Are we automatically French when we are born on French soil?
Are we automatically French when we are born on French soil? What about soil law in France? The pilgrim decrypts the subject for you.
- Should we harden soil law? The debate returns to the table in recent years. The Keeper of the Seals, Gérald Darmanin, relaunched the discussion on February 6, 2025 by proposing to open a “public debate on the law of the soil in our country” by a reform of the Constitution. A measure also carried by Marine Le Pen, who wishes to consult the French by referendum on this issue.
- It is often unknown, but soil law automatically applies only in two cases: When both parents are stateless (nationality) or unknown, or one of the parents was born on French territory. If a child was born in France to two foreign parents, he must wait 18 years to acquire French nationality and under a condition: that he resided in France for at least five years for his 11 years. Two types of anticipated acquisitions are also possible: a child respecting this same criterion of residence over time since his 8 years can obtain French nationality between 13 and 16 years old on request from his parents and between his 16 and 18 years on personal request .
- A total of 34,652 people obtained French nationality by soil law in 2023, of which only 2,500 automatic acquisitions. This figure has been up since 2010, but remains well below the peak of 53,520 reached in 1999. In Mayotte, the law of the soil was hardened by the asylum and immigration law of 2018. A child born on the island becomes French If one of his parents has been present regularly on the national territory for at least three months.
- In addition to soil and naturalization law, There are four other ways to obtain nationality: by blood law (if one of the parents at least is French), by marriage with a French spouse for at least four years or by possession of state – filial link established between the parent and the child.
- In some countries, soil law is unconditional. This is the case in the United States, but Donald Trump signed a decree returning to this founding principle devoted by the American Constitution. This questioning was suspended by a federal judge. The new president said he wanted to appeal.
