French nationality is automatically granted to children who have at least one parent of French nationality. However, it is strongly advised to notify the Consulate General of France in Sydney of the birth of the child before the child turns 18.

If your child was born in Australia, you have two options to register the birth with the French registry office:

• By going in front of the registrar at the Consulate General of France in Sydney within 30 days after the birth after having made an appointment by email : etat-civil.sydney-fslt@diplomatie.gouv.fr. The presence of the baby is not necessary.
• When the declaration of birth of the child has been previously established by the local registrar, and the 30 days of the baby’s birth have passed, the Consulate General of France in Sydney can proceed to its transcription.

1- Declaration of birth of a child less than 30 days old (by appointment only)

The French birth certificate of the child is established immediately on the declaration of the parent(s), based on the following documents

THE MAIN DOCUMENTS

STEP 1:

• Blue/Green/Red Book ORIGINAL in its entirety containing the certificate of the delivering physician or midwife specifying the name(s) and surname(s) of the child’s mother as well as the place, date, time of birth and sex of the child. This document is included in the “Birth details” section that was given to you by the hospital. The original of this document fully completed with stamp and signature must be presented.
• If the “Birth Details” page is not signed: original medical certificate from the delivery doctor or midwife specifying the name(s) and surname(s) of the mother of the child as well as the place, date, time of birth and sex of the child.

STEP 2:

If this is a first child, the joint declaration of name choice signed by both parents. For more information on the surname your child can bear, click here

STEP 3:

If this is a first child, the joint declaration of name choice signed by both parents. For more information on the surname your child can bear, click here

STEP 4:

Original valid passport of the foreign parent

STEP 5:

Proof of address (electricity bill, water bill, telephone bill, Australian driver’s license…)

ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS (depending on marital status)

1. If the parents were married in France OR had their foreign marriage certificate transcribed by the French authorities

• Original family record book
• Original full copy of the French marriage certificate less than 3 months old

NB: the presence of only one of the parents is sufficient to make the declaration.

2. If the parents were married abroad and have not had their foreign marriage certificate transcribed OR if the same parents have not had their foreign marriage certificate transcribed

• For the French parent(s): original full copy of their French birth certificate(s) less than 3 months old
• For the non-French parent :

– Certified copy by a Justice of Peace of his/her two-sided birth certificate
– Original translation of the birth certificate by a NAATI translator if the certificate is not in French or English.

• Certified copy of the front and back of the foreign marriage certificate by a Justice of Peace + its original translation by a NAATI translator if the certificate is not in French or English.
• If you have already had a child: the original family record book
• If this is your first child: a tracking envelope to send you your new family record book.

WARNING: the presence of the father is necessary as well as the mother if she is not French.
If the parents were married abroad and did not have their foreign marriage certificate transcribed, it is strongly advised to have it transcribed in order to obtain a family record book and an updated civil status.

2- Transcription of an Australian birth certificate into French civil status records

STEP 1:

• FOR A MINOR CHILD: complete the application form for transcription + provide the documents requested on page 2 of the same form. It is strongly recommended to complete the birth transcription before the child turns 18.
• FOR AN ADULT: complete the transcript application form + provide the documents requested on page 2 of this form. ATTENTION: you must first request a Certificate of French Nationality. Please follow the last procedure of this article.

NB: If you are not married, your family record book will be sent to your birthplace (or if you were born abroad, to the consulate attached to your birthplace) to be completed. You may therefore receive it after the requested transcription.

STEP 2:

Send by mail a complete file to
Consulate General of France in Sydney
Civil Status Department
31 Market Street, Level 26
SYDNEY NSW 2000

It is advisable to use a tracked envelope and to ensure yourself that the mail is received by the Consulate General of France in Sydney.

If the file is complete, the processing time is 2 to 4 months.

Only contact the registry office in case of new facts or change of address by email: etat-civil.sydney-fslt@diplomatie.gouv.fr

At the end of the procedure, you will receive by mail, copies of the French birth certificate of the child and your family record book (newly created or updated).

For more information, please visit the Consulate’s website: www.ambafrance-au.org