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In depth
Droit du sang (right of blood) is the French term for jus sanguinis — citizenship acquired by descent from a French parent. It is the primary basis of French citizenship alongside droit du sol (jus soli).
French citizenship by descent is governed by the French Civil Code (articles 18-33-1). A child born to at least one French parent is French, regardless of where they are born. However, French parents born abroad must register their children's birth with the French consulate within certain timeframes to maintain the chain.
For CBD cases, French descent claims require documentary proof of the unbroken chain: French birth certificates for each generation, and consular registration records (registre des Français établis hors de France) showing that French citizenship was maintained.
Related terms
Jus sanguinis (Latin for 'right of blood') is the principle that grants citizenship based on the citizenship of one's parents or ancestors, regardless of where one is born.
Droit du sol (right of the soil) is the French term for jus soli — citizenship acquired by birth on French territory.
The état civil is the French civil registry system that maintains records of births, marriages, and deaths, managed by each commune's mairie (town hall).
The Tribunal Judiciaire is the French court that processes certain citizenship declarations and disputes, including CBD claims that require judicial recognition.
The Certificat de Nationalité Française (CNF) is the official French document that certifies a person's French citizenship, used as proof in CBD cases.