APPLY FOR NATIONALITY BY FILIATION
Your parent is French whether or not he has French "papers", you can be French by descent whether you live in France or abroad.
You were born in France , to a parent who was himself born there, you can be French by double birth .
You wish to obtain a French passport , and in certain cases the administration may ask you to prove your nationality. This proof can be done either by civil status documents or by a certificate of French nationality or a nationality judgment.
I can study your situation and advise you on the actions to take to obtain proof of your nationality
See our article: How to prove French nationality
I advise you and determine first of all if you are French according to the law.
Indeed, nationality law is a complex and surprising matter. Thus, a person can be considered as French, have French identity papers and not be able to transmit their nationality to their children.
I also verify that you are not affected by a case of loss of nationality by non-use, "disuse.
I advise you and represent you in all your steps to obtain your nationality.
APPLY FOR A FRENCH NATIONALITY CERTIFICATE and CONTEST A REFUSAL
The certificate of French nationality is often requested by administrations as proof of French nationality.
You can request this certificate if:
- you reside in France , at the local court of your place of residence having jurisdiction in matters of nationality in function;
- you were born in France and live abroad, at the local court with jurisdiction over the nationality of your place of birth;
- you were born and live abroad , at the Paris Pôle de la nationalité, located in the premises of the Paris Judicial Tribunal.
What to do after a refusal to issue a certificate of French nationality (CNF)?
The decision to refuse a certificate of French nationality generally informs you that you have the possibility:
- either to make a gracious appeal to the Ministry of Justice;
- or to seize the competent court .
The gracious appeal succeeds extremely rarely, and it is not obligatory for the referral to the court. In most cases, we therefore recommend filing a declaratory action before the Judicial Court.
The Paris Court is competent for the courts of appeal of Paris, Orléans, Bourges, Saint Denis de la Réunion and Versailles (jurisdiction here) as well as for all applicants residing abroad.
The appeals can be exercised without delay, provided that you are not concerned by a case of disuse of nationality (loss by non-use).
I defend you and assist you in court in order to have your French nationality judged.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU HAVE RECEIVED AN ASSIGNMENT CHALLENGING YOUR FRENCH NATIONALITY?
What if the prosecutor disputes your French nationality?
You can hold a French nationality certificate, have French identity papers and have your nationality contested by the prosecutor. It is the negative action of nationality .
You will receive a summons issued by a bailiff (at your last known address), the case can then be judged in your absence if you do not take a lawyer. You must contact a lawyer without delay so that he can be in court and defend your interests .
I represent you and defend you in court. We can also consider whether you can be French by " possession of state " (ie justify having been considered a French by the state for at least 10 years).
BECOMING FRENCH BY MARRIAGE
Nationality by marriage is one of the cases of acquisition of nationality for which it is necessary to request the registration of a declaration.
To be able to obtain nationality , you must provide proof of:
- 4 years of marriage (or 5 years if at the time of the declaration you do not justify having resided in an uninterrupted and regular manner in France for at least three years from the marriage, or if your spouse has not been registered with the consulate during your community of living abroad);
- the French nationality of your spouse ;
- the marriage transcription in Nantes if the marriage was celebrated abroad (see our section "marriage certificate transcription").
- a community of uninterrupted life since marriage, both emotional and material;
- a regular situation and absence of conviction;
- sufficient knowledge of the French language (written and oral level B1).
The file is sent to the naturalization platform which depends on the place where you live.
Interactive map of naturalization platforms
An investigation is carried out to verify the reality of your union. You are also invited with your spouse to an interview which aims to check:
- the continuity of the community of emotional and material life between you since your marriage;
- your assimilation to the French community.
Once the interview is over, you will be given a receipt.
It is the Ministry of the Interior which must make its decision within 1 year from the issuance of the receipt. If the declaration is registered you will be French and will be able to obtain your French passport and identity card.
Nevertheless, the Public Prosecutor's Office (prosecutor) can contest the registration for two years from the registration if the legal conditions are not met (for example if there has been domestic violence during cohabitation) or the discovery by him of fraud (the termination of the community of life in the year following registration constitutes a presumption of fraud).
In this case you will receive a summons notified by a bailiff, a lawyer will have to appear before the court (see our section what to do after receiving a summons contesting your nationality).
I defend your interests in court.
If the declaration is not registered by the Ministry, you will receive a decision to refuse registration which must be contested within 6 months before the court.
I represent you before the court to challenge the refusal of registration.
BECOME FRENCH BY DECLARATION
If you were not born French, the law allows you to become French during your life: it is the acquisition of nationality. You must then subscribe a declaration of French nationality to the clerk of the competent local court.
In addition to this, you need to know more about it.
You can acquire French nationality because:
- you are married to a French (your our dedicated section);
- you have at a French possession of state for 10 years,
- you were born in France to foreign parents and are under 16 years of age;
- you have been adopted or taken in by a French person or have been taken care of by Social Assistance to Children;
- you have lost French nationality by disuse and you have links with France,
- you were born abroad and your sister or brother was declared French.
I help you to prepare the file allowing the filing of the declaration at the competent local pole (nationality pole in Paris or at the consulate in certain cases, if you are abroad).
In addition to this, you will need to know more about it.
If you have received a decision to refuse to register your declaration of French nationality, the appeal period is 6 months from receipt of the decision.
In addition to this, you need to know more about it.
I represent you in order to challenge the refusal of registration before the competent court.
MAKE A NATURALIZATION REQUEST
Naturalization is the granting of nationality by discretionary decision of the state . It can concern any person residing in France (and exceptionally abroad), who has the center of his family and material ties there.
In addition to this, you need to know more about it.
The administration (the prefecture) first examines whether your application is admissible but can decide at any opportunity that you cannot be naturalized.
A hierarchical appeal (RAPO) is compulsory in the event of rejection or adjournment of the request. In case of confirmation, it will be necessary to refer to the Administrative Court of Nantes.
In addition to this, you need to know more about it.
I support you in your naturalization process by helping you prepare the file.
In addition to this, you will need to know more about it.
I challenge your refusal or adjournment decision by drafting the administrative appeal and then the appeal to the court.
In addition to this, you need to know more about it.