Foreign nationals living in France on temporary titres de séjour will face a brand-new hurdle next week: a pass-or-fail ‘civic exam’ that becomes obligatory for anyone applying for a multi-year residence permit, a ten-year carte de résident or naturalisation. Published in the Journal officiel on 10 October and confirmed in government guidance circulated this week, the measure enters into force on 1 January 2026.
The 45-minute test comprises 28 multiple-choice knowledge questions covering French history, institutions, secularism (laïcité), equality between women and men, and practical life in France, plus 12 scenario-based questions designed to test day-to-day integration. Candidates must achieve at least 32/40 (80 %) to pass; the fee is €69 and the result is valid for four years. More than 100,000 applicants for multi-year permits and around 35,000 naturalisation candidates are expected to sit the exam each year.
The reform was championed by former interior minister Bruno Retailleau as part of a wider push to ‘make integration a duty, not an option’. Proponents argue that a uniform test replaces the patchwork of prefectural interviews that varied widely in difficulty. Critics counter that many questions – for example the exact date of the 1905 law on the separation of Church and State – are unknown to most French citizens and that private preparation courses are already springing up at €200-€400 per seat, favouring the affluent.
![France Introduces Mandatory Civic Exam for Multi-Year Residence Permits From 1 January 2026]()
To navigate these evolving requirements, many applicants may benefit from professional assistance. VisaHQ, through its dedicated France page (https://www.visahq.com/france/), provides step-by-step support for booking exam slots, preparing the necessary paperwork for residence permits or naturalisation, and monitoring prefecture processing times, helping foreign residents stay on track.
For employers, the immediate concern is processing time. Until now, talent-passport holders were exempt from language or integration tests, but junior staff transitioning from student to employee status will have to pass before a new card can be issued. Mobility managers should build an extra four to six weeks into assignment start-dates and budget for exam fees and training materials. Universities are likewise advising international graduates with job offers in France to register for the first available sessions in January to avoid bottlenecks.
Longer term, the new requirement signals a shift towards performance-based immigration: economic migrants who master French civic culture may gain quicker access to secure status, while those who fail risk being stuck on annual renewals. Companies planning to hire non-EU talent after 2026 should therefore include language and integration support in their relocation packages to remain competitive.
The 45-minute test comprises 28 multiple-choice knowledge questions covering French history, institutions, secularism (laïcité), equality between women and men, and practical life in France, plus 12 scenario-based questions designed to test day-to-day integration. Candidates must achieve at least 32/40 (80 %) to pass; the fee is €69 and the result is valid for four years. More than 100,000 applicants for multi-year permits and around 35,000 naturalisation candidates are expected to sit the exam each year.
The reform was championed by former interior minister Bruno Retailleau as part of a wider push to ‘make integration a duty, not an option’. Proponents argue that a uniform test replaces the patchwork of prefectural interviews that varied widely in difficulty. Critics counter that many questions – for example the exact date of the 1905 law on the separation of Church and State – are unknown to most French citizens and that private preparation courses are already springing up at €200-€400 per seat, favouring the affluent.
To navigate these evolving requirements, many applicants may benefit from professional assistance. VisaHQ, through its dedicated France page (https://www.visahq.com/france/), provides step-by-step support for booking exam slots, preparing the necessary paperwork for residence permits or naturalisation, and monitoring prefecture processing times, helping foreign residents stay on track.
For employers, the immediate concern is processing time. Until now, talent-passport holders were exempt from language or integration tests, but junior staff transitioning from student to employee status will have to pass before a new card can be issued. Mobility managers should build an extra four to six weeks into assignment start-dates and budget for exam fees and training materials. Universities are likewise advising international graduates with job offers in France to register for the first available sessions in January to avoid bottlenecks.
Longer term, the new requirement signals a shift towards performance-based immigration: economic migrants who master French civic culture may gain quicker access to secure status, while those who fail risk being stuck on annual renewals. Companies planning to hire non-EU talent after 2026 should therefore include language and integration support in their relocation packages to remain competitive.
