Article 21-1 of the French Civil Code
November 8, 2023
Marriage has no automatic effect on nationality.
Marriage has no automatic effect on nationality.
A foreigner or stateless person who marries a spouse of French nationality may, after a period of four years from the marriage, acquire French nationality by declaration provided that at the date of this declaration the community of life, both affective and material, has not ceased between the spouses since the marriage and that the French spouse has retained his or her nationality. The period of community of life is…
Subject to the provisions set out in articles 21-4 and 26-3, the person concerned acquires French nationality on the date on which the declaration was made.
The Government may oppose, by decree in the Council of State, on the grounds of unworthiness or lack of assimilation, other than linguistic, the acquisition of French nationality by the foreign spouse within two years of the date of the receipt provided for in the second paragraph of Article 26 or, if registration has been refused, from the day on which the court decision admitting the legality of the declaration…
A marriage declared null and void by a decision of a French court or a foreign court whose authority is recognised in France does not render null and void the declaration provided for in article 21-2 in favour of the spouse who contracted it in good faith.
The annulment of the marriage has no effect on the nationality of the children born of it.
Any child born in France of foreign parents acquires French nationality on coming of age if, on that date, he or she has his or her residence in France and has had his or her habitual residence in France for a continuous or discontinuous period of at least five years, since the age of eleven. The judicial courts, local authorities, public bodies and services, and in particular educational establishments, are…
The interested party has the option of declaring, under the conditions provided for in articles 26 et seq and provided that he proves that he has the nationality of a foreign State, that he declines French nationality in the six months preceding his majority or in the twelve months following it. In the latter case, he is deemed never to have been French.
Any person who fulfils the conditions set out in article 21-7 to acquire French nationality loses the option of declining it if he or she enlists in the French armed forces. Any minor born in France of foreign parents, who is regularly enlisted as a recruit, acquires French nationality on the date of his enlistment.
The provisions of articles 21-7 to 21-9 do not apply to children born in France to diplomatic agents and 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 hereinafter.
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is a Registered Trademark of
PETROFF LAW FIRM (SELARL LEGASTRAT)
182, rue de Rivoli
75001, Paris France
RCS Paris n°814433470
Paris Bar Registration n° (Toque) C2396
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is a Registered Trademark of
PETROFF LAW FIRM (SELARL LEGASTRAT)
182, rue de Rivoli
75001, Paris France
RCS Paris n°814433470
Paris Bar Registration n° (Toque) C2396
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