In short: since 1 January 2026, you need level A2 for a first multi-year residence permit, B1 for a first resident card and B2 for French citizenship. You prove it with a test (TCF IRN or TEF IRN, valid for 2 years) or with certain diplomas. The 4 sections of the test take place on the same day, for all these applications.
Since 1 January 2026, the level of French required has gone up for foreign nationals who want to stay in France for a long time. The level depends on what you are applying for. Here are the rules, explained simply, and the documents you can use to prove your level.
This information comes from official texts (see the sources at the bottom of the page). Every situation is different: if in doubt, check with your prefecture (préfecture) or on service-public.gouv.fr.
Summary in one table
| Your application | Level required | Who it applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-year residence permit (carte de séjour pluriannuelle) | A2 | First application for this card |
| Resident card (carte de résident, 10 years) | B1 | First application for this card |
| Naturalisation (by decree) | B2, spoken and written | All applications |
| Citizenship through marriage (declaration) | B2, spoken and written | All applications |
These levels apply to applications submitted since 1 January 2026.
A2, B1, B2: what do they mean?
These letters come from the CEFR (called CECRL in French), the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. It goes from A1 (beginner) to C2 (very advanced). In short:
- A2: you understand and use simple sentences from daily life (shopping, talking about yourself, asking for directions).
- B1: you can manage in most situations. You can tell a story about an event, explain a plan, give your opinion simply.
- B2: you understand longer and more complex texts. You can discuss, argue and add nuance to your opinion with some ease.
Who must prove their level?
For the multi-year residence permit and the resident card
The rule applies to non-European nationals making a first application for a multi-year residence permit or a resident card. Renewals of the same card are not covered by these new rules.
You are not concerned, for example, if:
- you are over 65;
- you benefit from subsidiary protection, or you are stateless (and, depending on the case, your family members);
- your health or your disability prevents you from taking the test (you need a medical certificate; adjustments are also possible).
Some prefectures mention other cases. For example, the prefecture of Loiret mentions Algerian nationals and certain studies completed in France. These cases do not appear on the service-public.gouv.fr page: check your situation with your prefecture. See also TCF IRN and French test exemptions.
For French citizenship
Level B2 is required in speaking and writing, for naturalisation by decree as well as for citizenship through marriage (declaration). Exemptions are rarer. Service-public.gouv.fr mentions:
- people whose health makes the assessment impossible (with a medical certificate);
- refugees and stateless people aged 70 or over who have lived in France for at least 15 years.
How do you prove your level?
French tests
Two tests are accepted:
- the TCF, from France Éducation international (the version designed for these applications is the TCF IRN);
- the TEF, from the Paris Île-de-France Chamber of Commerce and Industry (the version designed for these applications is the TEF IRN).
To compare the two, read TCF IRN or TEF IRN: which one to choose?
The certificate (attestation) is valid for 2 years, from the date the results are issued. The end date is written on the certificate. For citizenship, service-public.gouv.fr asks for a certificate issued less than 2 years ago.
For the cards as well as for citizenship, the test must include 4 sections (listening, reading, writing, speaking), taken in person, on the same day, in a single session.
Diplomas
For residence permits, the following are also accepted, at the required level: DELF, DALF, DELF Pro, DUEF, DFP or DCL. A French diploma at level 3 or higher (for example a CAP), the brevet, the BEP or the CFG are also accepted. Unlike tests, a diploma like the DELF has no expiry date.
For citizenship, accepted documents include the brevet, a French diploma at level 3 or higher, or any diploma that certifies level B2.
Be careful: diplomas issued by a foreign country are not accepted, even if that country is French-speaking.
The TCF IRN: the test designed for these applications
The TCF IRN measures your French from level A1 to level B2. It has 4 sections: listening, reading, writing and speaking, for 1 h 35 in total. Everything is explained in our article The 4 sections of the TCF IRN explained.
How is the level decided? You get a result for each skill. The candidate handbook gives a rule: 3 skills at the required level, and the 4th at least at the « top » of the level below. But this « top » is not given as a number, and the handbook page contains a typing error. We explain this in the article TCF IRN: how to know if you have level A2, B1 or B2.
Our careful advice: aim for the required level in all 4 sections, not just on average. One weaker skill (often speaking or writing) can hold you back. Also, re-marking (recorrection) of writing and speaking has been suspended since the sessions of 1 September 2026 (expected to restart in autumn 2027): if you do not reach the level, you must take the test again, at the earliest 20 days after the previous one.
For the price, dates and registration, read TCF IRN prices, dates and centres.
French is not enough: the civic exam too
Since 1 January 2026, passing the civic exam (examen civique) is also required to get a multi-year residence permit, a resident card or naturalisation. It is a multiple-choice test of 40 questions in French: you need at least 32 correct answers.
So you often have two tests to prepare for: the French test and the civic exam. To plan them, read Civic exam and TCF IRN: which order and what timeline. Read our complete guide to the 2026 civic exam (in French). For naturalisation, see also our article on the B2 level for naturalisation (in French).
Find out your level today
- Take our free TCF level test: 5 minutes, no account needed.
- Compare your result with the level required for your application.
- Prepare for the 4 sections with our TCF IRN preparation, at your own pace. See the plans: the civic exam + TCF pack brings both preparations together.
