Do you need French for residence, long-term residence, or citizenship in France in 2026?

There is no blanket French certificate for every long-stay visa or first one-year temporary residence card. France-Visas and the relevant Service-Public route set the documents for workers, students, visitors, family members, and other applicants. A work or university programme may impose its own language condition even when the immigration document does not.

Some non-EU newcomers sign the contrat d'intégration républicaine, or CIR (the republican integration contract), through OFII (the French immigration and integration office). OFII assesses French and can prescribe training. That assessment and attendance are not the same as holding accepted proof for a later card.

From 1 January 2026, a non-EU applicant under 65 seeking a first covered carte de séjour pluriannuelle, meaning multi-year residence card, must show A2 French. A2 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, or CEFR (the international language-level scale), means basic everyday communication.

A first covered carte de résident, meaning a ten-year resident card, requires B1, an independent level. Service-Public also applies B1 to the first EU long-term resident card and resident permanent card. The EU long-term route has separate conditions for lawful residence, resources, and health coverage.

Not every multi-year or resident card is covered. Students, talent routes, family situations, protection statuses, and special nationality agreements can follow different provisions. Renewals are also not identical to first issue. Use the exact Service-Public page named for the wording on your current visa or card, then check the official online foreign-national portal or your préfecture (the local state administration) before booking a test.

Service-Public, verified on 1 January 2026, requires oral and written B2 for naturalisation by decree, reintegration by decree, and a nationality declaration through marriage. B2 means you can understand and express detailed arguments with a good degree of independence.

Language proof is only one condition. Since 1 January 2026, a separate civic exam also applies to the relevant first multi-year and resident cards and to naturalisation. It tests knowledge of French institutions, rights, duties, history, and society. Passing a language test does not pass the civic exam.

This page is practical guidance, not legal advice. Nationality by descent, birth, or other declarations must be checked under their own official route rather than assigned the naturalisation rule.

Accepted residence evidence can include specified French diplomas, qualifying professional certifications, or approved language evidence. DELF means official French-language diplomas covering A1 to B2, while DALF means official advanced French-language diplomas at C1 and C2. TCF is an approved French knowledge test, and TEF is an approved French evaluation test. For citizenship, Service-Public accepts qualifying diplomas or TCF and TEF results issued within the stated two-year period.

Do not assume a course attendance letter proves A2, B1, or B2. Match the credential, level, skills tested, issuing body, and validity period to the application page.

Applicants whose disability or health condition requires test adjustments can provide the prescribed medical certificate. Where evaluation is impossible, a documented exemption may apply. For naturalisation by decree, Service-Public also lists a narrow proof exemption for a refugee or stateless person over 70 who has held valid residence in France for at least 15 years. Residence-card pages also contain age and route rules, so check the current page rather than transferring a citizenship exemption.