French Citizenship Requirements

France is the home of mère and apple tart. Appropriately enough, it's one of the longest standing allies of the United States, all the way back to the Revolutionary War. George Washington and the Marquis de la Fayette were such close friends that the latter's son was named Georges Washington de la Fayette. America was heavily influenced by France, so it may not be surprising to find certain similarities between our citizenship laws and theirs.

Jus Sanguinis

Being born to at least one French parent automatically makes that child French. If the child does not live on French soil, he or she may have to choose to abandon French nationality later in life, depending on whether or not their home country allows dual citizenship.

Jus Soli

A person who is born in France to non-French parents can choose to become a French citizen as he or she turns eighteen, provided the person in question has lived in France for five years (either continuously or off and on) since turning eleven.

Acquiring French Citizenship

You must live in France for at least two years (for foreign students of a French university), five years (for other foreigners), be married to a French national for at least one year, or have a child with a French national to be eligible for citizenship.

Required Documents

You will need your birth certificate, the birth certificates of your parents, and a Casier Judiciaire (a written statement that you do not have a criminal record, generally available from the local US Consul). Any documents in English will need to be translated by an official translator; this can be as much as fifty euros per document.

Dual Citizenship

You can be a dual citizen of both the United States and France, provided you fulfill the requirements for citizenship in both countries. Some countries, however, might not permit dual citizenship at all, or at least not between that country and France.