Civics tests, language exams… The conditions for integrating non-European foreigners will be tightened from this Thursday with new mandatory tests.

A simple interview at the prefecture will no longer suffice. From January 1, 2026, any non-European foreigner wishing to settle permanently in France will have to pass civics and language exams. These tests will be mandatory for all those applying for a multi-year residence permit (2 to 4 years), a resident card, as well as for candidates for naturalization. The tightening of these integration requirements was one of the very last maneuvers of the former Minister of the Interior, Bruno Retailleau, who signed this decree two days before leaving the Place Beauvau on October 10.

In detail, the civic test consists of 40 multiple-choice questions – 28 for general knowledge and 12 for situational questions – aimed at "verifying the candidate's knowledge of the principles and values of the Republic, the mode of organization of the French Republic and the functioning of French society," according to the government website.

Increased language requirements

These questions cover five themes: the "principles and values of the Republic," such as the motto and secularism; the "rights and responsibilities of living in France"; the "institutional and political system," including the right to vote and the foundations of the European Union; "history, geography, and culture"; and "life in French society," including access to healthcare and labor law. Note that to pass this 45-minute exam, a score of 80%—or 32 correct answers—is required. Different levels of difficulty are offered, depending on the type of residence permit being applied for and the language proficiency required for each.