Your father is from Pondicherry that is a Former French Colony and your mother is Tamilnadu Is it possible for you to acquire French nationality?

Answer 1

For Pondicherry:

The treaty giving back the French colony of Pondichéry, to India came into effect in Aug. 1962. Under the terms of the treaty, the people living there had a six-month period to claim French citizenship. The people who did not express their willingness to gain French citizenship were automatically given Indian citizenship at the end of the 6-month period.

You can claim French citizenship only IF your father specifically requested French citizenship between Aug.1962 and Jan.1963, meaning that he is/was a French citizen.

However, IF he lost his French nationality because he was a resident (domiciled) outside the French Colony at the time of the transfer of the colonies to India and therefore did not choose the 'option' to become a French citizen, THEN your father can reacquire French nationality via articles 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 of the Treaty of Cession of the French Colonies to India.

Based on the fact that your father reacquires his French nationality, you can thereafter acquire nationality for yourself.

Be aware that the French administration (especially the French Consulate in Pondicherry) has an informal policy of misleading and discouraging any attempts by their former subjects to re-acquire French nationality.

It is essential to get legal help and guidance in matters of acquisition of nationality so as to avoid the numerous procedural hurdles, administrative traps and disinformation pitfalls.

External link :

TREATY BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF FRANCE AND INDIA ESTABLISHING CESSION BY THE FRENCH REPUBLIC TO THE INDIAN UNION OF THE FRENCH ESTABLISHMENTS IN INDIA [1956]