Birthactive
Citizenship through birth and residence in France
Birth in France alone is not generally enough. Limited parentage or statelessness cases confer citizenship at birth; otherwise a child of foreign parents can acquire it from age 13, 16, or automatically at 18 when the residence conditions are met.
Sources: French Civil Code — Article 19-3 · French Civil Code — Article 20-5 · French Civil Code — Article 19-1 · French Civil Code — Article 21-11 · Service-Public — French nationality for a child born in France · French Civil Code — Article 21-7
Naturalizationactive
Acquisition by marriage to a French national
A foreign spouse of a French national may acquire nationality by declaration after four years of marriage (five if the couple cannot show three years of continuous residence in France), with continuing community of life and French-language knowledge.
Sources: French Civil Code — French nationality provisions
Ancestryactive
Citizenship through a French parent
A child is French when at least one parent is French.
Sources: French Civil Code — Article 18
Naturalizationactive
Naturalization without residence for exceptional merit or francophone ties
Naturalization by decree with no residence stage for those who rendered exceptional services to France, for wartime military service, and for members of the French cultural and linguistic community.
Sources: French Civil Code — French nationality provisions
Naturalizationactive
Reintegration into French nationality
A person who formerly held French nationality (for example lost through marriage to a foreigner or acquisition of another nationality) may be reintegrated — by declaration where manifest ties with France are shown, or otherwise by decree with no residence stage.
Sources: French Civil Code — French nationality provisions
Naturalizationactive
Naturalization after residence
French Civil Code article 21-17 ordinarily requires five years of habitual residence and does not exclude lawful student residence. Article 21-18 reduces that period to two years for a person who successfully completes two years of higher education toward a diploma from a French university or higher-education institution. A valid permit, continuing residence, assimilation, language and stable professional integration remain material; naturalization is discretionary.
Sources: French Civil Code, article 21-17 · Service-Public — Naturalisation française par décret · French Civil Code, article 21-18 · CESEDA — student residence permits