Request for assistance with the transcription of marriage and the obtaining of the family record book

Here is the detailed procedure for transcribing your marriage and recognizing your children's French nationality.

1. Transcription of Marriage Celebrated Abroad
Since your marriage took place abroad, it is valid in France but must be transcribed into the French civil registry to be opposable to third parties and to obtain a French Family Record Book (Livret de famille).

Where to apply:

General Case: You must send your application to the French Consulate or Embassy having jurisdiction over the place where the marriage was celebrated.

Exception (Specific Countries): If the marriage took place in certain European countries (e.g., Switzerland, Luxembourg, Monaco, Poland, Liechtenstein), the application must be sent to the Service Central d'État Civil (Bureau des Transcriptions pour l'Europe - BTE) in Nantes.​

Required Documents (General List):

Application Form: "Demande de transcription de mariage" (available on the relevant consulate's website).​

Original Foreign Marriage Certificate: The full copy (copie intégrale) issued by the local foreign authority.

Translation: If the act is not in French, it must be translated by a sworn translator (traducteur assermenté).​

Birth Certificates: Full copies of the birth certificates (copie intégrale) for both spouses (less than 3 months old for the French spouse).​

Proof of Nationality: For the French spouse (e.g., French ID card, passport, or CNF).​

Identity Documents: Photocopies of valid IDs for both spouses.​

CCAM: If you obtained a Certificat de Capacité à Mariage prior to the wedding, include it. If not, the consulate may require an interview (audition) to verify the marriage's intent before transcribing.​

2. Obtaining the Family Record Book (Livret de Famille)
You do not need to make a separate application for this.

The French Livret de Famille is automatically created and delivered to you upon the completion of your marriage transcription.​

It will be sent to the consulate (or your town hall in France if you live there) for you to pick up.

3. French Nationality for Your Children
If one of the parents is French, the children are generally French by descent (droit du sang) from birth. You do not need to "apply" for their nationality (naturalization); you simply need to have their status recognized administratively.​

The Procedure: Transcription of Birth
To establish their French identity (and apply for passports/ID cards), you must request the transcription of their foreign birth certificates into the French consular registers.​

Timing: It is best to do this immediately after the marriage transcription (or simultaneously if the consulate allows).

Documents Required:

Application form for transcription of a minor's birth certificate.​

Original foreign birth certificate of the child + sworn translation.​

Proof of the French parent's nationality.

The French Livret de Famille (once you receive it after the marriage transcription, it will be updated with the children's names).​