French level required in 2026: A2, B1 or B2 depending on your permit

Since 1 January 2026, a first multi-year permit, a first resident card or naturalisation requires passing the civic exam and proving a French level, now set higher for each permit. They are two separate conditions.

The level required for your application

• Multi-year residence permit (first application): A2. You understand isolated sentences and common expressions, and can communicate in simple tasks.
• Resident card (first application): B1. You understand the main points of standard language and can produce simple, coherent speech on familiar topics.
• Naturalisation: B2, spoken and written.

How to prove your level

For residence permits, accepted proofs include:

• a language test: TCF (France Éducation international) or TEF (Paris Chamber of Commerce), less than 2 years old;
• a language diploma: DELF, DALF, DCL, DFP or DUEF at the required level;
• a French national diploma (CAP, BEP, CFG, brevet) or a professional certification registered at RNCP level 3 or above. Foreign diplomas are not accepted.

For naturalisation, a French diploma (such as the brevet) or a TCF/TEF under 2 years old showing B2 is accepted.

Exemptions

• Residence permits: no requirement from age 65, or when illness or disability makes the assessment impossible (medical certificate).
• Naturalisation: exemption when your health makes the assessment impossible (medical certificate). Other special cases exist: check service-public.fr.

Official details: residence permits and naturalisation on service-public.fr.

French and the civic exam: same preparation?

No. The civic exam checks your knowledge of France (values, institutions, history, daily life). It is taken in French, so a good level helps you read fast: 40 questions in 45 minutes.

Read next

• Civic exam for the multi-year residence permit
• Civic exam for the resident card
• Civic exam for naturalisation
• Take a free civic test