"When was the Maastricht treaty, the foundation treaty of the European Union, concluded?"; "What is the mountain chain separating France and Spain?"; "What are the dates of the first World War?"; or "How does an employer set a salary?" These are examples of questions during a mandatory civic exam for foreigners who wish to settle permanently in France beginning on January 1, 2026.

Under the asylum and immigration law, enacted in early 2024, foreigners applying for a multi-year residence permit (two to four years), a residence card (10 years), or naturalization for the first time must pass a civic test. The difficulty level of the exam is adapted to each of the procedures. Foreigners must also prove their proficiency in French by presenting a language certificate. 

Civic test

1/ Regarding the civic test, which covers history, geography, and the institutional and political system, foreign nationals will have to answer:

• 40 multiple choice questions on general knowledge and "situational scenarios".
• The foreign student will receive one point for each correct answer. To pass the exam, a correct answer rate of 80 percent is required (i.e., a minimum score of 32/40).
• The test lasts forty-five minutes and is conducted on digital devices in examination centers approved by the Ministry of the Interior.

An exam of this type isn't completely without precedent. Foreigners and candidates for naturalization already had to pass an "assimilation test" prior to January 1, 2026, at the prefecture during which they had to answer similar questions during an exchange that lasted several minutes.

Language test

2/ Concerning the language test, applicants should bring a diploma proving that he/she is proficient in the French language. This requirement has always existed, but the level has been raised. Beginning on January 1, 2026, it be will necessary to validate a:

• Level A2 (beginner level) for a multi-year residence permit (two or four years)
• Level B1 (intermediate level) for a residence card (10 years)
• Level B2 (advanced) for candidates for naturalization

There are several ways of certifying the French level and obtaining a diploma: taking the French Proficiency Test (TEF), the Certificate in French Language Studies (DELF), or the French Language Test (FCT).

Also worth noting:

• These exams only concern first applications for residence permits submitted from January 1, 2026 and onwards. They do not concern renewals.
• The price of the civic test is around 70 euros, according to the French news agency Agence France Presse (AFP). "The price is set by the examination centers," said the Ministry of the Interior.
• The language certificate costs around one hundred euros.
• The civic test can be passed as many times as necessary.
• The Ministry of the Interior helps with the preparation of the civic exam, with resources to help prepare for the exam here: https://formation-civique.interieur.gouv.fr/

Warning: Some websites offer paid preparation for the civic exam. These sites were created independently of the Ministry of the Interior and may therefore be fraudulent.