Parcours Civique is an independent practice website, not linked to France Éducation international. The result of our level test is an estimate: only the official test counts for your application.
Frequently asked questions
I am renewing my multi-year residence permit. Do I need to take a French test?
The new rules cover the first application for a multi-year residence permit or a resident card. If you later apply for a resident card, you will need level B1. If in doubt, ask your prefecture.
I have a diploma from a French-speaking country. Is it accepted?
No. Diplomas issued by a foreign authority are not accepted, even in a French-speaking country. You need a test (TCF or TEF), a recognised French language diploma (such as the DELF) or a French diploma.
My DELF B1 is several years old. Is it still valid?
Yes, a diploma like the DELF has no expiry date. It is different for the TCF and the TEF: their certificate is valid for 2 years.
Is level B2 required for citizenship through marriage?
Yes. Since 1 January 2026, level B2 in speaking and writing is also required for the declaration of citizenship through marriage.
I am over 65. Do I need to prove my level?
For the multi-year residence permit and the resident card, no. For citizenship, the rules are different: age alone is not enough. Check service-public.gouv.fr.
Do the TCF IRN and the TEF IRN have the same value?
Yes, both tests are accepted for these applications, with a certificate valid for 2 years. Their format is different. In both cases, the 4 sections take place on the same day.
Sources
Facts checked on 30/09/2026.
- Levels A2 and B1, first application, under 65, exemptions (subsidiary protection, stateless people), TCF and TEF tests valid for 2 years, accepted diplomas, foreign diplomas refused: service-public.gouv.fr, « Carte de résident et carte de séjour pluriannuelle : comment justifier de votre connaissance du français ? » (checked on 10/02/2026): https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F34501
- Same content, list of diplomas (CAP, BEP, CFG, brevet, DCL…), health and disability: Justice.fr: https://www.justice.fr/fiche/carte-resident-carte-sejour-pluriannuellecomment-justifier-votre-connaissance-francais
- Level B2 in speaking and writing for citizenship, accepted diplomas, TCF or TEF certificate less than 2 years old, exemptions (health, refugees over 70 living in France for 15 years): service-public.gouv.fr, « Nationalité française : comment justifier de son niveau en français ? »: https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F11926
- A2 for the multi-year permit, B1 for the resident card, people over 65 not concerned, in force from 1 January 2026: decree no. 2025-647 of 15 July 2025: https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/id/JORFTEXT000051900489
- B2 for naturalisation and declaration through marriage: decree no. 2025-648 of 15 July 2025: https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/id/JORFTEXT000051900519 and French Embassy in Canada (18/12/2025): https://ca.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/le-niveau-b2-en-francais-devient-obligatoire-pour-les-demandes-dacquisition-de-la-nationalite
- Written and spoken skills, 4 components, same day in a single session, 2-year validity (citizenship): order of 22 December 2025 (accessed 30/09/2026): https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/id/JORFTEXT000053164463
- 4 sections, same day in a single session, 2-year validity (residence permits): order of 22 December 2025 (accessed 30/09/2026): https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/id/JORFTEXT000053164506
- Validity from the date results are issued, 20 days between two attempts, re-marking suspended: France Éducation international, TCF IRN page (accessed 30/09/2026): https://www.france-education-international.fr/test/tcf-irn?langue=fr
- Overall level rule (3 skills and the 4th at the « top » of the level below): TCF candidate handbook (Manuel du candidat TCF), France Éducation international, September 2026 version, p. 41 (PDF document)
- TCF and TEF certifications for residence permits: order of 22 December 2025: https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/id/JORFTEXT000053164540
- Renewals not concerned, other exemptions mentioned by this prefecture, civic exam with 40 questions, 32 correct answers: prefecture of Loiret (updated 17/02/2026): https://www.loiret.gouv.fr/Demarches/Ressortissants-etrangers-vos-demarches/Renforcement-des-criteres-de-premiere-delivrance-d-une-carte-de-sejour-ou-de-resident
- DELF valid with no time limit, TCF and TEF 2 years: prefecture of Hérault: https://www.herault.gouv.fr/Demarches/Demarches-etrangers-titres-de-sejour/Titres-de-sejour-et-documents-de-voyage/Demander-un-titre-de-sejour/Maitrise-de-la-langue/Conditions-d-obtention-d-un-titre-pluriannuel-ou-de-resident
- Civic exam required for the multi-year permit, the resident card and naturalisation: Ministry of the Interior, press release: https://www.interieur.gouv.fr/actualites/communiques-de-presse/a-partir-du-1er-janvier-2026-reussite-a-lexamen-civique-sera-necessaire-pour-obtenir-carte-de-sejour
- TCF IRN from A1 to B2, 4 sections, 1 h 35: Université Bordeaux Montaigne: https://formations.u-bordeaux-montaigne.fr/fr/catalogue-des-formations/tests-internationaux-de-langues-TLI/tcf-irn-test-de-connaissances-du-francais-integration-residence-et-nationalite-MD4MCJ7W.html
- Description of levels A2, B1, B2: Council of Europe, CEFR (global scale): https://www.coe.int/fr/web/common-european-framework-reference-languages/table-1-cefr-3.3-common-reference-levels-global-scale (page could not be accessed by our tool on 28/09/2026: summary to be reviewed)