Hi Guys A couple of Listers have asked me about people of Huguenot descent claiming French citizenship. Whilst making enquiries about pre-1600 church and civil registration in France in the chaos that passes for the Civil Registration Department at the French Consulate in London today, I asked about Huguenot descended people getting citizenship. Basically, no chance. Unless your father or his parents were French born and unless you speak French and live in the 'French style' (whatever that is) you cannot claim French citizenship. But, if you live in France for five years you can! Provided you speak French to an acceptable standard, pay taxes in the country and live in the French style. Ok, so my French is not that good but I know the first two verses of La Marseillaise if that helps! Great at rugby matches and I even practise when they're lining up for a match on the television. Must get a life sometime!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Do you know that the French National Anthem was originally written by a Royalist Officer of Engineers, Claude-Joseph Rouget de Lisle and was first called the Battle Hymn of the Army of the Rhine? Regards Tony Fuller

hi Tony, At one of the Huguenot Reunions we attended in France we were told that there was a time when Huguenot descendants could reclaim their French citizenship. I am unsure of the dates but I think it ended by WW2. Shirley Arabin Mount Maunganui, New Zealand . p.s. In NZ we make and eat a lot of cheese and drink a lot of wine, does that mean we live in the French style.? We are also rather paranoid, insular, and cannot see why anyone would want to live anywhere else but here. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tony Fuller" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, 18 February 2004 08:00 Subject: [HWE] French Citizenship > Hi Guys > > A couple of Listers have asked me about people of Huguenot descent claiming French citizenship. > > Basically, no chance. Unless your father or his parents were French born and unless you speak French and live in the 'French style' (whatever that is) you cannot claim French citizenship.