Republic of the Congo/France: Whether someone born in the Congo (Brazzaville), whose parents were born in the Congo in 1940 and 1943, is eligible for French nationality; if so, the process for obtaining it
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Publication Date | 26 October 2010 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | ZZZ103629.FE |
| Related Document(s) | République du Congo/France : information indiquant si un individu né au Congo (Brazzaville), de parents nés au Congo en 1940 et 1943, est admissible à la nationalité française; le cas échéant, information indiquant la marche à suivre pour l'obtenir Direction des recherches, Commission de l'immigration et du statut de réfugié du Canada, Ottawa |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Republic of the Congo/France: Whether someone born in the Congo (Brazzaville), whose parents were born in the Congo in 1940 and 1943, is eligible for French nationality; if so, the process for obtaining it, 26 October 2010, ZZZ103629.FE, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/4f151c5c2.html [accessed 21 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
According to two sources consulted by the Research Directorate, persons born in the Republic of the Congo and whose parents were born in the Republic of the Congo between 1940 and 1943 are eligible for French nationality (Republic of the Congo 25 Oct. 2010; France 25 Oct. 2010). In a 25 October 2010 telephone interview with the Research Directorate, a representative of the Embassy of the Republic of the Congo in Paris explained that those individuals may acquire French nationality on the basis of the principle that persons born in the territories that had colony status could become French citizens, provided that they make application to do so. Congolese citizens who cannot prove that they or their parents were born before Congo's independence can consult the archives of the colonial administration at the prefecture in the city of Nantes, which managed them during the colonial period (Republic of the Congo 25 Oct. 2010). The prefecture can provide, among other things, a registration number and a birth certificate in order to create an official nationality application file and can submit the file to the competent authorities in the applicant's place of residence (ibid.).
Additional information on the process for applying for French nationality could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
France. 25 October 2010. Embassy of France in Brazzaville. Telephone interview with a representative.
Republic of the Congo. 25 October 2010. Embassy of the Congo in Paris. Telephone interview with a representative.
Additional Sources Consulted
Oral Sources: Attempts to reach representatives of the Embassy of the Republic of the Congo in Brussels and the French consulate in Pointe-Noire were unsuccessful.
Internet sites, including: African Press Organization (APO), Afrik.com, Afrol News, AllAfrica.com, La Conscience [Kinshasa], European Country of Origin Information Network (ecoi.net), Grioo.com, InfoSud Belgique (InfoSud), Internationale de l'éducation (IE), Keesing Reference Systems, Organisation internationale de la francophonie (OIF), Réseau des médias francophones (MEDIAF), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), United Nations — Integrated Regional Information Network (IRIN), United States — Department of State.
