investment migration
France 2026 Civic Exam for Residence Cards: 40 Questions, 32 to Pass
Verification date: 31 August 2026. Every France-specific rule, exemption, threshold and procedural detail below was checked against the cited official sources on that date.
From 1 January 2026, non-European foreign nationals applying in France for their first carte de séjour pluriannuelle or first carte de résident must prove that they passed the civic exam, unless an exemption or dispensation applies, according to France’s official Service-Public guidance. The exam is a French-language digital multiple-choice questionnaire with 40 knowledge and situational questions; 32 correct answers are required to pass, and the maximum duration is 45 minutes. Renewal applications are not subject to this examination requirement.
Which first-time French residence applications are covered?
The rule follows the specific residence document or programme, rather than every first-time French immigration application.
| Application | Civic-exam position |
|---|---|
| First carte de séjour pluriannuelle | Covered in principle for a non-European applicant, unless an exemption or medical dispensation applies. |
| First carte de résident | Covered in principle for a first application. The official page expressly identifies a spouse of a French national, a parent of a French child, and family-reunification or residence-card-holder spouse applicants. |
| First EU long-term residence card | Certain listed grounds are covered, including a Talent Passport or European Blue Card after more than 5 years and family, refugee and family, subsidiary-protection card and family, and at least 5 years of uninterrupted regular residence with sufficient, stable and regular resources. |
| First permanent residence card | Covered. |
| Renewal of a multi-year residence card or carte de résident | Not subject to the civic-exam requirement. |
This identifies examination coverage only; it does not establish eligibility for the underlying French residence document.
Who is exempt from the civic exam?
France’s Service-Public guidance lists several exemptions or dispensations:
- Residence titles not subject to the contrat d’intégration républicaine, or CIR.
- A beneficiary of subsidiary protection and their family.
- A stateless person and their family.
- Applicants over 65 for a first carte de séjour pluriannuelle or first carte de résident.
- An applicant whose disability or health condition makes assessment of their knowledge impossible may be dispensed from providing a pass certificate.
Protection-related categories are not a single blanket rule. The exemption list names a beneficiary of subsidiary protection and their family, while the first EU long-term residence-card section separately lists refugee and family, and subsidiary-protection card and family, among covered grounds. The exact card category therefore matters.
A disability or health condition can also lead to test accommodations rather than an outright exemption. For any medical accommodation or dispensation, a medical certificate is required, and the administration may request a new medical assessment.
Is sufficient French knowledge a separate requirement?
Yes. French is the language in which the civic exam is written, but sufficient knowledge of French is also an obligatory condition for obtaining a first carte de séjour pluriannuelle or first carte de résident, according to France’s official French-knowledge guidance. A covered applicant may therefore need to satisfy both the French-knowledge requirement and the civic-exam requirement.
What is the format of the 2026 civic exam?
The official page describes versions labelled Carte de séjour pluriannuelle and Carte de résident with the same core format.
| Feature | Examination rule |
|---|---|
| Language | French |
| Format | Multiple-choice questionnaire |
| Total questions | 40 |
| Question types | Knowledge questions and situational questions |
| Pass mark | 32 correct answers |
| Delivery | Digital format |
| Maximum duration | 45 minutes |
| Extended time | Only where a specific arrangement has been approved for a justified medical reason |
The knowledge areas are:
- Principles and values of the Republic.
- Rights and duties associated with life in France.
- History, geography and culture.
- France’s institutional and political system.
- Living in French society.
Failure to comply with the examination rules may invalidate the exam. An attempt to cheat, or cheating detected during the exam, results in a prohibition from taking the civic exam during the following 2 years.
How do I register for the exam?
- Confirm that the application concerns a covered first-time French residence card and check whether an exemption applies.
- Verify the separate requirement for sufficient French.
- Register at a centre approved by the French Ministry of the Interior.
- Use the centre-search tools identified by Service-Public from the Chambre de commerce et d’industrie de Paris Île-de-France or France Éducation international.
- Review the examination rules before the test. The centre must inform candidates in advance of the official civic-exam rules.
The page does not state that the digital format means the exam can be taken remotely.
Can one pass certificate be used for another residence card?
The official page states that a pass certificate for the civic exam labelled Carte de résident is also valid for a carte de séjour pluriannuelle application. Both pass certificates have no expiry date.
This article is general information about France’s civic-exam rule. Confirm your position against the exact residence card and programme with the competent French immigration authority or your consulate before relying on it.
Sources
- Service-Public — Carte de séjour pluriannuelle et carte de résident: comment passer l’examen civique?
- Service-Public — Connaissance suffisante du français
- Service-Public — Contrat d’intégration républicaine
- Legifrance — Règlement de l’épreuve de l’examen civique
- Legifrance — Medical certificate requirement
Frequently asked questions
Does every first-time French residence card application require the civic exam?
No. From 1 January 2026, the requirement applies to non-European applicants seeking a first carte de séjour pluriannuelle or first carte de résident, but the official guidance lists exemptions and dispensations. The exact card or programme must be checked.
Do renewals require the civic exam?
No. France’s official guidance states that only the first application is subject to the civic-exam requirement. Renewals of a multi-year residence card or carte de résident are not subject to it.
Does passing the French-language civic exam satisfy the separate French requirement?
The official page presents sufficient knowledge of French as an additional mandatory condition. It does not state that passing the civic exam replaces that separate requirement.
Can I use a Carte de résident pass certificate for a multi-year residence card application?
Yes. Service-Public states that the Carte de résident pass certificate is also valid for a carte de séjour pluriannuelle application.
Do the pass certificates expire?
No. The official guidance states that the pass certificates for both civic-exam versions have no expiry date.
Important Disclaimer
This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or immigration advice. Consult a licensed professional before making investment decisions.
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