Définition
French nationality is acquired when a person becomes French after birth. It takes place under conditions set by law, according to three modes of acquisition:
- by declaration (including marriage)
- by decree (naturalization)
- automatic without formality (as of right)
The acquisition of French nationality must therefore be distinguished from the attribution of French nationality at birth which is carried out automatically due to either parentage (the child of which at least one of the parents is French is French), either from birth in France (the child born in France whose parent was himself born in France is French).
Automatic acquisition is obtained at the age of majority of a child born in France of two foreign parents on the condition that the child has been resident in France for five years from the age of 11 years.
Acquisition by declaration is obtained following personal events, primarily marriage to a French national or early acquisition of French nationality for young foreigners born and living in France. Indeed, children over 13 who are born in France of two foreign parents may acquire French nationality by declaration if the application is made by their legal representatives and if they justify a period of residence in France of five years from the age of eight.
The acquisition by decision of the public authorities (naturalisation) is effected by decree of the Prime Minister on the proposal of the minister in charge of naturalisation.