People applying for some residency cards and citizenship through naturalisation must also sit a new culture test from January 1, it has been announced.
The tests for the residency cards were set out in a 2024 immigration law. In a circular to prefects in May, then-interior minister Bruno Retailleau said it is only “coherent” that the tests should also be sat by people seeking to become French.
“We can’t have fewer criteria to obtain an identity card than a residency card,” he said. Tests for citizenship will now require a modification to a 1993 decree.
The residency cards affected are first multi-year – usually, two to four-year – cartes de séjour and first 10-year cartes de résident. Brexit WA cards are not affected.
Unlike the language test, there is no exemption for over-65s, although this might later be clarified by decree.
The 2024 law states that people can take the tests as many times as they need to pass.
The circular also asks prefects to take a tougher attitude towards granting citizenship, with a focus on applicants being able to support themselves, and not only through benefits, assimilating, and showing “exemplary” behaviour.
People who have been illegal immigrants should be refused, excepting decisions annulled by courts, it states.
Route to citizenship 'more difficult' for many
Avocate and member of the Gisti immigrants’ rights group Vanina Rochiccioli, said she hoped there would be leeway for those who had a period without a valid card linked to prefecture delays or technical website issues.
The circular implies that candidates should have had a smooth, straightforward life history in France.
Some people “might have had difficult periods but be well integrated” and some of these had succeeded in the past, whereas now it might be difficult.
It also stresses ‘integration via work’, but Ms Rochiccioli did not think this would rule out retirees.
However, it says those whose incomes are mostly from abroad should be rejected, though exceptions may be made.
Prefectures have already objected to this in some cases, because having the ‘centre of one’s material interests’ in France is looked for, but the circular makes this more explicit.
Typical questions may include (click to see answer)
What year did the Revolution start?
A) 1789
Who was Molière?
A) 17th-Century playwright
Which king had Versailles built?
A) Louis XIV
What are the symbols of the Republic?
A) the tricolore, cockerel, Marseillaise, Marianne, the motto ‘Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité
What is meant by laïcité?
A) freedom of religion, and a secular state
How long is the president elected for?
A) Five years
What are the two chambers of the
French parliament called?
A) Assemblée nationale, Sénat
What are the three main local government levels?
A) commune, département, région
Which are the major fleuves (rivers)
and the highest mountain?
A) Loire, Seine, Garonne, Rhône, Rhin, Mont Blanc
“There will doubtless still be wiggle room,” Ms Rochiccioli said. “If officials think your profile is interesting, you have high income, own property, etc.”
Another ‘new’ element is stable income over a five-year period. The current criterion is ‘stable and sufficient’ income.
'Citizenship application is actually very complicated'
In general, Ms Rochiccioli said, while the circular represents a “toughening” of attitudes, it is, nonetheless, not a “complete break” with existing rules.
“Mr Retailleau repeated many things that are already the law,” she said. “But I was shocked that he implied obtaining citizenship is easy at present.
"It’s actually very complicated and there are long waiting times – from one-and-a-half to five years, depending on area.”
With regard to delays, “there’s not much one can do”, she said – and it is often better to wait than attempt legal action.
What is more, such appeals are made to the Nantes administrative court, “which, itself, faces staggering delays”.
Naturalisation is the standard route, via living in France for five years.
Knowledge of history and culture is at present assessed during the obligatory prefecture interview but Mr Retailleau said a test would allow this to focus on lifestyle and values and “notably, questions linked to gender equality and the secular state”.
It has not been revealed if the tests will be written or via computer choices.
People coming on a visa involving signing a ‘Republican integration contract’ are currently offered ‘civic’ knowledge training.
Now, they will also have to pass a test to obtain a first ‘multi-year’ residency card. First-time applicants for one of the three 10-year cartes de résident will also need this.
Ms Rochiccioli said the test for citizenship was “unexpected, especially as this knowledge is already included in the interview, which is in-depth and the questions asked are not easy”.
She feared the test and raised language levels would “leave a lot of people by the wayside” and not sufficiently account for differing situations.
Le Livret du Citoyen, (available here) which citizenship applicants are already asked to read, includes key facts.
