Everyone under the age of 65 must now include a French ‘civic test’ result if applying for a first multi-year residency card, 10-year carte de résident or citizenship by naturalisation.
The only exception is for people who have a condition that makes it impossible for them to take part.
These tests – with 40 multiple-choice questions – must be booked and paid for by candidates, at a cost of around €70-€100. There are three levels, at increasing levels of difficulty.
The ‘training’ refers to civic and cultural sessions now offered to newcomers undergoing the Contrat d’intégration républicaine (CIR) process via the Ofii immigration service. You need to book:
If you have been undergoing the CIR and hope to obtain a first ‘multi-year’ (two to four year) carte de séjour on your next residency card application/renewal. Book the carte de séjour pluriannuelle / CSP level. The exception is if you are aged 65 or over, or if you have a condition making it impossible for you to take a test (even with adaptations) and a medical certificate. Include a test certificate showing a pass (32/40 or more) when you apply for your card.
If applying for a first 10-year carte de résident (due to family links in France or at least five years’ settled residency) apply for the carte de résident level test, unless you fall into one of the exempt groups above.
If applying to become French by naturalisation (the main route based on settled life and integration) take the ‘naturalisation’ test.
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What should I expect?
The test will be sat on a desktop or tablet computer and will take three-quarters of an hour. As it is multiple choice no writing out of long phrases is required. Each question will have four proposed answers, with only one being correct.
What questions can be asked?
There will be 28 questions about ‘knowledge’ and 12 ‘situations’, with the latter aimed at testing whether you have understood ‘real life’ implications of the principles.
The questions are on five themes: principles and values of the Republic; institutions and politics; rights and responsibilities; history, geography and culture; ‘living in French society’
How can I prepare?
If you are taking the CIR, then you will receive training sessions in these topics. Click Fiches par journée for more information on topics covered on certain days.
You may also wish to read the free Livret du citoyen, even though this is especially aimed at candidates for nationality. If you are applying for nationality, study the Livret du citoyen.
Applicants are asked about French culture during the assessmentsspatuletail/Shutterstock
Questions for naturalisation can be found here, near the bottom of the page.
Candidates should also study the Fiches par thématique section at the civic education site to gain the required factual knowledge as well as in-depth understanding of the themes.
Examples of the kinds of questions asked for a CSP include:
Liberté, égalité, fraternité – c’est..? Certains métiers peuvent-ils être réservés aux hommes ? Quel animal est un symbole de la France ? Qu’est-ce la Marseillaise ? Qui dirige la commune ? Qui était Albert Camus ?
Answers: La devise de la République; non ; le coq ; l’hymne national ; le maire ; un écrivain et lauréat du prix Nobel de littérature.
For more examples of the questions asked see our article here
