Many people around the world discover that they have French roots, and this provides a unique opportunity — obtaining french citizenship by descent. This citizenship is not just a symbolic connection with family history; it opens access to all the rights of a European Union citizen: free movement, work, study, and social benefits.
France is a country known for its culture, education, and high standard of living, so it is no surprise that the question of obtaining this country’s passport generates great interest. For some, it is a way to get closer to their ancestors; for others, it is a real chance to secure new prospects for their children in Europe.
The main task of this article is to explain who can qualify for citizenship by descent, which documents are required, how to submit an application, and which laws regulate this process. This will help you navigate and understand where to start your path toward a French passport.
Did you know that citizenship can be obtained not only through place of birth or many years of residence in a country, but also thanks to your ancestors? This is exactly how the principle of jus sanguinis france, which translates as “right of blood,” works. It means that if your parents or other direct-line relatives were French citizens, you can confidently claim this status.
The right to french citizenship by descent is established in the French Civil Code (Code civil). Article 18 states clearly: “Est Français l’enfant dont l’un des parents au moins est Français” — “A child is considered French if at least one of the parents is French.” In other words, descent from a French citizen already creates the legal basis for acquiring citizenship.
To make it clearer, let’s compare three options:
So the key question is: can I prove that my parents, grandparent, or even great-grandparent were French? If the answer is “yes,” you have the legal right to seek recognition of citizenship.
Who actually has the right to a French passport through ancestry? The law provides fairly complex explanations, but, simply put: citizenship passes from French parents to children and can be preserved across several generations if this chain has not been broken.
Shall we consider the simplest case? If at least one of your parents is French, you automatically can claim french citizenship by descent. No lengthy procedures are needed: it is enough to document the fact of birth to a French citizen.
What about a grandfather or grandmother? Yes, this is also possible. If they were French citizens, you can confidently apply for french citizenship by descent grandparent. However, you will then need to collect documents not only for yourself but also for all previous generations to show the continuity of citizenship.
A more complex option is through great-grandparents. This is french citizenship by descent great grandparent. It is possible if your great-grandfather or great-grandmother remained French at the time the next generation was born. If they lost citizenship earlier, then in some cases you may no longer be able to count on a French passport.
Can citizenship be proven through even more distant ancestors? Theoretically yes, but this is already a matter of french citizenship by ancestry. In such cases, you have to turn to municipal archives in France or even church registers. Does it sound like detective work? In reality, this path is challenging, yet sometimes it becomes the key to a passport for those whose families left France more than a hundred years ago.
When it becomes clear that you have French roots, the next question is simple: where to start? The first piece of advice is not to panic about the complexity, but to make a plan with logical steps.
Do you want to minimize the risk of refusal? Then make sure the document list is compiled as carefully as possible. Government bodies most often require:
This package is the basis for how to apply for french citizenship by descent. Difficult? We think you can handle it.
Can you apply without traveling to France? Yes. In this case, everything is handled through the consulate. It is convenient, but the downside is that you can get “stuck” in a queue that can sometimes be very long. That is why the question can i get french citizenship by descent often comes down to how patient you are.
As practice shows, official processing can take from one year to several years. Applicants pay an administrative fee (the amount depends on the type of application, usually €55–€200). Common challenges you may face include:
If all conditions are met, nothing will stop you from obtaining france citizenship by descent and, as a result, the full set of EU citizen rights.
Obtaining citizenship is not just “having another document.” It is the ability to live, work, and study in Europe without any restrictions. That is why more and more people consider french citizenship by descent.
The French passport is among the documents that provide the most advantages in the EU and worldwide. With it, you gain EU citizenship. What does this mean for you?
For many, this is the main reason to obtain french citizenship for eu citizens, because it is great to use all the advantages of European citizenship without limitations.
With france citizenship by descent, opportunities for education become much broader. Your children can enter universities in France or other EU countries on the same terms as local students. What does this give? At minimum, lower tuition and access to grants. For adults, a French passport provides official employment without visas and permits.
French law is quite flexible, so it allows you to hold multiple passports. Thus, after obtaining status, you can keep your country’s citizenship. This is especially important for those who do not want to lose ties with their homeland. That is why french citizenship by ancestry becomes an attractive option for many families.
Another important advantage is passing status to your children. Once you obtain citizenship, they automatically become French. A nice bonus, right? In this way, by completing the procedure once, you secure your family’s future. This is the core value of french citizenship by descent: it works not only for you but also for the next generations.
It often happens that a family left France several generations ago, and today grandchildren or great-grandchildren ask: can I get a passport thanks to my ancestors? The answer is yes, but there are certain nuances.
If your grandfather or grandmother were native French, you may qualify for french citizenship by descent grandparent. The main condition is that they remained French citizens at the time your father or mother was born. If they renounced citizenship earlier, this indicates that the chain is broken, and you automatically lose the chance to be recognized as French.
Are you ready for the fact that this connection can only be proven with documents? If so, you will need:
This is where french citizenship by ancestry becomes crucial, because without documentary proof, obtaining a passport is practically impossible.
Has your family lost citizenship but now you wish to reclaim it? This is called “restoration” of status. In such a situation, you can submit documents and assert your right through a court or consulate. The result is france citizenship by descent, which officially restores the connection with the country of your ancestors even a hundred years after emigration. So nothing is lost yet!
Obtaining French citizenship by descent is not only the opportunity to have another passport but also a very real chance to reconnect with your own history. If you want to learn more about laws, documents, and procedures, you can find useful and reliable information on the GetEUCitizenship. This will be the first step toward turning your French roots into real EU citizenship status.
Yes. If your grandparent held a French passport and did not renounce it before the next generation was born, you may can i get french citizenship by descent.
The most important evidence includes birth, marriage, and death certificates, as well as archive records of citizenship. These papers are necessary to confirm French citizenship by ancestry.
The time depends on where you apply. At consulates, it may take 2–3 years; in France — from several months to a year. In any case, this is the France citizenship by descent procedure.
Yes. France officially recognizes dual nationality. This means that after acquisition, you can enjoy all the rights of French citizenship for EU citizens while keeping your country’s passport (if its laws allow it).
Yes. Jus sanguinis France means that you obtain citizenship thanks to your ancestors. Naturalization requires many years of residence, language proficiency, and fulfillment of other conditions set out in the citizenship requirements for France.