In a quiet but far-reaching policy shift, the French government has introduced a compulsory “examen civique” for anyone applying for a multi-year residence permit or for naturalisation, effective this month. The change appears in an official government briefing, “Ce qui change en janvier 2026”, last updated on 12 January.
Under the new rule, third-country nationals seeking a pluri-annual titre de séjour—such as the popular four-year Passeport Talent—or French citizenship must now pass a test that assesses knowledge of republican values, secularism and everyday civic rights and duties. Until now, such knowledge was verified informally during language courses or prefecture interviews; the formalised test brings France closer to the ‘Life in the UK’ and German Einbürgerung models.
Practically, the exam will be administered by OFII-approved language centres and is expected to cost €60-€80, though local prefectures retain discretion on fee waivers for refugees and low-income applicants. Processing times are likely to lengthen by four to six weeks as applicants schedule the test and await results—an important consideration for employers renewing assignee permits this spring.
![France Makes Civic-Knowledge Test Mandatory for Multi-Year Residence Permits and Naturalisation]()
For global-mobility teams the message is clear: build the exam into project timelines and offer preparatory resources. Early feedback from relocation firms suggests that high-skilled employees with tight onboarding windows—particularly intra-EU transferees who previously enjoyed streamlined renewals—could be caught out by the extra step. Companies are encouraged to budget for professional coaching or to integrate civic-test preparation into existing French-language tuition packages.
If the added bureaucracy feels daunting, VisaHQ can shoulder much of the load. Through its dedicated France portal (https://www.visahq.com/france/) the firm arranges prefecture appointments, monitors shifting OFII requirements and even coordinates examination bookings, giving both HR managers and individual applicants a single, reliable touchpoint throughout the permit or naturalisation process.
The Interior Ministry argues the measure will strengthen integration outcomes and social cohesion. Critics, including several bar associations, warn it could create a two-tier system penalising workers on short-term contracts who fail to secure a test slot before their current status expires.
While the policy was not subject to a parliamentary vote, it reflects a broader hardening of public expectations around integration ahead of France’s 2027 presidential race. Mobility practitioners should monitor prefecture guidance closely, as implementation details—such as accepted pass marks and retake rules—may evolve in the coming weeks.
Under the new rule, third-country nationals seeking a pluri-annual titre de séjour—such as the popular four-year Passeport Talent—or French citizenship must now pass a test that assesses knowledge of republican values, secularism and everyday civic rights and duties. Until now, such knowledge was verified informally during language courses or prefecture interviews; the formalised test brings France closer to the ‘Life in the UK’ and German Einbürgerung models.
Practically, the exam will be administered by OFII-approved language centres and is expected to cost €60-€80, though local prefectures retain discretion on fee waivers for refugees and low-income applicants. Processing times are likely to lengthen by four to six weeks as applicants schedule the test and await results—an important consideration for employers renewing assignee permits this spring.
For global-mobility teams the message is clear: build the exam into project timelines and offer preparatory resources. Early feedback from relocation firms suggests that high-skilled employees with tight onboarding windows—particularly intra-EU transferees who previously enjoyed streamlined renewals—could be caught out by the extra step. Companies are encouraged to budget for professional coaching or to integrate civic-test preparation into existing French-language tuition packages.
If the added bureaucracy feels daunting, VisaHQ can shoulder much of the load. Through its dedicated France portal (https://www.visahq.com/france/) the firm arranges prefecture appointments, monitors shifting OFII requirements and even coordinates examination bookings, giving both HR managers and individual applicants a single, reliable touchpoint throughout the permit or naturalisation process.
The Interior Ministry argues the measure will strengthen integration outcomes and social cohesion. Critics, including several bar associations, warn it could create a two-tier system penalising workers on short-term contracts who fail to secure a test slot before their current status expires.
While the policy was not subject to a parliamentary vote, it reflects a broader hardening of public expectations around integration ahead of France’s 2027 presidential race. Mobility practitioners should monitor prefecture guidance closely, as implementation details—such as accepted pass marks and retake rules—may evolve in the coming weeks.
