Civic exam 2026: what changed on January 1 after France's immigration law

Where does the civic exam obligation come from?

The reform stems from the January 26, 2024 law, which strengthens republican integration requirements for third-country nationals. The goal is to ensure that people obtaining long-term residence or French nationality by decree understand the principles and values of the Republic.

Decree No. 2025-647 of July 15, 2025 and decree No. 2025-648 clarified how the rule applies to residence permits and acquisition of French nationality by decree. The order of October 10, 2025 (published in the Official Journal on October 12) details exam content, conduct rules, and fraud penalties.

Who is affected from January 1, 2026?

From January 1, 2026, the civic exam is required for first-time applications — not renewals — in the following cases:

• multi-year residence permit (CSP) issued to a non-EU foreign national, when the permit category is subject to the obligation;
• resident card (CR) or long-term EU resident card issued to a non-EU foreign national, when the permit category is subject to the obligation;
• acquisition of French nationality by decree: naturalization and reinstatement in French nationality.

What is not affected

Procedures to acquire French nationality by declaration are not subject to the civic exam. This includes naturalization by marriage to a French national, by ascendant of a French national, or by brother or sister of a French national.

Renewals of multi-year residence permits and resident cards are also not affected, even if the permit was first issued before 2026.

How does the exam work?

The exam is a 40-question multiple-choice test on a digital device at an approved center. Maximum duration: 45 minutes. You need at least 80% correct answers (32 out of 40).

Topics follow five official themes from the Ministry of the Interior: Republican principles and values, rights and duties in France, political and institutional system, history, geography and culture, and life in French society.

You must pass before filing your prefecture application. The certificate has no expiry date but must be included in your file.

Civic training and the Republican Integration Contract

For affected multi-year permit applicants, the 24-hour civic training course (over four days) must now be completed before the permit is issued — not only afterward as under the previous Republican Integration Contract (CIR) framework. The civic exam comes at the end of that path when the permit is subject to the obligation.

Official preparation resources are available on formation-civique.interieur.gouv.fr, including past papers and topic sheets aligned with the October 10, 2025 order.

Cost, retakes, and timeline

The exam is fee-based: each approved center sets its own price (often around €70 according to press reports). You may retake it as many times as needed until you pass.

Gradual implementation since 2025 led to full application on January 1, 2026. The order of October 10, 2025 published the final practical rules for organizing the test.