France's 2026 Civic Exam and French Level Requirement — Who Is Actually Concerned?
📌 Key facts
- Since 1 January 2026, any non-EU national applying for a first multi-year residence card (carte de séjour pluriannuelle, CSP) or a first resident card (carte de résident, CR) must pass the civic exam (law of 26 January 2024)
- Renewals are not concerned — Service-Public: "Only the 1st application […] is concerned. Renewal applications are not."
- A French language level was introduced alongside it: A2 for the CSP, B1 for the CR (exempt from age 65)
- Permits not subject to the CIR are exempt from both — the wording is identical on both official pages
- CESEDA article L413-5 exempts from the CIR the holders of the mentions "étudiant", "passeport talent", "visiteur", "stagiaire" and others — plus anyone who has completed at least one academic year of higher education in France
- The exam: 40 questions, 45 minutes, 32 correct answers (80%) to pass. Must be passed before filing your application. The certificate never expires and retakes are unlimited
- Preparation is free at formation-civique.interieur.gouv.fr — the official list of knowledge questions is published
2026 has been a turning point for French residence rules: the civic exam and language requirements took effect on 1 January, and permit fees rose on 1 May.
The trouble is that the information circulating online contradicts itself. Plenty of articles say "from 2026 students will have to pass A2 and the civic exam." Yet when you open the official pages, the first thing they set out is a list of exemptions. So this guide is built directly on the service-public.gouv.fr pages and the text of the CESEDA, with the original wording quoted so you can check it yourself.
⚠ Disclaimer
This article is general information and has no legal force. Whether the rules apply depends on the exact mention of the permit you are applying for and its legal basis. Always confirm your situation on service-public.gouv.fr, on the ANEF, or with your prefecture. Accurate as of September 2026.
📖 What is the examen civique?
It is a test of your knowledge of the principles and values of the French Republic, how French institutions are organised, and how French society works. It was created by the law of 26 January 2024 on controlling immigration and improving integration, and has been mandatory since 1 January 2026 for any first application for a multi-year permit. The decree of 15 July 2025 extended it to naturalisation applications. The syllabus and exam arrangements are set by the order (arrêté) of 10 October 2025. The corresponding civic training is part of the republican integration contract (CIR) delivered by the OFII — and that link to the CIR is what determines the exemptions explained below.
What changed on 1 January 2026
The Ministry of the Interior's press release of 12 December 2025 puts it this way: the law of 26 January 2024 "strengthens the requirements regarding French language proficiency and republican integration", and the civic exam becomes mandatory "from 1 January 2026, for any first application for a multi-year residence permit (multi-year residence card or resident card) by foreign residents who are nationals of non-EU countries".
So there are two new requirements, and both attach only to a first issuance:
- Passing the civic exam — first CSP or first CR
- Proving a French language level — A2 for a first CSP, B1 for a first CR
💡 The most common misunderstanding
Both Service-Public pages state the limit up front: "Not all multi-year residence cards and not all resident cards are concerned by this obligation." Saying "everyone has to sit the exam from 2026" is therefore inaccurate.
Are you concerned? The decision table
Work through the rows in order. As soon as one "exempt" applies, you need neither the exam nor language proof.
| Step | Question | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Are you an EU, EEA or Swiss national? | ✅ Not concerned |
| 2 | Is this a renewal? | ✅ Not concerned — only first applications are |
| 3 | Are you applying for something other than a CSP or CR (for example a one-year temporary card)? | ✅ Not concerned |
| 4 | Is the permit one of those not subject to the CIR (étudiant, passeport talent, visiteur, stagiaire, seasonal worker, ICT…)? | ✅ Exempt — stated in the official text |
| 5 | Have you completed at least one academic year of higher education in France, or three school years in French secondary education? | ✅ Exempt from the CIR |
| 6 | Are you a beneficiary of subsidiary protection or stateless (and family)? | ✅ Exempt |
| 7 | Are you 65 or older? | ✅ Exempt from the language requirement |
| 8 | None of the above applies | ⚠️ Concerned — exam + language proof |
Row 4 rests on this passage. Asked "Are all multi-year residence cards concerned by the civic exam?", the Service-Public page (verified 10 February 2026) answers:
"No. If you have one of the following multi-year residence cards, you are not concerned by the obligation to have the civic exam:
- Residence permits that are not subject to the republican integration contract (CIR)
- Beneficiary of subsidiary protection and family
- Stateless person and family."
