The new year brought a shock for many foreigners who rushed to submit citizenship dossiers before the 1 January 2026 deadline: despite applying under the old B1 French-language standard, some are now being told they must produce a B2 certificate and, in certain cases, sit a written civics exam. Interior-ministry figures obtained by The Local show naturalisation applications more than doubled in December 2025 to 26,867 as people tried to beat the change. (thelocal.fr)
Under the revamped rules, all applicants by residency (naturalisation) and by marriage (déclaration) must demonstrate an upper-intermediate command of French (B2 on the Common European Framework). Officials say the date that counts is when a *complete* file is logged—meaning dossiers judged “incomplete” after 1 January can be pushed into the new regime even if they were posted earlier. Applicants caught in that grey zone now face paying for additional language tests that cost €300–€500 and can take weeks to schedule.
Amid the confusion, VisaHQ can be a handy ally. The online platform’s France section (https://www.visahq.com/france/) aggregates the latest official forms, fee tables and language-test options, and its advisers can guide applicants through securing apostilles, booking certified exams, and avoiding the kinds of omissions that get files kicked back.
![Applicants blindsided by France’s higher B2 language rule for citizenship]()
Case studies collected by expatriate groups illustrate the impact. One American spouse who filed on 29 December was asked in mid-January for missing apostilles; the prefecture returned the file and demanded a B2 certificate within two months, a timeline experts call “virtually impossible”. Others have had dossiers closed outright, forcing them to start from scratch.
The tougher language bar dovetails with a new written civics test that assesses knowledge of republican values and everyday institutions. Integration coaches report a surge in demand for intensive courses, while exam centres in Paris, Lyon and Toulouse are fully booked until April.
For businesses, the rule affects globally-mobile staff on long-term assignments who see French nationality as a retention incentive. Mobility teams are advised to budget extra time and training costs, especially for non-Francophone employees on intra-company transfers who may now need 12–18 months of tuition before qualifying. (thelocal.fr)
Under the revamped rules, all applicants by residency (naturalisation) and by marriage (déclaration) must demonstrate an upper-intermediate command of French (B2 on the Common European Framework). Officials say the date that counts is when a *complete* file is logged—meaning dossiers judged “incomplete” after 1 January can be pushed into the new regime even if they were posted earlier. Applicants caught in that grey zone now face paying for additional language tests that cost €300–€500 and can take weeks to schedule.
Amid the confusion, VisaHQ can be a handy ally. The online platform’s France section (https://www.visahq.com/france/) aggregates the latest official forms, fee tables and language-test options, and its advisers can guide applicants through securing apostilles, booking certified exams, and avoiding the kinds of omissions that get files kicked back.
Case studies collected by expatriate groups illustrate the impact. One American spouse who filed on 29 December was asked in mid-January for missing apostilles; the prefecture returned the file and demanded a B2 certificate within two months, a timeline experts call “virtually impossible”. Others have had dossiers closed outright, forcing them to start from scratch.
The tougher language bar dovetails with a new written civics test that assesses knowledge of republican values and everyday institutions. Integration coaches report a surge in demand for intensive courses, while exam centres in Paris, Lyon and Toulouse are fully booked until April.
For businesses, the rule affects globally-mobile staff on long-term assignments who see French nationality as a retention incentive. Mobility teams are advised to budget extra time and training costs, especially for non-Francophone employees on intra-company transfers who may now need 12–18 months of tuition before qualifying. (thelocal.fr)
