Making your name French (francisation du nom et du prénom)

You can ask to make your surname or given names French when applying for French nationality, or within a year after becoming French. This is possible if their foreign appearance or sound could hinder your integration. Apply online for procedures by decree; for procedures by declaration, use the form and contact your local nationality platform.

Steps

Nationality by decree: online application

1. Apply online to make your surname or given names French, together with your naturalisation or reinstatement application, or within a year after that application.

Nationality by decree: you applied on paper

1. If you applied for naturalisation or reinstatement on paper, complete Cerfa form n°65-0054 to request the name change.
2. Contact the nationality access platform responsible for where you live.

Declaration of nationality (déclaration de nationalité) through marriage

1. Complete Cerfa form n°65-0054 when making your declaration of nationality (déclaration de nationalité) through marriage, or within a year afterwards.
2. Contact the nationality access platform responsible for where you live.

Documents to bring

Translating your foreign surname into French

Changing your minor child's surname or given names, if they are aged 13 or over

Key facts

• You do not have to make your surname or given names French.
• You cannot choose a new surname unrelated to your birth surname or never used in your family.
• You may replace some or all of your foreign given names with French given names.
• If you have no given name and ask to make your surname French, you must be given a French given name.
• Your surname change also applies to your minor child if they become French with you and their name appears in your naturalisation decree or registered declaration of nationality (déclaration de nationalité).