The page on the language requirement repeats exactly the same list: "The categories of residence permits which are not concerned by the language level obligation for access to a multi-year residence card are […]". In other words, being exempt from one means being exempt from the other.
Why students are generally exempt
Everything therefore turns on what counts as a "permit not subject to the CIR". That list is in the law. CESEDA article L413-5 (amended by law no. 2025-391 of 30 April 2025, in force since 3 May 2025) sets out seventeen categories. The directly relevant extracts:
"The following foreign nationals are exempt from signing the republican integration contract […] holders of:
1° The temporary residence card bearing the mention 'travailleur temporaire' […];
2° The temporary residence card bearing the mention 'étudiant' provided for in articles L. 422-1 or L. 422-2;
3° The temporary residence card bearing the mention 'étudiant-programme de mobilité' […];
5° The temporary residence card bearing the mention 'visiteur' […];
6° The temporary residence card bearing the mention 'stagiaire' […];
7° The multi-year residence card bearing the mention 'passeport talent' […]"
More importantly, the final paragraph adds an exemption that does not depend on the type of permit — this is the one that covers the most people:
"Also exempt from signing this contract is the foreign national who completed their schooling in a French secondary education establishment for at least three school years, or who has undertaken higher education in France for a period of at least one academic year."
💡 Why this is decisive
A student applying for a multi-year card has, by definition, already studied in France for at least a year: the first year is spent on a validated VLS-TS and then a one-year permit, with the multi-year card coming afterwards. This exemption therefore keeps working even when you move to a different status after graduating.
⚠ Do not treat this as a guarantee
This reasoning combines ① the "permits not subject to the CIR" wording on the Service-Public pages with ② the list in CESEDA article L413-5. Both are official sources, but the exact mention of the permit you apply for can change the analysis. Before filing, have your case confirmed by the ANEF or your prefecture — in writing if possible, since counters do not always read the rules the same way.
If you are concerned: the exam and how to prepare
Here is what the Directorate General for Foreign Nationals in France (DGEF) sets out.
Format
- 40 multiple-choice questions in French, 45 minutes
- One correct answer out of four
- 28 knowledge questions + 12 situational questions
- Pass mark: 32 correct answers, i.e. 80%
- Different difficulty levels depending on the permit (CSP or CR)
The five syllabus themes
- Principles and values of the French Republic
- The institutional and political system
- Rights and duties
- History, geography and culture
- Living in French society
When to sit it — the scheduling trap
The DGEF is explicit: "The civic exam must be taken before filing the application for the residence permit", with the certificate of success required at the moment of filing. Since the application itself is filed between four and two months before your current permit expires, you need to book the exam well ahead of that.
Three things ease the pressure:
- Unlimited attempts
- The certificate has no expiry date — passing once is permanent
- Adjustments or exemptions are available for disability or health reasons, on presentation of a medical certificate (template downloadable from the DGEF site)
Free official preparation
The ministry runs formation-civique.interieur.gouv.fr. Look here before paying for any course:
- The syllabus and 222 topic sheets
- The official list of knowledge questions for both the CSP and CR levels (the situational questions are not published)
- How to register
- The list of approved exam centres across the country
Language levels and accepted proof
| Goal | Level required (CEFR) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| First multi-year residence card (CSP) | A2 | if you are under 65 |
| First resident card (CR, 10 years) | B1 | — |
| Naturalisation | Strengthened requirements | Civic exam also mandatory (decree of 15 July 2025) — details on the DGEF nationality pages |
For a sense of what A2 means, Service-Public describes it as being able to understand isolated sentences and frequently used expressions relating to everyday life, to communicate in simple, routine tasks requiring a direct exchange of information on familiar topics, and to describe in simple terms your education, immediate environment and immediate needs.
