Overview
- A decree published Tuesday in the Journal officiel sets tougher birthright rules in Mayotte that take effect Wednesday.
- Children born there to foreign parents will qualify only if both parents lived legally in France for at least one year at the time of birth, replacing the prior rule of one parent for three months.
- Applicants must submit documents proving each parent's lawful one-year residence at the birth, with paperwork limited to the recognized parent when filiation exists for only one.
- The measure, adopted by Parliament in April 2025 with support from the National Rally, the government and centrists, survived a left-wing challenge at the Constitutional Council.
- The Council pointed to Mayotte’s unusually high share of foreign nationals and people without legal status, while opponents say the territory-specific rule departs from mainland law and will add hurdles for families.