If you’re planning to apply for a French residence permit or citizenship, you now need to pass a civic exam (examen civique). This new requirement, in effect since January 1, 2026, applies to almost everyone applying for a first multi-year residence card, a 10-year resident card, or French nationality. Here’s what you need to know, based on official French government sources.
Who needs to take it?
Since January 1, 2026, the civic exam is required for three separate procedures:
- a first multi-year residence permit (carte de séjour pluriannuelle),
- a 10-year resident card (carte de résident),
- French citizenship (naturalization, whether by decree or through marriage).
Each procedure has its own required knowledge level, but the exam format is the same for all three.
What does the exam look like?
According to the French Ministry of the Interior’s official civic training website, the exam consists of (source):
- 40 multiple-choice questions, in French,
- a maximum of 45 minutes,
- a passing score of 32 correct answers out of 40.
The exam is organized by the CCI Paris Île-de-France (« Le français des affaires »), the body to which the Ministry of the Interior has delegated the civic exam nationwide. The 40 questions cover 5 official themes: principles and values of the Republic, the institutional and political system, rights and duties, history/geography/culture, and everyday life in French society (source).
You can take the exam as many times as needed, whenever you’re ready — there’s no limit on attempts.
Where and how to register
The exam is organized by two official bodies across France:
- the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Paris (CCIP), via its « Le français des affaires » division,
- France Éducation International (FEI).
Both provide a map of exam centers and online registration on their own websites. Registration and official preparation materials are completely free. The Ministry explicitly warns against paid websites claiming to offer « official » preparation — there is no need to pay for registration or preparation itself.
Don’t forget the language requirement
The civic exam tests your knowledge — not your French level directly — but you’ll also need to prove a minimum French language level (CECRL scale), which depends on the procedure:
| Procedure | Required French level |
|---|---|
| First multi-year residence permit | A2 |
| 10-year resident card | B1 |
| Naturalization | B2 |
These levels were set or raised by a July 2025 reform, effective January 1, 2026 (decrees n° 2025-647 and n° 2025-648). The naturalization requirement in particular was raised from B1 to B2 — a real increase in difficulty compared to before.
Learn more: what French level do you need for naturalization?
How to prepare
The exam covers five official themes: the Republic’s principles and values, the institutional and political system, rights and duties, French history and geography, and everyday life in French society.
Seuil80 offers structured, simple explanations of these five themes, practice exercises, and full mock exams under real exam conditions (40 questions, 45 minutes) — for each of the three procedures (first residence permit, resident card, or naturalization), and in several languages including English.
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Official sources cited in this article: French Ministry of the Interior · CCI Paris Île-de-France — Le français des affaires · Decree n° 2025-647 and n° 2025-648 of July 15, 2025.
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