France Passes Bill to Tighten Birthright Citizenship Rules in Mayotte

The Parliament of France has adopted a bill to limit access to French citizenship for children born in its overseas territory of Mayotte.

While through this measure the French authorities want to put an end to irregular migration to Mayotte, the move has been criticised by some due to fears that such restrictions could be introduced nationwide later on, Schengen.News reports. 

Under French law, any child born in the country, including Mayotte and other overseer territories, qualifies for nationality from the age of 13 provided that at least one parent has resided in the French territory for a minimum of three months at the time of birth. 

The new bill that has been signed off by the Senate and the National Embassy now requires both parents to prove that they have legally lived in Mayotte for at least a full year in order for their child to be eligible for French citizenship. 

In the case of single parents, the bill dictates that it will be sufficient for only the single parent to have been legally residing in Mayotte for a year. 

As for the mainland and other overseas territories, the birthright citizenship rules will remain the same, the authorities noted. 

Move Comes Amid Rising Irregular Migration in Mayotte 
The adoption of the bill to limit access to birthright citizenship in Mayotte comes amid rising irregular migration to the French overseas territory.

While Mayotte is regarded as part of the EU since it is a French overseas territory, it is a very impoverished area. As Info Migrants explains, Mayotte is estimated to have more immigrants than actual native inhabitants. 

The majority of foreigners reach the island by using irregular means and hope to eventually obtain French residency and later on citizenship, raising concerns among the authorities. 

Despite data suggesting an increase in irregular migration to Mayotte, some critics have expressed their fears that the bill could pave the way for birthright citizenship restrictions to be introduced nationwide after some time. 

The member of parliament from the Green Party Dominique Voynet said that this particular bill would lead to the end of the right of territory in France. The same said that Mayotte is about to become “a laboratory: for far-right ideas. 

On the other hand, the leader of the far-right National Rally party, Marine Le Pen, said that this law would have minimal impact on France’s immigration figures and proposed that the legislation instead be expanded to “ban the right of territory across all national land”. 

Source: https://schengen.news/france-passes-bill-to-tighten-birthright-citizenship-rules-in-mayotte/