Four ways to prove A2
- Obtain a language certification
- Hold a diploma attesting a French level of at least A2
- Hold a professional certification classified at least at level 3 of the national framework of professional certifications
- Hold a diploma at least equal to that level 3, or the diplôme national du Brevet
If you earned a degree in France, routes 2 and 4 often do the job. Recognition is at the prefecture's discretion, though, so ask them before paying for a language test.
The other change: fees from 1 May 2026
Under the 2026 budget act, the amounts changed for applications filed on or after 1 May 2026 (source: prefecture notices).
| Situation | Before | From 1 May 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| First issuance (CST, CSP, CR) — standard rate | €200 | €300 |
| First issuance — reduced rate (students, trainees, au pairs, jobseekers, seasonal workers…) | €50 | €100 |
| Renewal — standard / reduced | €200 / €50 | unchanged |
| Stamp duty (residence cards) | €25 | €50 |
| VLS-TS (long-stay visa acting as a permit) — standard / reduced | €200 / €50 | €300 / €100 |
| Stamp duty — naturalisation | €55 | €255 |
| APS (temporary residence authorisation) | — | €100 (new) |
| Exchanging a foreign driving licence | — | €40 (new) |
ℹ️ Renewals did not go up
At the reduced rate a renewal is still €50 tax + €50 stamp duty = €100. The increases hit first issuance and naturalisation. The renewal procedure is covered in our student permit renewal guide.
The €180 regularisation fee for late filing is unchanged. Remember the window: file no earlier than 4 months and no later than 2 months before your permit expires.
Frequently asked questions
Q1. Do I need the exam to renew my permit?
No. Service-Public says it plainly: "Only the 1st application for a multi-year residence card is concerned by the civic exam. Renewal applications are not." The language requirement follows the same rule.
Q2. I'm a student — am I really exempt?
The official wording excludes "permits not subject to the CIR", and CESEDA article L413-5 expressly names the mention "étudiant". On top of that there is the exemption for one academic year of higher education in France. Still, confirm the exact mention of your future permit with the ANEF or your prefecture.
Q3. What about switching to a work permit after graduating?
The exemption in the final paragraph of L413-5 ("at least one academic year in France") does not depend on the permit's mention. It should therefore also apply when you change status after earning a degree in France. The routes themselves (RECE, salarié, passeport talent) are covered in our post-study visa transition guide. Note that passeport talent is separately listed at 7° to 10° of L413-5.
Q4. Do I have to pay for a preparation course?
The ministry provides the syllabus, 222 topic sheets and the official list of knowledge questions for free. Only the 12 situational questions are unpublished. Start there.
Q5. What happens if I fail?
You can retake it as many times as you need, and the certificate never expires. Because you must pass before filing, simply leave room in your schedule for a second attempt.
In summary
- Since 1 January 2026: civic exam + French level (A2/B1) for a first CSP or CR
- Renewals are not concerned
- Permits not subject to the CIR are exempt from both: étudiant, passeport talent, visiteur, stagiaire…
- At least one academic year of higher education in France = CIR exemption, whatever the mention (CESEDA L413-5)
- If concerned: 40 questions, 32 to pass, before filing, free official preparation
- Fees: up for first issuance and naturalisation, renewal unchanged
Need the exact document list for your situation? Build your checklist in 60 seconds on Settli.
General information only. Confirm your situation on service-public.gouv.fr, the ANEF, or with your prefecture.
Sources: service-public.gouv.fr F39530 and F34501 (verified 10 February 2026), DGEF – Ministry of the Interior, CESEDA art. L413-5, law of 26 January 2024, order of 10 October 2025
Last updated: