The French authorities is bringing in new necessities for some foreigners in France making use of for residency or nationality. There are, nevertheless, many exemptions – here is a take a look at precisely who has to take the brand new civics check.
As a part of France’s 2024 immigration legislation, the federal government is bringing in new necessities for residency playing cards and nationality functions, ranging from January 1st, 2026.
One key change is the introduction of a brand new civics check that might be required of individuals making use of for sure kinds of residency playing cards, in addition to French nationality.
Who has to take the civics check?
Broadly, individuals making use of for sure kinds of multi-year residency playing cards – the carte de séjour pluriannuelle and the 10-year carte de résident must take a civics check. People making use of for French citizenship by residency (par décret) can even need to move a civics check.
As there are three conditions the place you want the civics check, there can even be three several types of civics assessments.
All three might be in French, and they’re going to cowl the identical 5 themes, that are broadly represented within the Livret du Citoyen. However, they are going to be tailored primarily based on language stage and the kind of card/ standing the individual is making use of for.
READ MORE: Quiz: Could you move the brand new French civics check?
Here are three classes;
Multi-year residency playing cards
In France, the usual is that you may apply for the multi-year residency card (carte de séjour pluriannuelle) when your carte de séjour temporaire (one-year card) nears its expiration date.
Applicants should proceed to fulfil the necessities of their card, and beginning in 2026, candidates can even want to indicate an A2 French stage and that they’ve handed the civics check to be awarded the carte de séjour pluriannuelle.
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However, there are (confusingly) a number of kinds of French residency playing cards, and solely a few of them require holders to take the civics check as soon as they change to the pluriannuelle.
Statuses such because the employee (salarié), self-employed (entrepreneur/occupation libérale), and sure kinds of household and personal life (vie privée et familiale) class, together with mother and father of French minors and international spouses and companions (PACs) of French nationals, should full the civics check earlier than making use of for a multi-year card for the primary time.
However, different card varieties, together with these on the ‘expertise’ standing (and their households), in addition to the scholars and posted staff, are exempt.
Basically in case your card sort requires the contrat d’intégration républicaine (CIR), additionally, you will need to do the civics check – you’ll be able to see a desk of which playing cards should full the CIR right here.
READ MORE: OFII: Your questions answered on France’s immigration workplace
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The 10-year carte de résident
France’s 10-year carte de résident is often out there after 5 years of consecutive residency in France, although in some instances you’ll be able to apply after three years (ex., married to a French partner).
From January 2026, these making use of for a first-time 10-year carte de résident won’t solely must show a B1 stage in French but in addition a passing rating on the civics check.
Applying for French citizenship
Starting in January 2026, you’ll have to present at the very least a B2 stage of French, no matter whether or not you’re making use of for French nationality primarily based on residency or marriage/household ties.
If you’re making use of primarily based on residency – that means you’ve got lived in France a minimal of 5 years (two years in some instances) – then you need to additionally move the civics check. The civics check isn’t required, nevertheless, for individuals making use of by marriage.
The civics check might be along with the present integration interview.
Who is exempt?
But as all French learners know, for each rule there’s an exception. The substantial checklist of exemptions for the civics check requirement signifies that many individuals won’t ever have to fret about this.
People age 65 and older (for residency playing cards) – If you’re 65 or older, then you’re exempt from each the language and civics check necessities for French residency playing cards.
However, if you wish to apply for French nationality, there isn’t a broad age-related exemption. You would nonetheless want to indicate a B2 stage of French and move the civics check.
READ MORE: French authorities confirms civics and language check exemption for over 65s
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People with disabilities – If you’ll be able to present proof of a incapacity that prohibits you from passing the civics check, then you definitely may be exempted. You will want a health care provider’s observe.
Card renewals – those that have already got a carte de séjour pluriannuelle or a carte de résident and are merely making use of to resume don’t must do the civics check, since this requirement considerations ‘first requests’ for every sort of card.
Post-Brexit Brits – Brits who arrived in France earlier than Brexit and have the carte de séjour Article 50 TUE (generally often known as the WARP card) don’t must do a civics check after they come to resume.
New arrivals and people on short-term residency playing cards – The civics check necessities don’t kick in till you’ve got lived in France for at the very least two to 5 years. In the start, you’ll be on a short-term visa or residency card.
You’ll solely have to consider the civics check if you happen to select to use for both one of many multi-year playing cards listed above, the 10-year carte de résident, or nationality primarily based on residency. If you’ve got a one-year card and also you want to renew it for one more one-year card, you’ll not be requested to take the civics check.
However, there are limits to the variety of occasions you’ll be able to renew a one-year standing earlier than you’re required to request a multi-year card. The ‘customer’ card is exempt from this, so in idea you would proceed renewing it as many occasions as you want, although you would want to pay a payment annually.
READ MORE: Your questions answered: New French language necessities for foreigners
Students, Talent Passport and posted staff – Posted staff, individuals on the ‘expertise’ carte de séjour (and their households), in addition to college students, are additionally exempt from the civics check.
However, if you happen to finally want to apply for both a 10-year carte de résident or French nationality by residency, you’ll need to move a civics check.
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Citizenship
When it involves making use of for French citizenship, there are far fewer exemptions.
There isn’t any exemption for sure statuses, similar to post-Brexit Brits or the Talent card-holders. Neither is there a blanket exemption for over 65s – the one age-related exemption is for people who find themselves over 70s are exempt and now have refugee standing and have lived in France for at the very least 15 years.
However, if you’re making use of for French nationality by déclaration (marriage or household ties), you don’t want to move the civics check (though you do need to take the language check).
The identical goes for many who are technically already French however are making use of for a certificat de nationalité française (CNF), similar to these with a French guardian.
READ MORE: GUIDE: All the current modifications to French citizenship
