LumenDoes France allow dual citizenship, or do you have to give up your nationality?
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Yes. Service-public.fr says French law does not require a foreigner who becomes French, by naturalisation or by declaration such as marriage, to renounce their original nationality. Whether you keep it also depends on your other country's law. In France, a dual national is treated only as French and can't rely on their other nationality.
Key facts
| What | The ministry’s guidance says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple nationality | Allowed: dual or even three nationalities | Service-public.fr F334 |
| Becoming French | French law doesn’t require you to renounce your original nationality, whether by naturalisation or declaration (marriage, ascendant…) | Service-public.fr F334, “Par naturalisation ou déclaration” |
| French people taking another nationality | They don’t have to renounce French nationality either | Service-public.fr F334 |
| In your application | You state your current nationalities, which you want to keep and which you want to give up | Service-public.fr F334 |
| Other country’s law | You can lose a nationality through the law of the states concerned or international agreements | Service-public.fr F334, “Peut-on perdre la plurinationalité ?” |
| Living in France | You can’t rely on your other nationality, nor get that state’s diplomatic protection | Service-public.fr F334 |
| Children | A minor living with the parent and named in the decree or declaration becomes French too | Service-public.fr F334 |
France doesn’t ask you to give up your passport
Service-public.fr says French law doesn’t require a foreigner who becomes French to renounce their nationality of origin. This applies to naturalisation and to declarations such as by marriage. It gives the example of a British national who acquires French nationality and keeps British nationality.
When you become French, you tell the service handling your file which nationality or nationalities you already have, which you want to keep alongside French nationality, and which you want to give up.
Your other country may decide differently
The guidance adds that a foreigner in France can lose a nationality if a change of situation alters it under the law of the states concerned or under international agreements. Whether you keep your current citizenship therefore also depends on your country’s own rules, which this page does not cover.
Being a dual national in France
A French dual or multiple national has all the rights and duties of a French citizen. While living in France, you can’t rely on your other nationality and can’t get the diplomatic protection of the other state. While living in the other state, that state generally treats you as its own national only, and France can’t give you diplomatic protection.
Related questions
- Children: a minor child becomes French with a parent if they usually live with that parent and are named in the naturalisation decree or the declaration.
- A French national who acquired another nationality can lose French nationality by declaration.
Sources
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This is general information, not legal advice, and Lumen is not a law firm. Rules change and offices differ: check the official sources above before you act. Found something wrong or out of date? Write to support@lumen.observer.