Civic and cultural test also required for some

The CIR programme includes culture and history elements as part of the ‘civic’ training sessions. 

Everyone under the age of 65 must now include a French ‘civic test’ result if applying for a first multi-year residency card or a 10-year carte de résident.

All applicants to become French by naturalisation are also affected by the requirement.

The only exceptions are for people who have a condition making 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.

They are run at centres around France which can be identified on the official website for the French civic training and test. 

The ‘training’ refers to civic and cultural sessions now offered to newcomers undergoing the 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.

• If applying to become French by naturalisation (the main route based on settled life and integration) take the ‘naturalisation’ test.

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, 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. It was greatly expanded in 2026, to provide more detailed information. 

You can find a full list of ‘knowledge’ questions that can be asked for the CSP online here  and for the carte de résident here.

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.

More practice questions

Typical questions in the tests might include:

• What year did the French Revolution start?

• Who was Molière?

• Which king had Versailles built?

• Name some of the symbols of the French Republic.

• One of the Republic’s key values is laïcité – what does it refer to?

• Give some examples of liberté (part of the French motto).

• What are the two chambers of the French parliament called?

• How many years is the president elected for?

• What are the three main local government levels?

• Which are the major fleuves (rivers) and the highest mountain?