Simple Adoption and French Citizenship
Simple adoption in France allows a child to obtain citizenship, but not automatically. A declaration must be submitted before the age of 18.
In France, there are two types of adoption: full and simple. The chosen form of adoption affects the process of obtaining French citizenship for the child.
Simple adoption is possible even when the child has both legal parents, but requires their consent. After simple adoption, the child maintains a connection with their biological parents and acquires a connection with the adoptive parent. The child may bear the surname of the adoptive parent, inherit from them, and acquire French citizenship. However, citizenship does not arise automatically. A declaration for the acquisition of French citizenship must be submitted before the child turns 18.
Full adoption is possible if permitted by law, for example, in the absence of a legal connection with one of the parents. In full adoption, the child’s connection with their previous family is severed. If the child is adopted by a French citizen, they become a French citizen from the moment of full adoption.