If you’re planning to apply for French citizenship by descent, you do not need to reside in France to complete the application process. While French residents will handle their applications for French nationality through the French Citizens Contact Center, applicants living abroad must go through the relevant competent authority in their country of residence.
In this guide, we break down the official diplomatic missions of France (embassies and consulates) and how to determine which one to apply through depending on your place of residence and your connection by jus sanguinis or jus soli.
Why Consular Offices Matter for French Citizenship Applicants
When applying for citizenship in an EU member nation from abroad, it’s essential to submit your French nationality law application materials through a competent authority. These offices are limited to embassies and consulates, which represent the French government for non-residents.
Note that the consular offices themselves are not responsible for processing applications; they represent the French territory abroad for individuals who cannot physically apply within the country in which they’re seeking citizenship.
List of French Diplomatic Missions
There are hundreds of French diplomatic missions located in countries around the world. These office service the many French diasporic communities abroad.
Within the U.S., France has 10 diplomatic missions for residents of states and territories — the Embassy in Washington, D.C., and 9 consulates in major cities across the country.
Consulate General of France in New York
The New York City consulate to France handles citizenship applications for individuals residing in the following:
- New York
- New Jersey
- Connecticut
- Bermuda
Applicants may also be asked to provide a marriage certificate or French language proficiency certificate depending on the case and proof of descent from a French parent.
Consulate General of France in Los Angeles
The French consulate in Los Angeles handles applications for individuals residing in:
- Colorado
- Southern California (counties Inyo, Imperial, Kern, Kings, Los Angeles, Mono, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura)
- Arizona
- New Mexico
- Southern Nevada (counties Clark, Esmeralsda, Lincoln, Nye, and Mineral), including Las Vegas
These applicants typically submit documentation to confirm eligibility under French nationality law and may later apply for a residence permit or residency permit in France if they wish to live there.
Consulate General of France in Atlanta
The Consulate General of France in Atlanta has a jurisdiction encompassing the following places of residence:
- Georgia
- Alabama
- Mississippi
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
Consulate General of France in Boston
Boston’s French consular office provides services for residents of the following U.S. states:
- Massachusetts
- New Hampshire
- Maine
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
Applicants here may also access social services and support from local French society organizations during the immigration law process.
Consulate General of France in Chicago
The Consulate General of France in Chicago has a wide jurisdiction for U.S. residents of the following states:
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- South Dakota
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Wisconsin
Consulate General of France in Houston
Houston’s French consular office has a jurisdiction including:
- Texas
- Arkansas
- Louisiana
- Oklahoma
Consulate General of France in Miami
The Consulate General of France in Miami offers citizenship services to residents of:
- Florida
- Puerto Rico
- Bahamas
- U.S. Virgin Islands
- Cayman Islands
- Turks and Caïcos Islands
Applicants from these regions can also apply for a French passport after their citizenship is approved.
Consulate General of France in New Orleans
The New Orleans consulate to France handles applications for residents of Louisiana.
Consulate General of France in San Francisco
The Consulate General of France in San Francisco is used by residents of:
- Northern California (counties Alameda, Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, Contra Costa, Del Norte, El Dorado, Fresno, Glenn, Humboldt, Lake, Lassen, Marin, Mariposa, Mendocino, Merced, Modoc, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, San Benito, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Sutter,Tehama, Trinity, Tulare, Tuolumne, Yuba, and Yolo)
- Northern Nevada (counties Churchill, Douglas, Elko, Eureka, Humboldt, Launder, Lyon, Pershing, Storey, Washoe, and White Pine)
- Alaska
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Oregon
- Montana
- Utah
- Wyoming
- Washington
- Pacific Islands under U.S. jurisdiction (Guam and Samoa)
Embassy of France in Washington, D.C.
The U.S. Embassy of France is located in Washington, D.C., and its jurisdiction includes:
- District of Columbia
- Delaware
- Maryland
- Pennsylvania
- Virginia
- West Virginia
Next Steps – Applying for French Citizenship
If you plan to apply for French citizenship through ancestry from abroad, the above diplomatic missions will serve you in submitting documents to the competent citizenship authorities in France.
Ready to apply for citizenship or see if you qualify through ancestral ties? Our team of EU citizenship experts can help you get started with an eligibility assessment and a breakdown of next steps. We recommend starting with our $250 full service package.