Who qualifies for Monégasque citizenship by descent
Under article 1 of Law 1.155, you are Monégasque from birth if your father was Monégasque. Through your mother, you are Monégasque from birth if she was born Monégasque, if one of her ancestors on the same side was born Monégasque, or if she became Monégasque by naturalisation or reinstatement. A mother who became Monégasque another way — for example by marriage — does not pass it on at birth. There is no route through grandparents unless your parent is Monégasque.
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Who is Monégasque at birth
Article 1 of Law 1.155 of 18 December 1992 sets out who is Monégasque from birth. Anyone born to a Monégasque father is. Through the mother, a child is Monégasque if she was born Monégasque and still had the nationality at the birth, if one of her ancestors on the same side was born Monégasque, or if she became Monégasque by naturalisation or reinstatement. A mother who became Monégasque by declaration after marriage does not pass it on at birth.
There's no route through grandparents unless your parent is Monégasque — but the mother's-line rule reaches back through her ancestors, so a mother with a Monégasque-born parent or grandparent passes nationality on.
Sources: Legimonaco — Law 1.155 on nationality (consolidated)
Taking another nationality ends Monégasque nationality
Article 8 says that a Monégasque who naturalises abroad or acquires a foreign nationality at their own request loses Monégasque nationality. The law doesn't strip nationality from someone who simply holds another nationality from birth, but anyone who later chooses another passport gives up Monaco's.
Marriage and naturalisation
Spouses of Monégasques can acquire nationality by declaration after 20 years of marriage and cohabitation (10 years for marriages before 1 July 2022), subject to residence and renunciation conditions. Naturalisation is granted by Sovereign Ordinance at the Prince's discretion and requires giving up other nationalities.
Sources: MonServicePublic — acquiring Monégasque nationality
Proving your mother's line
If your claim runs through your mother, you'll need records showing how she is Monégasque: her Monégasque birth record, or the birth record of the Monégasque-born ancestor on her side, or her naturalisation or reinstatement ordinance. The Monaco civil-status service and the Palace archives hold older records. Applications to establish nationality go through the Monégasque authorities in Monaco.
Worked examples
Camille was born in Paris to a Monégasque father. She's Monégasque from birth.
Louis was born in Nice to a Monégasque mother who was herself born Monégasque. He's Monégasque from birth under Article 1.
Hélène's mother acquired Monégasque nationality by declaration after 20 years of marriage. That nationality doesn't pass to children at birth, so Hélène isn't Monégasque through her mother.
Monégasque requirements at a glance
- A Monégasque father, or
- A Monégasque mother who was born Monégasque, has a Monégasque-born ancestor on her side, or was naturalised or reinstated
- Proof of the parent's Monégasque nationality at your birth
- A Monégasque who voluntarily acquires another nationality loses Monégasque nationality (article 8)
Documents for a Monégasque claim
- 1Your full birth certificate (apostilled and translated into French)
- 2Your Monégasque parent's nationality certificate or Monégasque passport
- 3For a claim through your mother: her birth record, or records showing her Monégasque-born ancestor or her naturalisation or reinstatement
- 4Your parents' marriage certificate, if relevant
Monégasque processing times
Monaco doesn't publish processing times for establishing nationality. A child of a Monégasque father, or of a qualifying Monégasque mother, is Monégasque from birth, so the work is in assembling the civil-status records that prove it.
Where Monégasque claims go wrong
- Mothers who became Monégasque by marriage do not pass on nationality at birth
- Voluntarily taking another nationality later costs you Monégasque nationality
- Monaco is not an EU member — Monégasque nationality confers no EU rights
- With so few citizens, procedures are handled case by case — contact the authorities early
Official Monégasque government sources
Monégasque citizenship FAQ
Q1My grandmother was born Monégasque. Does my mother pass on nationality?
If your mother is Monégasque and has a Monégasque-born ancestor on her side — such as her mother — yes: you're Monégasque from birth under Article 1.
Q2My mother became Monégasque through marriage. Does she pass it on?
No. Nationality acquired by declaration after marriage doesn't pass to children at birth.
Q3Can I hold Monégasque and another nationality?
Holding another nationality from birth isn't prohibited, but voluntarily acquiring a foreign nationality later ends Monégasque nationality.
Q4Can I naturalise in Monaco?
Naturalisation is discretionary, granted by Sovereign Ordinance, and requires giving up other nationalities.
Q5Is Monaco in the EU?
No. Monégasque nationality doesn't give EU free-movement rights.
Monégasque nationality law
Law No. 1.155 of 18 December 1992 on nationality, article 1 (nationality at birth), as amended — most recently by Law No. 1.512 of 3 December 2021. Article 8 sets out loss of nationality.
Dual citizenship in Monaco
A Monégasque who voluntarily acquires a foreign nationality loses Monégasque nationality (article 8). Foreigners naturalising in Monaco must give up other nationalities. The law does not take nationality away from someone who holds another nationality from birth.
Monégasque application costs
Monaco doesn't publish a fee for establishing nationality by birth. Budget for certified civil-status records, apostilles and French translations of foreign documents.