Applying for a certificate of French nationality

The certificate of French nationality (CNF) attests to your nationality. According to service-public.gouv.fr, it is useful if you have none of the other accepted documents — a nationality declaration or a naturalization decree, for instance. In other words: with your decree or its ampliation and a recent birth certificate, the CNF is usually not needed.

The application is made only on cerfa form no. 16237*02; a request on plain paper is not accepted. It is individual: one certificate cannot cover several people, including children of the same family. Everyone must supply a birth certificate, an official identity document, a recent colour photograph and proof of address; the other documents depend on the legal basis of the nationality.

Where to file depends on your situation: for someone born in France and living abroad, the competent court is the one for the place of birth; for someone born abroad and living abroad, it is the nationality service of the Paris judicial court. The certificate is issued free of charge.