How to Obtain French Citizenship by Descent

Can you imagine anything more romantic than sipping champagne at the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the world capital of high fashion, fine art and delectable cuisine?

Have you always admired the nonchalant attitude of the French and their carefree way of life? Would you like to be more than just another tourist wandering along the Champs Elysees? 

It’s a real possibility – if you have French ancestry. Without even realising it, you could be considered a French citizen based purely on your bloodline.

If that’s the case for you, we’ve got good news. 

Our all-inclusive Citizenship-by-Descent (CBD) service helps clients simultaneously reconnect with their roots by securing a second passport. We’ll deal with the entire process of eligibility and application on your behalf, so all you have to do is pick a cover for your shiny new passport.

Take a few minutes to complete our application form and get ready to discover your heritage. We have a proven track record of helping our clients achieve second citizenship and gain access to better opportunities. 

What is Citizenship by Descent?

Citizenship by descent (CBD) is the cheapest way to get second citizenship.

If you’re an American, Canadian or Australian citizen, there’s a good chance that your ancestors originated in Europe. Many European countries run citizenship-by-descent programs extending citizenship to the descendants of citizens who had to flee, were exiled or left the country during a time of mass immigration.

Of course, the level of difficulty in obtaining a passport through descent varies depending on the desired country and its citizenship laws. But if you’re ready to jump through a few hoops and don’t mind getting your hands dirty by doing a spot of research, then exploring the possibility of getting a second citizenship should be on your list of priorities.

Each country offering CBD has challenges but, generally speaking, the pros outweigh the cons. Having a second passport gives you more options in life and more freedom, which is always a good thing.

French Citizenship by Ancestry

Historically, France’s citizenship has been governed by the ‘jus soli’ principle, which means the ‘right of soil’. The same law governs citizenship in the United States, where any child born in the country’s territory, no matter the nationality of their parents, automatically acquires the country’s nationality. 

However, when it comes to citizenship, France has slowly moved away from ‘jus soli’ towards ‘jus sanguinis’, the ‘right of blood’.And with France making citizenship harder to obtain, its citizenship-by-descent program has become more desirable. 

According to French law, a person can become a citizen of the country through one of their parents. Unfortunately, France only allows you to go back one generation, whereas countries like Ireland let those who can trace back up to three generations apply for citizenship by descent.

Even if you’re lucky enough to have a French parent, you’ll still have to prove your eligibility to become a citizen of the country. That’s not an insurmountable task since all you need is documentation proving your parent’s French nationality.

However, things get more complicated if the French parent in question is estranged or you have no way of tracking them down. You might have to dig around in archives to produce the necessary paperwork or some other type of proof that you have ties to France. 

With this in mind, let’s talk about eligibility in more detail.

Eligibility Requirements for French CBD

Could you already be eligible for French citizenship and not know it? 

It’s certainly possible. In fact, when it comes to claiming CBD, that’s often how it works. You might have an inkling of your French roots but not be aware of the details, nor that they could qualify you for French citizenship. 

So, what are the scenarios to be eligible for French citizenship through ancestry? There are a few: 

• A person can become a French citizen by descent if at least one of their parents was a French citizen at the time of their birth. They will need to prove not just their own identity but the citizenship of the French parent in question. 
• If you’re over 18 and were born in a foreign country to a French mother (who was born in France or elsewhere), you may be eligible for French citizenship. However, this is only true if, at the time of your birth, your mother kept her French nationality. Also, the parent-child relationship with your French parent must be established while you’re a minor. A French citizen may pass on their nationality to their children by descent if, on the day of their birth, the person retained their French nationality and the parent-child relationship was established while the child was a minor. 

If any of the above scenarios apply, you could be eligible to apply for French citizenship by descent. However, note that France requires all previous generations in your line to be registered as citizens before you apply for your own.

For example, if your parent has French roots via their own parents, they must apply for their citizenship first, before you can obtain your own. Similarly, if you have children, your French citizenship must be registered and obtained before you apply for their French passports.

Finally, another limitation to consider is the ‘possession d’état de Français’, which loosely translates as ‘contract with France’. If neither you nor your parents have had anything to do with France for 50 years (such as contact or links with French authorities via passport renewal, voter registration or consular registration) and have resided outside of France, you won’t be eligible to receive citizenship.

In other words, if your parent(s) have lost all links with France and you haven’t had any either, France isn’t going to play ball when it receives your citizenship application.

This makes France one of the most complex countries to secure citizenship by descent. But, if you can prove cultural, professional, economic, familial or military connections to the country that are relatively recent, you have a reasonable chance of success, so let’s look at how to apply.

