Applying for your first carte de sejour pluriannuelle (multi-year residence permit) in France? Since January 2026, you must pass the civic exam (examen civique) before submitting your application. This guide covers exactly what’s required at the CSP level — the version designed for residence permit applicants.
| Detail | CSP Version |
|---|---|
| French level required | A2 (elementary) |
| Published question bank | ~190 knowledge questions |
| Total questions on exam | 28 knowledge + 12 scenarios = 40 |
| Duration | 45 minutes |
| Pass mark | 32/40 (80%) |
| Cost | ~69 euros |
| Certificate validity | Lifetime |
Who Needs the CSP Version?
The CSP (carte de sejour pluriannuelle) version of the civic exam is for anyone applying for their first multi-year residence permit. This typically happens when you’ve held a 1-year temporary permit (carte de sejour temporaire) and are upgrading to a 2-4 year permit.
Common situations where the CSP exam applies:
- You’ve completed your first year in France on a vie privee et familiale permit
- You’re transitioning from a student visa to a salarie or passeport talent multi-year permit
- You hold a temporary work permit and are applying for pluriannuelle status
- You’re a spouse of a French national applying for your first multi-year card
What Does the CSP Exam Cover?
The 190 published questions for the CSP version cover all five official themes, but with a focus on practical knowledge relevant to daily life in France:
1. Values and Principles (~11 questions)
The French motto, national symbols, laicite (secularism), gender equality, anti-discrimination. At A2 level, questions are straightforward: « What is the motto of the French Republic? » or « Is discrimination based on religion legal in France? »
2. Institutions (~6 questions)
Basic knowledge: who is the President, what does Parliament do, what is a mairie (town hall). You won’t need to know complex constitutional mechanisms at this level.
3. Rights and Duties (~11 questions + 6 scenarios)
Your rights (freedom, healthcare access, education for children) and obligations (paying taxes, respecting the law). The scenario questions test common-sense application of these principles.
4. History, Geography, Culture (~6 questions)
Major dates (1789, 1958) and basic French geography. You won’t need to know every president or detailed regional history at A2 level.
5. Living in France (~6 questions)
The healthcare system (Securite Sociale, Carte Vitale), schooling obligations (ages 3-16), employment rights (CDI vs CDD), housing basics.
The A2 Advantage: Why This Version Is More Accessible
If you’ve been living in France for a year or more, you likely already understand most of the concepts tested at A2 level. The challenge isn’t the knowledge — it’s reading the questions in French quickly enough.
At A2 level, questions tend to be:
- Shorter and more direct than the B1 or B2 versions
- Focused on fundamental concepts rather than nuanced interpretations
- Practical — testing what you’d encounter in daily life, not abstract political theory
How to Prepare for the CSP Exam in 2-3 Weeks
| Week | Focus | Time/day |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Understand concepts in English + learn key French vocabulary | 20-30 min |
| 2 | Practice the 190 published questions in French | 30 min |
| 3 | Scenario practice + 2-3 full mock exams | 30-45 min |
Total preparation time: approximately 15-20 hours. That’s very manageable even with a busy work schedule.
Critical Timing: When to Take the Exam
Your attestation of success must be included in your prefecture application file. This means you need to:
- Register for the exam at francais.cci-paris-idf.fr — book 4-6 weeks before your prefecture appointment
- Pass the exam — results available within 12-48 hours
- Include the attestation in your application file
Don’t wait until the last minute. Popular centres in major cities (Paris, Lyon, Marseille) book up quickly.
Frequently Asked Questions — CSP Level
Yes. If your CSP application is filed after January 1, 2026, the old CIR certificate is no longer sufficient. You need the new civic exam attestation.
The attestation has no expiry date. However, the 10-year card (carte de resident) requires the CR version (B1 level), which draws from a larger question bank. You may need to pass that version separately.
The exam is set at A2 level, but you still need to read and understand French questions. If your French is very basic, consider investing in general French courses alongside your civic exam preparation. The multilingual approach — understanding concepts in English first — helps bridge the gap.
Unlimited attempts with no waiting period. Each retake costs approximately 69 euros.
Related Guides
- French Civic Exam 2026: Complete Guide — Covers all three versions (CSP, CR, Naturalisation)
- How to Pass the Civic Exam as an English Speaker — Study strategy and common mistakes
- Exam Vocabulary FR-EN — Bilingual vocabulary tables
- Registration guide (in French)
- Exam centres (in French)
Official sources: service-public.fr | formation-civique.interieur.gouv.fr | Register for the exam
Last updated: September 2026