Last updated on: July 28, 2025 | By: @rprasanth_kumar
The 2024 French immigration law has modified the language requirements for French resident permits and citizenships. This article covers the various language requirements and how to prove them. For more details about the immigration law and other updates, you can refer to the following article President Macron’s Immigration Bill Finally Approved By The French Parliament.
Update July 2025: New French Nationality Rules 2026: Décret published on Higher Language Requirements and Mandatory Civic Exam
New language requirements
The new language requirements mentioned in Article 20 & Article 21 have been were published on 28th January 2024. The new language rules will become effective from 1st January 2026.
- Hereafter, any resident permit will be issued only upon signature by the foreigner of a contract of commitment to respect the principles of the French Republic “Contrat d’engagement à respecter les principes de la République“.
| Topic | New French language level |
Application of a multi-year residence permit “carte de séjour (CdS) pluriannuelle”. However, Passeport Talent applicants including EU Blue Card are exempted. | A2 |
Application of a 10-year resident card “carte de résident”. People aged 65 years and above are exempted | B1 |
| French citizenship | B2 |
Exemption
If an applicant for the multi-year resident permit is not able to prove their A2 level of French, then the applicant will only be issued a 1-year card instead of the usual 4-year card.
- This exemption requires the passing of the civic exam and Contrat d’intégration républicaine (CIR) signed during the initial OFII procedures and can be used for only up to 3 renewals. Then, the renewals will be refused and the applicant will be forced to leave the country.
- For example, renewal of “Carte de Sejour Salarié” without an A2 certificate will only lead to another 1-year Salarié card.
Comparison with other EU countries
These new measures bring France closer to its European neighbors such as Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Italy, and Portugal.
Here is the official text from Document de présentation de la loi pour contrôler l’immigration et améliorer l’intégration.
French language certifications and degrees
The French language certification requirements depend on the type of the application.
You can find details in the following articles,
- Carte de résident (10-year card): how to prove your knowledge of French?
- Nationalité Française: how can you justify your level in French?
Good to know: If you had graduated from a 2-year Master’s and/or PhD degree from France, the degree certificate is enough. This includes the courses taught in English (for the moment). You do not need a language certificate as long as you can speak in French during the appointment.
Employer’s Support for French Training
Contribution of the employer to language training as part of the professional training on the actual working time of the employee, considering their responsibility for integration as explained in Article 23
- Employers can offer employees the opportunity to follow training in French as a foreign language (FLE) on working time, as part of the employer training plan.
- the possibility of taking French courses at the OFII on working time (up to 600 hours) for employees who signed the CIR.
- A work permit with full rights for employees taking French courses financed from their personal training account mon compte formation account (CPF).
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Sources & References
- A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2 : What are these language levels?
- 2024 French immigration law : Article 20
- 2024 French immigration law : Article 21
- 2024 French immigration law : Article 23
- 26/01/2024 – Document de présentation de la loi pour contrôler l’immigration et améliorer l’intégration
- Knowledge of the French language : Code de l’entrée et du séjour des étrangers et du droit d’asile : articles L413-7
Thanks for this article.
I want to know if same rules apply for passport talent as well. as i read in the law it’s not applicable to passport talent. basically i want to know the dependent on (Passport talent) do they need to prove there french level as A2?
Languages exams aren’t applicable for Talent RPs (ex-Passeport Talent). But there are a few other things to keep in mind.
Please refer to https://prasanthragupathy.com/2024/03/faq-new-language-requirements-for-french-resident-permits-citizenship/
Hi,
You have mentioned that “If you had graduated from Master’s and/or PhD degree from France, the degree certificate is enough. ” Can you please provide the source for this information?
From what I’m reading, it says a Diploma (Master/PhD) in French is acceptable, not exactly a Diploma (Master/PhD) from France.
Thanks.
Hello Sharan,
All my articles are written based on official information only. Exactly, why the are underlined text in green with links to various sources. Feel free to explore them and help yourself.
I want to fact check regarding this topic. CHATGPT gave an info that if a master’s degree holder from french university, It’s possible to apply for nationality after two years of work experience. Provided passing C1 level exam.
Also it mentioned even if the degree duration is 18 months and not 2 years. It is possible to apply
Could you please me to verify these two infos?
Hey Prasanth,
First of all, thanks for all the work you’ve done with this blog. It’s my go-to information centre for all things French.
I was wondering if the French authorities asked for any additional documents when you submitted your M2 course certificate for the language proficiency requirement. I also completed a two-year Master’s program at a business school here, taught fully in English from 2017 to 2019, and they issued me a French RNCP Niveau 7 certificate (which is included in the list you’ve shared). I landed a CDI job immediately after graduating in 2019, and my spoken French is pretty decent, but I haven’t had the time to take the TCF test.
I just wanted to know how your experience was and whether they scrutinised your file or asked for any extra documents to prove your French level. I’ll be applying through the Paris prefecture.
Thank you for all your help again!
Hello Adithya,
I have explained it clearly in the above article. If you have an official French university, RNCP/CGE 2-year Master degree certificate printed in French, there is no need for a separate language certficate.
This is the offcial rule in place since many years and has not changed until today. It is applicable for multi-year CdS, 10-year resident cards and even French nationality. Every years, 1000s of applications from French alumni are processed using the same rules.
Note: Something that I keep repeating since many years – Anectodal personal experiences do no matter when there are clear offical rules.
Cheers,
Prasanth
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I am a post doc joined in October 2025. I have got VLS TS. I have already validated my visa by paying the fees. It serves as both visa and resident permit and it is valid upto septem 2026. Do I need to worry about language requirement. To add it is a long term talent passport visa.
Hello Dr. Sindhu,
Please check the table in the beginning of the above article.
Cheers,
Prasanth
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Hey Prasanth
Iam doing work study program on PT visa my visa valid till 2027 Aug my training certificate is taught in French during my renewal of my pt visa can I use my work study program certificate to renew my visa is it accepted.
Hello Nikhilteja,
Please use the relevant French terms to avoid any misunderstandings.
The answers to your language question is in the table above.
But there is another requirement too https://prasanthragupathy.com/2025/12/understanding-the-new-civic-exam-in-france-a-complete-guide-on-lexamen-civique-from-2026/
Cheers,
Prasanth
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Hello, sir this is Anjaneyulu, I read in your article, it mentioned no need A2 certificate if we do masters in France tought in english. It is true because I did my master M1 and M2 in english. So I need still A2 certificate to apply 4- year’s multi year Card.
Hello,
The masters degree certificate is enough for language but you need to pass the Examen civique too.
So, I hope you have B2 level of French when you submit your application.
Cheers,
Prasanth
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My RNCP certificate are printed in french only.
Hello Prasanth,
I did my masters (2 years) in France. Currently, I have a 1 year cds. For 4 year titre de séjour, should I still provide A2 french certificate and finish the civic exam?
Hello Eva,
Already explained above. In short,
No for separate language certificate as explained above
Yes for civic exam https://prasanthragupathy.com/2025/12/understanding-the-new-civic-exam-in-france-a-complete-guide-on-lexamen-civique-from-2026/
Cheers,
Prasanth
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