France Passes Bill to Tighten Birthright Citizenship Rules in Mayotte
France Passes Law to Restrict Birthright Citizenship in Mayotte
The French Parliament has approved a new law that tightens birthright citizenship eligibility for children born in Mayotte, one of France’s overseas territories. The bill, which has been ratified by both the Senate and the National Assembly, marks a significant shift in French nationality law—though it applies exclusively to Mayotte for now.
Stricter Residency Requirements for Parents
Previously, under French birthright citizenship law, any child born on French soil—including overseas territories like Mayotte—could acquire French nationality at age 13 if at least one parent had legally resided in the territory for three months at the time of birth.
Under the new legislation, both parents must now prove that they have resided legally in Mayotte for at least one year for their child to qualify for French citizenship. In cases involving a single parent, the law requires that the sole parent must have lived in Mayotte legally for the same duration.
French authorities have clarified that these new requirements will not apply to the mainland or other overseas territories, where the existing birthright rules remain unchanged.
Law Aims to Address Irregular Migration in Mayotte
This legislative change comes in response to increasing irregular migration to Mayotte. Despite being part of France—and by extension, the European Union—Mayotte remains one of France’s most impoverished regions. According to InfoMigrants, the island now hosts more immigrants than native inhabitants.
Most of these immigrants arrive through unauthorized routes, often from the neighboring Comoros Islands, and aim to gain legal residency and, eventually, French citizenship. The growing influx has raised concerns among French authorities about population pressure, limited infrastructure, and social services strain.
Critics Warn of a National Shift in Citizenship Policy
While the law is currently limited to Mayotte, critics argue that it may set a precedent for broader reforms. Dominique Voynet, a Green Party MP, warned that Mayotte could become a “laboratory for far-right policies”, suggesting that the law could be a first step toward nationwide restrictions on birthright citizenship.
Meanwhile, Marine Le Pen, leader of the far-right National Rally party, criticized the law for not going far enough. She called for the abolition of territorial birthright citizenship across all of France, arguing that the impact of the Mayotte-specific reform on overall immigration figures would be minimal.
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