Voluntary loss of French nationality - By declaration

Verified 28 février 2023 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

Your situation

  • You were born in France and only one of your parents was born in France
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You must make a declaration of loss of French nationality if you are in one of the following situations.

1- Check the conditions to be provided

You can make a declaration of loss of French nationality if you are born in France and only one of your parents was born in France.

The declaration may be made from 17 and a half years and up to the age of 19 yrs.

Warning  

you may not lose your citizenship by declaration if your foreigner parent became a Frenchman during your minority.

2- Make the file of declaration of loss of French nationality

Documents to be provided

The indicative list of the documents is as follows:

  • Declaration of loss of French nationality in 2 copies, dated and signed
  • Birth certificate
  • Official identity document
  • Recent photo ID
  • Certificate issued by the authorities of the country of which you claim to be a citizen, proving that you are by filiation a national of that country
  • All documents of the administration in charge of the national service establishing that you have not contracted a commitment in the French armies
  • All documents proving that you were born in France and that only one of your parents was born there (certificate of French nationality or court order recognizing French nationality or magnification the decree on naturalization or reintegration into French nationality or declaration of French nationality or civil status documents)
  • All documents justifying that one of your parents did not acquire French nationality during your minority
  • If necessary, a medical certificate stating that you are prevented from expressing your will, any documents proving that your legal representatives exercise parental authority over you and their official identity document

Please note

Depending on your situation, the instructor department may ask you for additional documents and gives you a time limit to provide them. One receipt is addressed to you when your file is complete.

Instructions on the documents to be provided

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.

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.

3- Send the declaration of loss of French nationality

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In France

You must go to the court or the court near your home.

You can submit your file or send it by mail.

Who shall I contact

Abroad

You must contact the French consular or diplomatic authorities.

4- If the declaration is accepted, keep 1 copy with the words "registered"

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

Declaration of loss of French nationality takes effect to the date of its subscription.

A copy of the statement is sent to you with the mention of registration.

You must preserve this document proves the loss of French nationality.

Check the declaration for report a possible error :

  • If there is an error in the information on the declaration, please send a letter to the Ministry of the Interior.
  • In case of error on the civil status document (birth and/or marriage), send a letter to the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs.
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

  • Central Civil Registry Service (Scec)

    Civil status (birth, marriage or death) of a Frenchman abroad

     Only by mail to:

    Central Civil Registry Service

    11 White House Street

    44941 Nantes Cedex 09

    The service is not open to the public.

    You can apply for a civil status certificate through a online service.

    For more information, you can:

    • Go to diplomatie.gouv.fr
    • Call the+33 1 41 86 42 47 Monday to Friday from 9 am to 12 pm and from 1 pm to 4 pm
      Free access to video interpretation or instant speech transcription for the deaf or hard of hearing
    • Email courrier.scec@diplomatie.gouv.fr

5- If the declaration is refused, make a possible appeal

The court notifies you of its decision reasoned Refusal.

You can appeal within 6 months from the date of notification.

The notification shall indicate how to appeal.

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

Who shall I contact

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