Obtaining A French Passport

[Briggsy]

I have been reading the posts on settlement visas for the UK and noted that many British spouses have saved themselves a lot of money by using another EU passport (often Irish) in the process. Some posters have encouraged others to look into the possibility of gaining another EU passport.

I may be eligible for a French passport through my maternal grandmother who was French. I have looked at the websites but have been unable to find any concrete information. My mother still has my grandmother's birth certificate which I'm sure will be required.

Can anyone tell me or point me in the direction of a website that can tell me if I'm eligible. It may be that my mother has to get a French passport or claim her French nationality in some way first.

Thanks in advance.

[the scouser]

How's your French?

http://www.consulfrance-londres.org/doc/cnf.doc

Scouse.

[Briggsy]

An A grade at 'O' level 24 years ago!

This is the very site I myself came to. But I did not find this document. It appears that you ask for a certificate of nationality and then presumably apply for a passport. Looks like it could work under "filiation maternelle".

My mum said there is a consulate in Liverpool and she would ask there but the website suggests that it no longer exists.

Could be a huge document chase, particularly if they insist on going back generations.

Thanks for the help.

[the scouser]

There's a number for the consular section of the embassy at the foot of the document. Perhaps give them a ring.

The application has to be made directly to the office in France, rather than through the embassy, and they do require all the certificates tracing your lineage back to your grandmother.

Scouse.

[Krungbin]

I have been reading the posts on settlement visas for the UK and noted that many British spouses have saved themselves a lot of money by using another EU passport (often Irish) in the process. Some posters have encouraged others to look into the possibility of gaining another EU passport.

I may be eligible for a French passport through my maternal grandmother who was French. I have looked at the websites but have been unable to find any concrete information. My mother still has my grandmother's birth certificate which I'm sure will be required.

Can anyone tell me or point me in the direction of a website that can tell me if I'm eligible. It may be that my mother has to get a French passport or claim her French nationality in some way first.

Thanks in advance.

Too bad you had your A grade at 'O' level 24 years ago! But if you still have some knowledge of the language, you will find the legal texts here:

" http://www.legislationline.org/legislation...ess=false"

What it says, basically, is that you are French if you are born in France and/or one of your parents is a French national...

So, your mother could be French...if she ever claimed that nationality...and you could become French too...

This stated, I believe that claiming the French nationality is not as easy at it may appear!

[AnalyzeThis]

An A grade at 'O' level 24 years ago!

This is the very site I myself came to. But I did not find this document. It appears that you ask for a certificate of nationality and then presumably apply for a passport. Looks like it could work under "filiation maternelle".

My mum said there is a consulate in Liverpool and she would ask there but the website suggests that it no longer exists.

Could be a huge document chase, particularly if they insist on going back generations.

Thanks for the help.

Applying for a French passport i would assume that you speak French. Visit this site and you'll get more information on how to get/apply for a French passport and what the requirements are. http://vosdroits.service-public.fr/particu...piers&l=N21

Basically to get a French passport -that is a travel document only- you must be a French national. Either you were born in France and at least one of your parents was born in France, either you obtained the French nationality through other means (marriage is one of them...).

Also you should know that since May 29, 2006 a biometric French passport has been introduced that only can be printed in France. It takes about four weeks to get it.

[Krungbin]

I have been reading the posts on settlement visas for the UK and noted that many British spouses have saved themselves a lot of money by using another EU passport (often Irish) in the process. Some posters have encouraged others to look into the possibility of gaining another EU passport.

I may be eligible for a French passport through my maternal grandmother who was French. I have looked at the websites but have been unable to find any concrete information. My mother still has my grandmother's birth certificate which I'm sure will be required.

Can anyone tell me or point me in the direction of a website that can tell me if I'm eligible. It may be that my mother has to get a French passport or claim her French nationality in some way first.

Thanks in advance.

Briggsy,

I did some more research... On the url "http://www.lapres.net/immi.html" of DANIEL ARTHUR LAPRES, nationality and immigration French lawyers, if found this:

quote:

"Any legitimate or natural child of a French citizen has French nationality from birth.

But, if only one of a person's parents is French, and the person is born outside of France, his or her French nationality may be repudiated.

Persons born in France of stateless parents are considered French citizens.

Child's nationality is affected by that of his or her parents only for as long as he or she is a minor.

A foreigner does not become French by virtue of having married a French spouse. But this fact does facilitate the obtaining of French nationality.

Children born in France of foreign parents may acquire French nationality upon reaching their majority provided that he or she is at that tie resident in France and that he or she has been resident continuously or discontinuously for a period of 5 years since the age of 11. Such nationality may be obtained by a declaration by the child upon reaching the age of majority. Parents may also claim French nationality for their children born in France from the age of 13. Foreign children adopted by a French citizen before their majority may claim French nationality.

In general, naturalization can only be claimed by foreigners who have resided in France for the 5 years preceding their applications. But this period is reduced to 2 years for foreign students who have successfully completed two years of university studies in a French university or school of higher learning as well to those foreigners who by virtue of his or her capacities or talents has rendered important services to France. Furthermore for some classes of foreigners, there is no requirements of prior residency in France, for example foreigners admitted to the status of refugee, or those whose naturalization presents an exceptional interest for France, or those who belong to the French cultural and linguistic entity and are citizens of territories or States where French is the or one of the official languages, or where his or her mother tongue is French or where the foreigner justifies 5 years of schooling in a French language.

Naturalization may be refused to persons not assimilated in the French community such as by a sufficient knowledge of French, or if he or she is not of good morals, or if he or she has committed crimes infringing upon the fundamental values of the French nation, or has been sentenced to imprisonment for more than months (unless the sentence was suspended)..

Applications for naturalization are made at the local prefecture. Answers must be given within 18 months."

Unquote.

I do believe that you will definitively need the assistance of such lawyer(s) to assist you if you really want to become French!

[chinadarling]

I suggest go visit a consulate in person as well as do research. There may be some catches based on the years involved. Things to look for are - is citizenship passed down by both mother or father in the year in question. Many of the rules changed at certain points in time. Sorry I cannot remember all the treaty years. one was 1977. There is another major one further back but dont know the date. 1967?

I went through this process for another Eu country which has similar regulations. It took me 2 years and about $1000 total. Mostly going to my other country to find old documents ie grandfathers death certificate...for my new country grandfather/mother marriage certificate...pain in the ass, but do-able.

You can do it yourself, without a lawyer as long as you can find the regulations and documents. I did myself.

Good luck.

pm me if you need more

I have been reading the posts on settlement visas for the UK and noted that many British spouses have saved themselves a lot of money by using another EU passport (often Irish) in the process. Some posters have encouraged others to look into the possibility of gaining another EU passport.

I may be eligible for a French passport through my maternal grandmother who was French. I have looked at the websites but have been unable to find any concrete information. My mother still has my grandmother's birth certificate which I'm sure will be required.

Can anyone tell me or point me in the direction of a website that can tell me if I'm eligible. It may be that my mother has to get a French passport or claim her French nationality in some way first.

Thanks in advance.