Published on: July 28, 2025 | Article No: 333 | By: @rprasanth_kumar
France is tightening its nationality requirements by 2026, raising the French language level to B2 and introducing a mandatory civic exam. These changes aim to strengthen integration and streamline the application process.
Here is a summary of the official notification published, Décret n° 2025-648 du 15 juillet 2025 portant modification du décret n° 93-1362 du 30 décembre 1993 modifié relatif aux déclarations de nationalité.
Kind reminder: For all questions, please use the comments section under this article. Kindly avoid DMs or emails on this topic.
Target Audience: Foreign nationals applying for French nationality through naturalization, reinstatement, or declaration (e.g. via marriage).
Purpose: This decree modifies several provisions of Decree No. 93-1362 of December 30, 1993, aiming to:
✅ Raise the required level of French language proficiency (both spoken and written) to B2 of the CEFR for those seeking nationality through naturalization, reinstatement, or marriage.
✅ Introduce a civic exam to test applicants’ knowledge of French history, culture, and society, replacing the current assessment during the assimilation interview.
✅ Improve the efficiency of the nationality application process.
Key Changes:
✅ Applicants must now show B2-level French through a recent certified language test (within two years) or a French diploma. Foreign degrees with a certificate of comparability will no longer suffice.
✅ The civic knowledge exam becomes a formal, separate test instead of being evaluated during an interview.
✅ Assimilation interviews will be conducted only for applications deemed admissible and likely to be approved.
✅ Appeals must now be filed through the same online platform used for the initial application.
✅ The preliminary administrative appeal to the Minister will no longer be required in some dismissal cases.
✅ The Ministry retains the right to order further investigations into an applicant’s background.
Effective Date: The decree takes effect the day after publication, except for the language level and civic exam requirements, which begin on January 1, 2026.
Prasanth’s comment – 28/07/2025: Normally the rules aren’t retrospective in France and so usually not applicable for applications submitted before the cut-off date. Exactly why they mention the effective date clearly. But there is no official confirmation on this restropective thing. Have to write to a few prefectures & get a written confirmation. Probably it’s little early even for them.
Legal aspects: Implements Article 20 of Law No. 2024-42 of January 26, 2024, on immigration control and improved integration. More details on New language requirements for French resident permits & citizenship.
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Does this mean,if we apply before Dec 2025 for nationality then DELF B1 will be considered Valid?
Hello Madhuri,
Ideally B1 until 31st Dec 2025. Normally the rules aren’t retrospective in France & so usually not applicable for applications submitted before the cut-off date. Exactly why they mention the effective date clearly.
But there is no official confirmation on this restropective thing. Have to write to a few prefectures & get a written confirmation. Probably it’s little early even for them.
Whatever it is, please try to submit your application asap.
Cheers,
Prasanth
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If we apply before this, will we be subject to these changes?
Hello Aditya,
Normally the rules aren’t retrospective in France & so not usually applicable for applications submitted before the cut-off date. Exactly why they mention the effective date clearly.
But there is no official confirmation on this restropective thing. Have to write to a few prefectures & get a written confirmation. Probably it’s little early even for them
Cheers,
Prasanth
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Hello Prasanth,
Thank you for this article 🙂
I have a question regarding the new rules.
I understand that the new B2 language requirement applies only to applicants who submit their application after January 1, 2026.
But I’d like to confirm — does the new civic exam also apply only to those who submit after that date?
I have already submitted my application, and I’m exempt from the language requirement (I did my Master’s in France).
So, will I still go through the regular assimilation interview, as it currently exists? Or will I have to take the new civic exam anyway?
Thank you in advance!
Hello Varsha,
I have clearly mentioned the effective dates for both the civic axam and language requirements. Must wait for the implementation of these rules. Too early to comment anything.
Cheers,
Prasanth
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Hello Prashanth,
I hope you’re doing well.
Regarding French language skills, what exam certification are accepted? DELF ? TCF ? TEF ? Are all of them are accepted ?
Hello Ramkrishna,
Yes, all of them will accepted. More details on
https://prasanthragupathy.com/2024/03/faq-new-language-requirements-for-french-resident-permits-citizenship/ and https://www.service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F11926
Cheers,
Prasanth
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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?
Hello Shravan, Sorry, no comments about wrong references from ChatGPT, Perplexity, etc. If you are going to do something very important based on answers from GPTs, its your personal choice. All the best.
