The French authorities has confirmed that over-65s will, in actual fact, be exempt from the brand new French language and civics take a look at necessities for residency playing cards, which start in 2026.
The French authorities just lately clarified to The Local that folks aged 65 and over won’t be required to reveal a minimal language stage or move a civics take a look at when making use of for sure sorts of residency playing cards.
These two modifications each come from France’s 2024 Immigration legislation, which introduced in new necessities for foreigners in France, together with the addition of a French language take a look at and a civics take a look at.
But whereas the preliminary model of the legislation didn’t point out an exemption for older folks, a brand new decree printed on July fifteenth contains an exemption for folks aged 65 and over for each the French language take a look at and the written civics take a look at, if they’re making use of for long-term residency playing cards.
The exemption doesn’t apply to these making use of for French citizenship.
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The modifications are as a result of come into impact on January 1st 2026.
Among these modifications are necessities for folks making use of for multi-year residency playing cards and the 10-year carte de résident to reveal a better language stage (Level A2 for the previous, B1 for the latter), in addition to a minimal rating on a civics take a look at.
While there have been present exemptions for folks with disabilities, it’s now clear that folks over 65 may even be exempt from these necessities.
A spokesperson from the inside ministry advised The Local: “The decree of the Council of State of July fifteenth exempts international nationals over the age of 65 from having to show their language proficiency and move the civic examination with the intention to be issued with a multi-year residence allow (each the multi-year residence card or 10-year carte de résident).”
READ ALSO: Quiz: Could you move the brand new French civics take a look at?
Other exemptions
For those that are youthful than 65, there are fairly just a few teams who usually are not required to take both the language take a look at or the civics take a look at – these embody Brits who’ve the post-Brexit Article 50 TUE carte de séjour.
The language and civics assessments are required the primary time somebody applies for a carte de résident or carte de séjour pluriannuelle. They usually are not required for renewals.
You can discover a full listing of exempt teams right here.
What about these making use of for French citizenship?
The over-65s exemption pertains to people who find themselves making use of for residency playing cards solely.
The 2024 immigration legislation additionally specified that new purposes for French nationality (from January 2026) shall be required to indicate not less than a B2 stage (higher intermediate) in French. This requirement applies to each folks making use of by residency and by marriage/ household ties.
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There isn’t any broad exemption primarily based on age for the language requirement, apart from political refugees and stateless individuals who have lived in France for over 15 years and are over 70 years previous.
However, the inside ministry did make clear to The Local that the brand new civics take a look at requirement will apply solely to folks making use of by residency, not folks making use of by marriage/ household ties.
The spokesperson for the inside ministry advised The Local: “The civics examination solely applies to naturalisation by décret (residency).
“Requests by déclaration (marriage to a French citizen, ascendant or sibling of a French citizen) usually are not topic to the civic examination.”
When it involves citizenship, the civics take a look at is along with – not as a substitute of – the in-person interview on the préfecture.
What about folks with disabilities?
In all circumstances – for any language or civics take a look at – the French authorities does permit for changes or exemptions primarily based on a medical purpose. However, you will have to supply proof out of your physician that your situation prohibits you from passing the language or civics take a look at.
