What is the Republican Integration Contract (RIC)?
Verified 11 July 2025 - Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
The Republican Integration Contract (CIR) is concluded between France and any non-European foreigner who has been admitted to stay in France and wishes to settle there on a permanent basis, with some exceptions. The signatory undertakes to follow training courses to promote its integration into the French business. Civic training is mandatory. Language training may be requested depending on your level in French. We present you the information to know.
The Republican Integration Contract (CIR) is concluded, for a period of 1 year, between the French State and you.
By signing it, you agree to respect the principles and values of the French business and the Republic and to follow with seriousness and diligence trainings which are requested of you.
The CIR is there 1re step of your integration pathway in France which includes the following actions:
- Civic training on the values, principles and institutions of the Republic, on the rights and duties associated with life in France and on the organization of the French business
- Language training
- Career counseling and support to promote your professional integration
- Support adapted to your needs to facilitate your reception and integration conditions.
You are concerned if you have a temporary or multi-year residence card. But there are exceptions.
Residence permit | Signature of the CIR | |
|---|---|---|
Residence card private and family life | Foreigner born in France with continuous residence in France for at least 8 years + schooling for at least 5 years after the age of 10 in a French institution | No |
Title obtained for health reasons | No | |
Other case | Yes | |
Certificate of residence for Algerian | Yes, on proposal | |
Resident Card | Yes | |
Long-stay visa as a residence permit employee | Yes | |
Residence card visitor | No | |
Residence card student | No | |
Residence card to practice a commercial, industrial or craft profession | Yes | |
Residence card intern | No | |
Residence card temporary worker | No | |
Residence card talent/talent (family) | No | |
Residence card seasonal worker | No | |
Residence card ICT posted employee/ICT seconded employee (family)/ICT mobile seconded employee/mobile ICT seconded employee (family) | No | |
Residence card for foreigners benefiting from international protection | Refugee | Yes |
Alternative protection | Yes | |
Stateless | Yes | |
Family member residing in France for family reunification | Yes | |
You are dispensed of the CIR if you are in one the following situations:
- Education in a French secondary school for at least 3 school years
- Graduate studies in France for at least 1 academic year
- Be between 16 and 18 years of age and be able to obtain a 10-year resident card.
Warning
This procedure does not concern a foreigner who is a national of european countriesor the members of his family living in France with him.
You will be called in obligatorily by the territorial directorate of theOfii: titleContent on which your home depends.
The interview with an Ofii auditor allows you to inform and of you orient to the appropriate local services that can meet your situation and needs.
You are also subject to a test of knowledge of french (written and oral) to assess your level and whether you need language training.
The civic education is mandatory and takes place over 4 days, spread over a period of about 4 months.
The training allows you to appropriate the values of the Republic and the rules of life of the French business.
At the end of this training, a personal certificate is given to you by the training organization.
Ofii shall be informed of the delivery of this certificate.
The language training is imposed on you if you have achieved results less than level A1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) in the French language test.
It is mentioned in the CIR and you are committed to following it.
At the end of the training, the training organization gives you a certificate of attendance stating the number of hours worked and the results obtained on the evaluation tests.
You are dispensed language training if you are in one of the following situations:
- Results obtained equal to or greater than the A1 level of the CEFR during the French test
- Justification for mastering this level by producing diplomas or tests.
The Ofii then gives you a certificate of exemption from language training. It is mentioned in the CIR.
FYI
If you are an employee allophone signatory to an IRC:
- Your employer can offer you, as part of the skills development plan, training to achieve the level A2 of the CEFR. Such training shall be equivalent to actual working time (with maintenance of pay) up to a maximum of 80 hours.
- You can also benefit from leave to follow, on your Personal Training Account (CPF), training courses to help you reach the A2 level of the CEFR.
The CIR is signed when you are admitted for the 1re times to stay in France and you want to settle there long-term.
The contract is presented to you with its translation into a language you understand.
At the end of the interview with an auditor ofOfii: titleContent, you must sign the contract (and your legal representative if you are a minor).
You agree to participate in the training provided for in the contract.
The contract is also signed, on behalf of the French State, by the Prefect.
If you did not sign a CIR when you entered French territory, you can ask to sign it voluntarily. You must contact the local Ofii office of your place of residence.
Initial contract
The CIR is concluded for a period of 1 year.
The contract is fulfilled if the following 2 conditions are met:
- Follow-up of the training prescribed there with diligence and seriousness
- No sign of rejection of the core values of the French business and the Republic.
Extension
The contract may be extended for a maximum of one year by the prefect for a legitimate reason and on the proposal of theOfii: titleContent if the prescribed and followed civic and linguistic training is being carried out at the end of the contract and you are in regular residence.
The reason for and duration of the extension is stated in the contract.
Within 3 months after the end of the training, theOfii: titleContent invite you to an end-of-contract interview to take stock of the training courses taken.
The Ofii agent brings you new information on the offer of local services that can facilitate the continuation of your integration journey.
He can refer you to France Travail (formerly Pôle emploi) or a local mission to benefit from an in-depth interview in vocational guidance and support promoting your professional integration.
Please note
If you have complied with the CIR and the core values of the businesses and the Republic, the prefect may, when renewing your 1-year temporary residence permit, issue you a multi-year card (valid for 2 to 4 years).
The prefect may terminate the contract on a proposal from theOfii: titleContent when they find that you are in one of the following situations:
- Not participating in prescribed training and you have no legitimate reason
- Non-compliance with EIF commitments.
The prefect must inform you of his intention to terminate the contract. It must state the reasons for the envisaged termination and specify the consequences for the issue of the multi-annual residence card.
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
Administrative information by phone - Allô Service Public
For more information on this subject, you can contact Allô Service Public.
Attention: the service does not have access to users' personal files and therefore cannot provide information on their progress.
- Lundi : de 08h30 à 17h30
- Mardi : de 08h30 à 12h15
- Mercredi : de 08h30 à 12h15
- Jeudi : de 08h30 à 17h30
- Vendredi : de 13h00 à 16h15
- Service free
The informants who answer you belong to the Ministry of the Interior.
- Office français de l'immigration et de l'intégration (Ofii)
Provisions relating to integration into the French business
Employer Obligations and Skills Development Plan
Mobilization of the personal training account
Provisions relating to integration into the French business
Initial degree in French language
Office français de l'immigration et de l'intégration (Ofii)