Does a child adopted by simple adoption (adoption simple) become French automatically, or must you make a declaration of nationality (déclaration de nationalité)?

A child adopted by simple adoption does not become French automatically; a declaration of nationality is necessary for the child to obtain French nationality. The conditions for the declaration of nationality depend on whether the adopter lives in France or abroad. When the adopter lives in France, the child must be under 18 on the day of the tribunal summons and the adopter must be French on the date of the adoption.

Service-Public · Checked 2026-11-04

How do you make a declaration of nationality (déclaration de nationalité) for a child adopted by simple adoption (adoption simple)?

To make a declaration of nationality for a child adopted by simple adoption when you live in France, check that the adopted child is under 18 on the day of the tribunal summons, that the adopted child lives in France with you and that you were French on the date of the adoption.Service-Public · Checked 2026-11-04
To make a declaration of nationality for a child adopted by simple adoption when you live abroad, check that the adopted child is under 18 on the day of the tribunal summons, that the adopted child lives with you and that you were French on the date of the adoption.Service-Public · Checked 2026-11-04
For the declaration of nationality of a child adopted by simple adoption, write the request for French nationality on plain paper and state the child's family names, first names, date and place of birth and address and, if necessary, the address of the legal representatives.Service-Public · Checked 2026-11-04
For the declaration of nationality of a child adopted by simple adoption in France, send or deposit the request for French nationality at the tribunal judiciaire or the tribunal de proximité of the child's place of residence.Service-Public · Checked 2026-11-04
For the declaration of nationality of a child adopted by simple adoption abroad, send or deposit the request for French nationality at the consulat général de France.Service-Public · Checked 2026-11-04
For the declaration of nationality of a child adopted by simple adoption, attend the summons to sign the declaration of nationality. A child over 16 signs the declaration of nationality, and the legal representative dates and signs the declaration of nationality if the child is under 16, is under guardianship or is prevented by a disability from expressing the child's will.Service-Public · Checked 2026-11-04
For the declaration of nationality of a child adopted by simple adoption, you receive the récépissé receipt in France or abroad when your file is complete.Service-Public · Checked 2026-11-04

What should you do when the declaration of nationality for a child adopted by simple adoption is registered?

When the declaration of nationality for a child adopted by simple adoption is registered, you receive in person a copy of the declaration of nationality from the tribunal or the consulate, with the mention enregistrée.Service-Public · Checked 2026-11-04
Keep the copy of the registered declaration of nationality, because no other copy of the declaration of nationality can be delivered.Service-Public · Checked 2026-11-04
Once you have the copy of the registered declaration of nationality, you can apply for an identity card and a passport for the adopted child.Service-Public · Checked 2026-11-04

What can you do if the declaration of nationality for a child adopted by simple adoption is refused?

If the declaration of nationality for a child adopted by simple adoption is refused, you can make an appeal within 6 months from the date of the notification of the refusal.Service-Public · Checked 2026-11-04
If the declaration of nationality of a child adopted by simple adoption is refused, a lawyer is obligatory for the appeal. If the declaration of nationality of a child adopted by simple adoption is refused, the lawyer handles the appeal procedure.Service-Public · Checked 2026-11-04

Which documents must you provide with the declaration of nationality (déclaration de nationalité) for a child adopted by simple adoption (adoption simple)?

What are the steps after a declaration of nationality (déclaration de nationalité) for a child adopted by simple adoption (adoption simple)?

For the declaration of nationality of a child adopted by simple adoption, a decision to register the declaration of nationality or to refuse registration of the declaration of nationality must be made within 6 months of the date of the récépissé receipt.Service-Public · Checked 2026-11-04
For the declaration of nationality of a child adopted by simple adoption, if no reply reaches you within 6 months of the date of the récépissé receipt, the declaration of nationality is registered automatically.Service-Public · Checked 2026-11-04
A minor child adopted under full adoption by a single French person is French by filiation. The minor child adopted under full adoption by a single French person is considered French from birth.Service-Public · Checked 2026-11-04
For a child adopted by simple adoption who does not meet the conditions for the declaration of nationality, the child can become French at majority if the child meets the conditions for automatic acquisition of French nationality. If the child does not meet the conditions for automatic acquisition, the child can, under conditions, acquire French nationality by naturalisation.Service-Public · Checked 2026-11-04
For a child adopted by simple adoption, the child can keep the child's nationality of origin if the rules of the country concerned allow the child to keep the nationality of origin, because some countries do not recognise dual nationality.Service-Public · Checked 2026-11-04