abroad

The adopted must be a minor (under 18 years of age) on the day of the declaration of French nationality.

Adopter must be French on the date of adoption.

FYI  

The adopted person may become French by a majority if he or she completes the conditions for automatic acquisition of french nationality. If this is not the case, it may, subject to conditions, to acquire french nationality by naturalization.

The adopted person dates and signs the declaration of French nationality if he or she is 16 years of age or older.

The legal representative of the adopted person dates and signs the declaration if the adopted person is under 16 years of age, or under guardianship, or if a disability prevents him from expressing his will.

Documents to be provided

The documents to be provided are as follows:

  • Application for French nationality on free paper
    The application must state the surname, forename, date and place of birth, place of residence of the adopted person and, if necessary, of his or her legal representatives. It is useful to specify an address, a phone number and an email address.
    The graft draw up the declaration of French nationality, in two copies.
  • Certified copy of the adoption judgment.

Concerning the adopted 

  • Full copy of birth certificate
  • Proof of identity. For example, Republican identity card, foreigner passport, school card.
  • Proof of domicile
  • Recent photo ID.

Concerning the adopter 

Of additional documents may be requested by the department responsible for processing your request.

Instructions on the documents to be provided

Translation

Each document drawn up in a foreign language must be accompanied by a translation, in original version. The translation must be done by a translator on the list of experts approved by the courts of appeal.

However, translation is not required for a multilingual extract of a birth certificate in which one of the languages is french. 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 the country concerned.

In France

The application for French nationality must be submitted to the court or tribunal in the vicinity of the minor's place of residence.

You can submit your file or send it by mail.

Who shall I contact

One receipt is sent to you when the file is complete.

Abroad

Applications for French nationality should be sent to the French Consulate-General.

You can submit your file or send it by mail.

One receipt is sent to you when the file is complete.

The court of justice will notify its decision reasoned Refusal.

You can appeal in a six-month period from the date of notification.

The notification shall indicate how to appeal.

The lawyer is obligatory. He's the one who does the walk.

If there is no response within 6 months depending on the date of the receipt, this means that the french declaration of nationality of the adopted child is recorded (accepted).

The declaration of French nationality shall take effect on the date on which it was made.

You will receive a copy of the return with the mention of registration.

You can make the request of an identity card and a passport for the adopted child.

FYI  

The adopted person may retain his or her nationality of origin if the rules of the country concerned so permit. Indeed, some countries do not recognize dual nationality. Ask the embassy of the country of origin.

Plenary adoption

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Full adoption of a minor child by a single person

One minor adopted in plenary by a French is French by parentage.

It is considered to be French from birth.

There's no no steps to take.

Full adoption of a minor child by a couple

One minor adopted in plenary is French by parentage if one of his adoptive parents is French.

It is considered to be French from birth.

There's no no steps to take.

FYI  

If only one parent was born in France, the adopted person may repudiate French nationality within six months of his majority or within 12 months of his majority.

Full adoption of the minor child of the spouse, partner of Civil partnerships or partner

One minor adopted in plenary is French by parentage if the adoptive parent is a French national, or if his or her parent, spouse, partner of Civil partnerships or common-law partner of the adoptive parent is a French national.

It is considered to be French from birth.

There's no no steps to take.

FYI  

If only one parent was born in France, the adopted person may repudiate French nationality within six months of his majority or within 12 months of his majority.

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