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Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's soon-to-be-born twins will always be considered honorary citizens of Nice, regardless of whether they opt to obtain French citizenship, the mayor of Nice says.

The Hollywood super couple have chosen the relatively low-key Riviera city for the birth of their twins, expected within weeks. Jolie has been in hospital since last Sunday in the seaside Lenval hospital, which has a magnificent view of the Mediterranean. Pitt has been making regular visits, often with some of their children in tow.

"That is for the citizens of Nice a very great honour and a great satisfaction," mayor Christian Estrosi said. "We are very happy for this choice of Mrs Angelina Jolie and Mr Brad Pitt and I want to say to them that I wish a lot of joy to them and the babies, and great success for all of their lives."

The mayor affectionately called the twins "two little Nicois".

Being born in France is not enough to confer citizenship. But according to the French Foreign Ministry website, the twins will have the option of obtaining French citizenship when they turn 18 as long as France has been their primary residence for at least five years after age 11.

They are allowed to keep both French and American nationalities, so they will never have to choose.

"All their lives they will be Nicois and all their life they will be able to come to Nice and we will receive them with great honour," Estrosi said.

He was waiting eagerly to extend his congratulations on behalf of all the city's residents.

Jolie's doctor said on Wednesday that the babies would arrive "within the coming weeks".

Pitt and the four children - Maddox, six; Pax, four; Zahara, three; Shiloh, two - have taken up residence in the town of Correns, 100km from Nice, in advance of the new arrivals.