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French nationality declaration: who, how, timelines

Updated on 17 August 20267 min read

"Nationality declaration," "naturalisation," "reintegration": these three words describe different procedures, with different conditions and different timelines. Here's how to tell them apart, with particular attention to children born in France to foreign parents and to unaccompanied minors.

Declaration, naturalisation, reintegration: three separate procedures

  • Nationality declaration is a right: if you meet the legal conditions set out in the Civil Code (marriage to a French national, a French ascendant, being born and residing in France as a minor), the administration cannot refuse to register your declaration except for a specific legal reason (unworthiness, fraud, lack of shared life for marriage-based declarations, etc.).
  • Naturalisation is a discretionary government decision, even when every condition is met: the administration can refuse an application without having to show the file is incomplete.
  • Reintegration concerns someone who lost French nationality and wants to recover it, under specific conditions set out in the Civil Code.

This guide covers declaration. For a realistic timeline for naturalisation, see our dedicated article on naturalisation in 2026.

The main cases for a nationality declaration

Through marriage to a French spouse

After a period of shared life with your French spouse (at least 4 years if you've lived continuously in France since the marriage, 5 years in some cases involving residence abroad), you can file a nationality declaration, subject in particular to a sufficient level of French and to no disqualifying conviction. The file is submitted to the plateforme d'accès à la nationalité française attached to your préfecture (or to the consulate if you live abroad).

Through descent (French ascendant) or siblings

Other declarations exist for a direct descendant of a French national who lost French nationality, or for a brother or sister of a French national born in France under certain conditions. The exact conditions vary by case: check the relevant fact sheet on service-public.fr before starting the process.

Through birth and residence in France (minors)

This is the case that most often concerns children born in France to foreign parents, governed by Articles 21-7 to 21-11 of the Civil Code.

The case of minors born in France to foreign parents

A child born in France to foreign parents doesn't automatically acquire French nationality at birth. The Civil Code sets out a gradual mechanism:

  • Between ages 13 and 16: a nationality declaration can be filed on the minor's behalf, provided they reside in France when the declaration is filed and have had habitual residence in France for a continuous or discontinuous period of at least 5 years since age 8.
  • Between ages 16 and 18: the minor can file the declaration themselves, provided they reside in France and have had habitual residence in France for at least 5 years since age 11.
  • At age 18: if the same residence conditions are met, French nationality is acquired automatically, with no action required to obtain it. A certificate of French nationality is still needed to prove it, though, for ID cards and passports.

These declarations for minors (other than marriage-based ones) are received by the director of judicial registry services (the chief clerk) of the tribunal judiciaire covering the place of residence, not by the préfecture.

The specific case of unaccompanied minors

An unaccompanied foreign minor (sometimes referred to as a UAM) placed under guardianship or in the care of child welfare services (aide sociale à l'enfance) can, under certain conditions, benefit from the same birth-and-residence-in-France declaration mechanisms described above if they meet the habitual residence conditions. The declaration is then filed by their legal representative (guardian, or the child welfare service). This is a separate matter from the residence permit at the age of majority, which we cover in our article on turning 18 as an unaccompanied minor, because nationality and residence rights follow separate rules: getting a residence permit doesn't grant nationality, and conversely, a pending nationality declaration doesn't automatically create a right to stay.

What the certificate of French nationality is for

The certificate of French nationality (certificat de nationalité française, CNF) is a document issued by the chief clerk of the tribunal judiciaire, certifying that a person holds French nationality as of the date it's issued. It's typically required to obtain a first ID card or passport when French nationality isn't already established by an earlier French civil status document. The registry generally has a six-month review period from a complete file, extendable twice if needed for the review; no decision by the end of that period counts as a rejection and opens a right of appeal.

What still needs checking case by case

  • Actual processing times for a declaration vary depending on the platform or tribunal judiciaire handling it: no official national average is published by procedure.
  • The documents required differ depending on the basis for the declaration (marriage, ascendant, birth in France): the exact list is available on service-public.fr.
  • If you're unsure about your personal situation, a social service, an association specialised in immigration law, or a lawyer can help you put your file together.

FAQ

How long does it take to get a response to a nationality declaration? There's no single timeline: depending on the basis for the declaration, the ministry or the court generally has one year to object or refuse to register it, two years if opposition proceedings are launched. These are maximum legal timelines, not average observed ones.

My child was born in France to foreign parents, can they declare their nationality? Yes, from age 13 if the residence conditions are met, and automatically at age 18 if those conditions are still met. See the details above.

Declaration or naturalisation, what's the practical difference? Declaration is a right governed by objective conditions the administration can't refuse at its discretion. Naturalisation remains a discretionary decision, even with a complete file.

Does a certificate of French nationality grant nationality? No: it only certifies a nationality already acquired. It doesn't create a right and can't be used on behalf of someone else, even a descendant or an ascendant.

Can an unaccompanied minor declare their nationality without an adult? No: a declaration on behalf of a minor is filed by their legal representative (parent, guardian, or the child welfare service, depending on the situation).

Perfecture is an independent service, not affiliated with the préfectures or the French administration.

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