French nationality of an adopted child

Verified 11 December 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 years) on the day of summons to court to sign the declaration of French nationality
  • Reside in France with the adopter.

Adopter must be French on the date of adoption.

Adoptive resident abroad

The adopted must be a minor (under 18) on the day of summons to court to sign the declaration of French nationality. He must reside with the adopter.

Adopter must be French on the date of adoption.

FYI  

If the adopted child does not meet these conditions, he or she may become French by majority if he or she meets 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 request is made on free paper.

The adopted child is summoned to court to sign the declaration.

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

The minor over the age of 16 signs the declaration himself.

The transplant, or the consulate, if the minor lives abroad, draws up the declaration of French nationality, in two copies, on the basis of the information contained in the application and the documents provided.

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(s), first name(s), date and place of birth, address of the minor and, if necessary, the address of his/her legal representatives. It is useful to specify a telephone number and an email address.
  • Certified copy of the adoption judgment.

Concerning the adopted 

  • Full copy of the French or foreigners birth certificate
  • Proof of identity. For example, Republican identity card, foreigner passport, school card.
  • Proof of domicile
  • Recent photo ID
  • If necessary, a foreigner passport if it has the nationality of a non-EU country European (EU) and if he went to the Schengen area from a country which is not part of this area for a period of less than three months during the five years preceding the declaration of nationality.

Concerning the adopter 

  • Full copy of birth certificate
  • Certificate of French nationality or any documents proving French nationality
  • Proof of identity. For example, national identity card, French passport, driving license.

Of additional documents may be requested by the department in charge of the investigation of your request according to your situation.

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.

To avoid having to translate certain documents issued by a 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.

You will be summoned to court to sign the declaration (the minor over 16 years of age or the legal representatives for children under 16).

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.

You will be summoned to the consulate to sign the declaration (the minor over 16 years of age or the legal representatives for children under 16).

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

The court of law, or the Department of Justice if the statement was made outside Canada, you 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.

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, the declaration of french nationality of the adopted child is registered ex officio (accepted).

The declaration of French nationality shall take effect on the date on which it was subscribed, i.e. the date on which it was signed by the declarant or his legal representatives.

You will receive a copy of the declaration with the registration, delivered by the court or consulate. Keep this copy because no other copy may be issued.

Once you have received this document, 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.

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.

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

It is considered to be French from birth.

A minor child, born to a foreigner parent, who is adopted in plenary by the foreigner parent’s spouse, Civil partnership partner or common-law partner, is French by parentage if the adopter is a French national. 

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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