Civic exam for multi-year residence permit: who must take it?
The civic exam applies to first applications for a multi-year residence permit, with exceptions. Here is how to know if you are affected and how to prepare.
Preparing a multi-year residence permit (CSP) application? Since January 1, 2026, the civic exam pass certificate may be required for certain first applications. Before registering, check whether your situation is affected.
This article answers the most common CSP questions: who must take the exam, which exemptions apply, and how to organize your preparation.
What is a multi-year residence permit?
The multi-year residence permit (CSP) is a long-term permit, generally valid between 2 and 4 years depending on the case. It allows a non-EU foreign national to live in France long term, subject to legal conditions.
For the general 2026 framework, see our overview article and Service-Public.
Who must take the civic exam for a CSP?
The civic exam is required for first applications for a multi-year residence permit issued to a non-EU foreign national, when the permit category is subject to the obligation. This concerns a first issuance, not a simple renewal of an existing permit.
Not all multi-year permits are automatically affected. For exemptions, read who is not concerned and Ministry information.
Which CSP cases are not affected?
Several situations may exempt you from the civic exam for a CSP:
- people over 65;
- certain permit categories or situations defined by regulations;
- beneficiaries of international protection and certain nationals under bilateral agreements, per official texts.
Affected permit categories
Only certain multi-year residence permit categories are subject to the obligation. The order of October 10, 2025 and decree No. 2025-647 specify affected permits. Always verify your exact category on formation-civique.interieur.gouv.fr or with your prefecture.
CSP renewal: do you need to retake the exam?
No. Renewing an already obtained multi-year residence permit does not require retaking the civic exam, even if the first issuance was before 2026.
See our article on residence permit renewal.
Exam format for the CSP category
The test is a 40-question multiple-choice exam in French, with knowledge questions and situational questions. Maximum duration is 45 minutes. Difficulty is adapted to the multi-year residence permit category.
Details are on the general information page.
Required score: 32 correct answers out of 40
To pass, you need at least 32 correct answers out of 40, i.e. 80%. This rule applies to the main exam categories.
Our article on how many questions you need to pass explains scoring and practice tips.
Where to take the exam?
The exam is taken at a center approved by the Ministry of the Interior, organized by CCI Paris Île-de-France (CCIP) or France Éducation International (FEI). It is not taken at home or at the prefecture.
See our guide on where to take the civic exam and registration links: CCIP and FEI center map.
Prepare for the CSP category with Alice
In Alice, you can choose a path adapted to your goal: multi-year residence permit, resident card, or naturalization. For a CSP application, the app helps you train progressively with theme-based series, short free videos to understand answers, and mock exams to check whether you reach the expected level.
Thousands of users have already trained with Alice to prepare for their civic exam. Alice is not an official service: it is a preparation tool based on official resources, complementing Ministry information.
To structure your revision, also see how to prepare for the civic exam and official themes.
Choose the multi-year residence permit path in Alice: preparation adapted to your administrative goal, theme-based series, and mock exams.
Frequently asked questions
- Are all multi-year residence permits affected?
- No. Only certain categories of first CSP applications are affected. People over 65 and other cases provided by law may be exempt.
- Is a renewal application affected?
- No. Renewing an already obtained CSP does not require retaking the civic exam.
- Does the pass certificate expire?
- The pass certificate has no official expiry date. It must be attached to your application when you file your prefecture dossier.
- Can you take the resident card category instead of the CSP category?
- Yes. According to official information, a pass certificate obtained with the resident card category can also satisfy the obligation for a CSP application.
A first multi-year residence permit application may require the civic exam, depending on your permit category and situation. Verify your official obligations, then train regularly before booking your session.