Please refer to official information. Exactly why I quote official legal references in my articles.
Cheers,
Prasanth
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Thank you so much Prashanth for your amazingly useful work.
I can confirm that chatgpt 4 and other chatbots make many factual mistakes on this topic and have not taken good amount of this decree.
Thank you again
Sumeet
Are we exempt from the language certificate if we did our 2 year masters in France but the course was taught in English?
Hello Krupal,
As long as the Masters degree certificate is in French, it should be ok. Its the case for so many people. Your French language level will be evaluated during the process. So, apply only if you are good in French now.*
All the best.
Cheers,
Prasanth
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Hello Paranth ,
Thank you for the valuable information that you have shared !
However i have some questions regarding the civic exam that is applicable in 2026 :
1- Is the civic exam required for renewing the titre de sejour – Passport Talent Carte Bleue ?
2- Is the civic exam required for those seeking the nationality through declaration (marriage) ?
Hello Zed,
Yes, the civic exam is applicable for everyone from 2026. So, all the applicants of multi-year CdS, 10-year cards and French nationality.
Cheers,
Prasanth
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Hi, as per this article (and many other) , we can use French Diploma to show our language skills but practically, when I tried to apply, they are asking the French language certificate separately.
Could you please clarify?
Hello Adithya,
As per official info and 1000s of personal experiences, a valid 2-year French university Masters degree (RNCP/CGE) certificate holder does not need a separate language certificate. Only when the degree certificate is 100% in english, there have been some issues.
Cheers,
Prasanth
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Hi Prasanth,
I have a question on applying 10 year Card for my self.
My husband is currently on EU Blue card since more than 5 years and just applied for Nationality.
I am on Dependent Blue card holder and currently not working but in France since 2019.I have recently cleared Delf A2. Should (or Can) i apply 10 years resident permit card (Please note my husband and children applied for nationality so application is in progress)?
Hello Mayur,
You can apply if you satisfy all the eligiblity criteria. Detailed explanations on https://prasanthragupathy.com/2024/07/french-pr-carte-de-resident-personal-experience-from-nanterre-prefecture/
It will be B1 from 1st Jan 2026 and so apply asap if you want to use the A2 certificate.
Cheers,
Prasanth
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Hi Prasanth,
I currently hold an APS (job seeker) visa and would like to apply for a change of status to a Talent Passport – Skilled Employee visa.
Could you please confirm:
1. Whether proof of A2 level French is required for this change of status;
2. Whether passing the civic exam (CIVEC) is mandatory before submitting the application;
3. Whether there are any other new requirements applicable in 2026.
Thank you in advance for your assistance.
Kind regards,
Rajesh
Hello Rajesh,
Please refer to my detailed explanations in https://prasanthragupathy.com/2023/09/work-resident-permits-after-graduating-in-france/
1. No
2. No
3. Only the salary part mentioned in the above article.
Cheers,
Prasanth
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Hello Prasanth,
I recently read your articles & found it very informative. However, I would like to have some clarification on a few points related to my situation.
As mentioned earlier, I currently hold a carte de sejour pluriannuelle valid until January 2027. I will be getting married soon & plan to apply for a family reunification (dependent) visa for my wife. From my understanding, she will initially receive a VLS, which will then be converted into a carte de sejour after her arrival in France. I also understand that her residence permit would be valid until January 2027, in line with my permit.
Regarding the renewal of my carte de sejour pluriannuelle, based on your article, I understand that I may be exempt from the French language requirement, as I completed my Master’s degree in France. Could you please confirm if this understanding is correct?
Additionally, I would like to know whether the same exemption applies to my wife, or if she would still be required to provide a French language certificate at the time of her residence permit application or renewal.
As for the civic integration requirement, I understand that this applies to everyone, which is clear.
Thank you in advance!
Hello Ashwin,
You have to maintain a valid resience pemrit status until your french nationality process is completed.
Separate language certficate is not rquired but civic exam is applicable for renewal. For your spouse, both will be applicable during visa reenwal.
Please refer to,
– https://prasanthragupathy.com/2024/06/family-reunification-how-to-bring-your-family-to-france/
– https://prasanthragupathy.com/2024/03/faq-new-language-requirements-for-french-resident-permits-citizenship/
Cheers,
Prasanth
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