Mayotte’s stricter jus soli rules take effect, requiring both parents to be legal residents

On 6 May a decree implementing the 2025 law on nationality in Mayotte entered into force, ending automatic French citizenship for children born on the island unless both parents have lived legally in France for at least one year at the time of birth. Previously, just one parent needed three months’ lawful residence. The change responds to chronic migration pressures on the Indian-Ocean department, where nearly half the population is foreign and maternity wards face record demand. Supporters, including the government and the National Rally, say the tougher conditions will curb so-called ‘birth tourism’ from neighbouring Comoros and Madagascar. Civil-society groups and left-wing MPs denounce the measure as a breach of equality between French territories and warn of a spike in stateless children. For global-mobility practitioners, the reform primarily affects French-company staff posted to Mayotte whose non-EU partners are pregnant: both adults must now maintain uninterrupted legal status for a full year to secure the child’s citizenship at birth. Employers should verify residence-permit validity well ahead of expected delivery dates and be prepared for longer family-reunification timelines if the new criteria are not met.



For companies or families needing support with those residence-permit checks, VisaHQ offers a streamlined way to confirm current French immigration requirements and submit the necessary paperwork. Its dedicated France portal (https://www.visahq.com/france/) features live updates, document checklists and optional concierge assistance, helping HR teams keep assignments in Mayotte compliant—especially when an upcoming birth adds time pressure.

The Council of State has been asked to examine whether the rule complies with international conventions on children’s rights, but no suspension has been ordered.