France Citizenship by Descent
Eligibility Test

To be eligible for the French Citizenship by Descent program, you need to have a Direct Descendant that is French, A child, Grandchild or great-grandchild, you must be holder of a French residence permit (carte de séjour) and you must have lived in France for at lest 25 years without interruption. At the time of the application it is mandatory to be in France and live legally in the territory you also need to have a clean criminal record otherwise your application might be rejected

Yes, if you parents are French citizens you can apply for citizenship
It is not the case for every country, but in the case of France it goes back to one generation only

1. Do you have a French parent?
2. Was your French parent born in France?
3. What is your closest French ancestor’s relationship with you?
4. Does your French parent have an ancestor who was born as a French citizen in France?
5. Is your parent (and/or grandparent, if applicable) in the French lineage still well and alive and willing to apply for French citizenship by ancestry?
6. Do(es) your Grandparent/Great-grandparent have an ancestor who was born as a French citizen in France? 
7. Did your French parents secure French nationality by acquisition/naturalization before your birth?

Becoming a French citizen not only allows one to live, work, and study in France and across all EU member states without getting a visa, it also grants access to a French ID and passport, which is the world’s second most powerful passport in terms of travel freedom in 2023. Holders of French passport enjoy visa-free or visa on-arrival access to 174 destinations around the world, and in times of emergency, they are entitled to call for help from the French government or the embassy of any other EU member states.

An applicant is eligible to apply for French CBA if: 

1. the applicant is born to at least one French parent; 
2. the applicant is under the care and custody of the French parent before he/she turns 18 years old; and iii. the applicant and the French parent has interacted with the French authority in the last 50 years.

The process to claiming French citizenship and passport through bloodline typically starts with gathering of the necessary documentation to establish the applicant’s link with the French parent.

If the applicant does not have sufficient documentation proving his connection with the French parent, it may be necessary to conduct a search for the relevant records prior to preparing the citizenship application. Once all required documentation is available, the French CBA (i.e. certificate of French nationality) application must be carefully reviewed and prepared to ensure that it meets the submission standards required by the French authority. Applicants residing  outside of France may then submit their applications to the Paris Court. 

If all requirements are met, a positive decision awarding the certificate of French nationality would be granted  and successful applicants may then apply for the French passport and enjoy all rights and freedoms typically  conferred on EU citizens.

On average, the French authority takes about 1-2 years to process French CBA applications, but the processing time could vary depending on the complexity of the applicant’s case and the overall presentation of the file. (Example: If an application is filed on 4 June 2022, the decision should have been rendered within six (6) months, meaning by 4 December 2022. Nevertheless, this period can be extended twice and a final decision on the application may become available by 5 December 2023.) 

A longer processing time is possible if the application submitted is incomplete or the documentation provided is improperly translated, legalized, or apostilled. Therefore, it is important to work with a qualified legal professional to ensure that the application package prepared is complete and meets the submission standards required by the Paris Court. 

Yes, provided that the following cumulative conditions are met:

• Proof of prior French nationality

• Age: The applicant may be reinstated as a French national at any age;
  
  
• Links with France: In principle, the applicant must legally reside in France (i.e. holding a valid residence permit at the time of filing), and have their primary professional and personal interests centered in France;
  
  
• Situation on French territory: The applicant is not subject to an expulsion order or a ban from French territory that remains in effect;

• No criminal record: The applicant must be of good moral character, having no history of acts that violate public order;
  
  
• Integration into French society: The applicant must demonstrate knowledge of French history, culture and society, as well as sufficient proficiency in the French language. The applicant must also have stable and sufficient income to supporting themselves while living in France.