France residence permit civic exam mandatory 2026
Since January 1, 2026, non-European foreigners applying for a multi-year residence permit or resident card must now pass a civic exam. This new obligation, stemming from the immigration law, notably concerns Moroccan nationals wishing to settle permanently in France.
The exam takes the form of a multiple-choice questionnaire in French. It comprises 40 questions to be completed in 45 minutes, with only one correct answer among four options. To pass, the candidate must obtain at least 32 correct answers, representing 80% success rate. The questions cover the principles and values of the Republic, the French institutional and political system, rights and duties, history, geography, culture and daily life in France.
On Bladi.net : New residence permit rules in France as of January 1, 2026
Two levels exist depending on the permit requested: one for the multi-year residence permit, valid for two to four years, the other for the ten-year resident card. Passing the exam required for the resident card also satisfies the requirement for the multi-year residence permit.
The exam must be taken before submitting the residence permit application. The passing certificate is required when filing the application. The candidate may retake it as many times as necessary, and the certificate obtained has no limited validity period.
However, not all foreigners are affected. People simply renewing their multi-year residence permit or resident card do not need to retake the exam. Exceptions also exist for certain groups, notably beneficiaries of international protection or people over 65 years old.
On Bladi.net : France Tightens Immigration Rules: Civic Exam Mandatory for Long-Term Residency from 2026
This new step is added to the strengthening of French language requirements required since the beginning of the year. To obtain a multi-year residence permit, level A2 is now required. For a ten-year resident card, the required level is B1. France thus intends to tighten the conditions for accessing long-term residence permits, by further linking their issuance to French language proficiency and knowledge of French life rules.
