France has introduced new rules that will directly affect foreigners planning to live long-term or settle permanently in the country.
Starting January 1, 2026, a mandatory civic exam will become part of the application process for certain residence permits and French citizenship.
This change is aimed at ensuring that new residents understand France’s values, institutions, and civic responsibilities.
Who Must Take the Civic Exam
From 2026 onwards, non-EU nationals applying for their first multi-year residence permit, a resident card, or French citizenship through naturalization will be required to pass a civic exam.
Applicants must submit a certificate of achievement as proof of passing the exam.
However, those who are renewing an existing multi-year permit or resident card are exempt and do not need to take the exam again.
What the Civic Exam Is About
The civic exam focuses on helping foreigners understand life in France. It covers:
The principles and values of the French Republic
How French institutions function
The rights and duties of people living in France
The goal is to support better integration and ensure that new residents are familiar with the country’s civic framework.
New Online Platform to Help Applicants
To make preparation easier, the French Ministry of the Interior has launched a dedicated civic training website through its Directorate General for Foreigners in France.
The platform offers 222 thematic fact sheets with structured and easy-to-follow content.
It helps applicants build their knowledge, understand key concepts, and prepare effectively for the civic exam.
The website also includes sample exam questions and clear explanations of the exam process.
France Immigration Trends at a Glance
France continues to see a steady rise in foreign residents.
In 2024, first-time residence permits increased by 0.9%, while renewals rose by 1.0% compared to 2023.
The growth in first-time permits was mainly due to a 13.4% rise in humanitarian applications.
Renewals increased largely because of higher numbers of economic (+8.1%) and student (+6.5%) permits, even as family-related permits declined.
By the end of 2024, the number of legally residing foreigners in France grew by 3.9%.
Provisional data shows that 10,804 residence permits were issued to Indian nationals, an increase of 8.8% over the previous year.
Among them, 58.4% were students, while 24.7% applied for economic reasons.
This new civic exam marks a significant shift in France’s immigration process and highlights the country’s focus on integration alongside long-term residency and citizenship.
