French Civil Code

A child who is French by virtue of the provisions of this Chapter shall be deemed to have been French from birth, even if the existence of the conditions required by law for the attribution of French nationality is not established until later. The nationality of a child who has been the subject of a full adoption is determined according to the distinctions established in articles 18 et 18-1,19-1,19-3 and…

A child’s parentage only has an effect on the child’s nationality if it is established during the child’s minority.

French nationals who have the option of renouncing French nationality in the cases referred to in this title may exercise this option by declaration made in accordance with articles 26 et seq. He may renounce this option from the age of sixteen under the same conditions.

In the cases referred to in the previous article, no one may repudiate French nationality unless he proves that he has by descent the nationality of a foreign country.

A French national who enlists in the French armed forces loses the right of repudiation.

The provisions contained in articles 19-3 and 19-4 are not applicable to children born in France to diplomatic agents or career consuls of foreign nationality. However, these children have the option of voluntarily acquiring French nationality in accordance with the provisions of article 21-11 below.