Application Process for French CBD

As with every citizenship–by–descent program, the most challenging part is gathering the documents proving your eligibility. The burden of proof falls solely on you, so you must make a solid case with the authorities for them to make a favourable decision. 

First, you must apply for a certificate of French nationality – an official document used to prove your French citizenship. You’ll need to submit your application for the certificate of French nationality by presenting the following documents:

• Proof of identity, such as your passport or some other form of ID
• Proof of residence, such as a recent household bill
• A copy of your birth certificate indicating the parent-child relationship with the French parent in question
• A copy of your parent(s) birth certificate
• All documents that would establish your parent(s) as a French national, such as national identity card, passport, consular registration card, certificate of nationality, military booklet, voter card or so on
• Your parents’ marriage certificate or, if your parents aren’t married, a copy of the certificate recognising and proving parentage.

The application must be lodged in person unless, under exceptional circumstances, the applicant is unable to travel. In this case, certain courts will accept paperwork via the post. 

Two other requirements make France one of the more complex countries to obtain citizenship for:

• Proof of integration into French society, tested by an interviewer. You can explore the kinds of questions they might ask on the official website. The immigration website and booklet are entirely in the French language, which brings us nicely to the next point.
• A language test: You’ll be required to prove that you can speak and write French. A recognised diploma from a course of studies at a Francophone institute can be used as a substitute for the test. 

While many other countries won’t require you to speak the language or even pass a culture test, France doesn’t make things easy. As you’re discovering, French nationality isn’t something you’ll be able to get without putting in a serious amount of personal effort – unless, of course, you use Nomad Capitalist’s citizenship-by-descent service to do some of the heavy lifting for you.

Unfortunately, we can’t sit the culture and language tests for you, so you’ll really have to determine if the time spent studying the language is worth it.

If you persevere and make it past this stage you’ll be able to apply for a French passport but be aware that rejection is a distinct possibility at any stage. If your application is rejected, you can launch an appeal by contacting the Ministry of Justice directly.

The Pros of French Citizenship 

As we constantly advise clients, every citizenship has its own unique advantages and drawbacks, and French citizenship is no different. 

Firstly, not only is France rich in terms of its culture, history and traditions, it’s also one of the two economic powerhouses of the European Union (EU) and a globally important, political player. As one of the largest economies in the world, you should never be short of opportunities in France if you’re willing to put in the effort. 

Secondly, a French passport is one of the most powerful travel documents in the world, with visa-free travel possible to an array of destinations. You can find out more in our Nomad Passport Index. Not to mention, all French citizens are able, as European Union citizens, to travel, live and work anywhere in the EU.

Thirdly, France has permitted dual citizenship since 1973. Unlike many countries that insist you give up your original citizenship when you get theirs, France has no such expectations.

The Cons of French Citizenship 

However, there are some negative aspects to French citizenship by descent to be aware of. As laid out above, the eligibility requirements are exhausting. While the paper trail for your parents shouldn’t be hard to establish, the language and cultural interview requirements can seem excessive.

Much of this comes down to the French sense of civic and national pride. While many locals are happy to chat in other languages, many will point-blank refuse to speak English and insist on a French-only conversation. This shouldn’t really come as a surprise; after all, only 40% of French people speak English well enough to have a proper conversation, compared to around 90% of those in Holland.  

Another major issue to note is that we strongly advise against becoming a tax resident in France, as you’ll be taxed on your worldwide income at France’s relatively high tax rates. That would be a considerable inconvenience if you just want the French lifestyle without the burdens of its tax system.

To sum up, if you can pass the examination barriers and work your way to French citizenship, we think it’s an excellent citizenship to hold. It affords you many great travel benefits and lifestyle options and it wouldn’t necessarily make you liable to pay tax if you’re not a resident of the country.

French Citizenship By Descent: FAQs

Is Obtaining French Citizenship by Descent Worth It? 

The French are unapologetic when it comes to national pride and make few, if any, concessions to non-French speakers. But maybe you feel connected to this sense of national pride and cultural preservation.

So, if you have French heritage and think you might be eligible to apply for citizenship, you’ll have to pass a language and culture exam, as well as put an application file together. All of this can take a lot of time, but it might be worth it if you feel you resonate with the nation’s heritage.

While Nomad Capitalist will handle all the application process woes for you, you have to navigate the language and culture tests alone. However, considering the value of the French passport in the grand scheme of things, it’s certainly worth investigating.

Start your journey to reclaiming your heritage right now. Start by checking out our CBD Eligibility Checker, answer just a few questions and see if you qualify.

With our citizenship-by-descent service, we’ll take care of all the paperwork on your behalf, from checking if you’re eligible to apply to actually lodging the application for your French passport. If you have French roots and you want to get a Tier A European passport, get in touch with us today.