Key takeaways
- Since 1 January 2026, a passed civic exam is required for a first multi-year residence card or a first resident card in France.
- The exam has 40 multiple-choice questions (28 on knowledge, 12 on real-life situations), in 45 minutes at most, on a tablet or computer.
- You need at least 32 right answers, which is 80%.
- You take it before filing, at any time and as often as needed, at a centre of one of the bodies approved by the Interior Ministry.
- The pass certificate does not expire, and renewing a multi-year card or resident card does not need the exam.
On this page · 8 sections
The short answer: since 1 January 2026, France's civic exam (examen civique) is one of the conditions for a first multi-year residence card and a first resident card. It is a 40-question test on the values, institutions and daily life of France, passed at 80%, and taken before you file. It builds on the civic training followed under the republican integration contract (see the OFII integration day).
This guide follows Service-Public and the Interior Ministry's civic training site, checked on 2 November 2026. It also exists in French.
Who has to take the civic exam?
The Interior Ministry names every adult foreign national who signed the republican integration contract and applies for a first multi-year card or resident card. The exam is also required for French naturalisation.
It is not required for:
- the renewal of a multi-year card or resident card you already hold;
- beneficiaries of international protection;
- people over 65, for the multi-year card (Service-Public);
- titles outside the integration contract, such as the Talent Passport.
The format
| Point | What the official sources say |
|---|---|
| Questions | 40 multiple-choice questions, one right answer out of four |
| Split | 28 general knowledge questions and 12 real-life situation questions |
| Time | 45 minutes at most |
| Format | On a tablet or computer |
| Pass mark | At least 32 right answers, which is 80% |
The questions cover the five themes of the civic training: the principles and values of the Republic, the institutional and political system, rights and duties, history, geography and culture, and life in French society.
When and where to take it
- Before you file: the exam must be passed before the residence permit application. The pass certificate goes into the file.
- As often as needed: you can take it at any time, and retake it.
- At an approved centre: you register with a centre approved by the Interior Ministry. Service-Public names the Paris Île-de-France Chamber of Commerce (CCI Paris Île-de-France) and France Éducation international, which each have a tool to find a centre; the list is also on the civic training site. You don't register on that site itself.
- In French: the questionnaire is written in French. Adjustments exist for a disability or a health condition, on a medical certificate.
- Fraud: an attempt to cheat bars you from the exam for 2 years.
Tip: Watch out for paid sites. Preparation can be done entirely for free. The Interior Ministry points out that paid preparation sites are not its own.
Prepare for free
The official site formation-civique.interieur.gouv.fr has fact sheets by theme, sheets for each day of the training and the official lists of knowledge questions, one for the multi-year card and one for the resident card. They are in French. The 4-day civic training prescribed by OFII covers the same themes, so taking it seriously is already revision.
The pass certificate
The pass certificate has no expiry date. A certificate at resident card level also counts for a multi-year card when the application is filed on ANEF.
The exam is only one of the conditions for the multi-year card: you also need A2 French, attendance at the CIR trainings and the conditions of your current title. See our guide to France's multi-year residence card in 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many questions are in France's civic exam?
40 multiple-choice questions: 28 general knowledge questions and 12 real-life situation questions, with one right answer out of four, in 45 minutes at most.
What is the pass mark for the civic exam?
At least 32 right answers out of 40, which is 80%.
Can I retake the civic exam?
Yes. The Interior Ministry says the exam can be taken at any time and as many times as needed.
Does the civic exam certificate expire?
No. The pass certificate has no expiry date.
Is the civic exam in French?
Yes. Service-Public says the questionnaire is written in French. A first multi-year card also needs A2 French, so it makes sense to prepare both together.
Do I need the civic exam to renew my residence card?
Not to renew a multi-year card or resident card you already hold. It is required for a first multi-year card, a first resident card and naturalisation.
How Settio helps employers and agencies in France
Settio helps employers and immigration and relocation agencies run every residence permit case in one place, from the first application to the renewal:
- Before and after arrival: a plan for every hire, with each step and its deadline, the OFII appointment included.
- For the employee: the employee portal shows their next steps on their phone, in their language, with no account or password.
- Before the renewal: permit monitoring tracks every expiry date and flags the renewal in good time, which leaves room to gather the training certificate, the French level and the civic exam before filing.
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Sources
7 official sources
- Service-Public: A civic exam from 1 January 2026 (in French)
- Service-Public: Multi-year card and resident card, how to take the civic exam (in French)
- Interior Ministry: General information on the civic exam (in French)
- Interior Ministry: La formation civique (in French)
- Service-Public: Contrat d'intégration républicaine (CIR) (in French)
- Service-Public: Carte de séjour pluriannuelle (in French)
- Légifrance: CESEDA, article L433-4 (in French)
More in our guide toRelocation and immigration in Europe
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