French naturalization: what proof of civil status and nationality?

Verified 17 May 2024 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

The proof of civil status and nationality must be attached to your French application for naturalization :

Your birth certificate
It must be issued by the registrar of the place where the birth certificate is kept and indicate the surname, first name, date and place of birth of your father and mother.
If any of this information is missing, the training department may ask you to provide full copies of your parents' birth certificates.
Document justifying the date and place of birth of your father and your mother, and their marriage if they're married
Document supporting your nationality concerning your country of origin. For example, copy of passport.
If necessary, any document justifying a changing your name

Warning

Depending on your situation, other documents may be requested.

To be accepted, documents attached to a French application for naturalization must comply with the following rules:

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 translation of each document written in a foreign language.

You must provide the original translation.

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 birth certificate extract one of whose languages is French.

In addition, to avoid having to translate some 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.