What is the Republican Integration Contract (RIC)?

Verified 01 January 2026 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

The Republican Integration Contract (CIR) is part of the personalized journey of republican integration of the non-European foreigners national admitted to stay in France and wishing to settle there permanently. It is concluded between the foreigner of France and the signatory State which undertakes to follow the training prescribed to it to promote its integration into the business of France. The CIR includes language and civic training that allows foreigners to meet the language level and the mandatory civic examination since 1er January 2026 if he wishes to obtain a resident card or a multi-year residence card. We present you the information to know.

You are concerned if you have a temporary or multi-year residence card. But there are exceptions.

Tableau - Obligation to sign the Republican Integration Contract (CIR) according to the residence permit

Residence permit

Signature of the EIF

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

Ascendant and descendant of French

No

Other case

Yes

Certificate of residence for Algerian

Yes, on proposal

Resident Card except residence card granted to the legionnaire

Yes

EU long-term resident card

Yes

Long-stay visa as a residence permit employee

Yes

Residence card visitor

No

Residence card student

No

Temporary residence card Au pair

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 - Family member of a refugee

Yes

Subsidiary protection - Family member of a beneficiary of subsidiary protection

Yes

Stateless - Family member of a stateless person

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.

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 CIR is prepared by theOfii: titleContent following a typical model. 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 mandatory civic training and possibly language training.

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.

Who shall I contact

During the personalized interview, theOfii: titleContent introduces you to the republican integration contract with its translation into a language you understand.

The interview with an Ofii auditor allows you to inform and of you orient to local services adapted to your situation and needs.

You are also subject to a test of knowledge of french (written and oral) to assess your level.

If you achieve results below A2 level, you can register for language training at Ofii prescribed under the Republican Integration Contract.

The Republican Integration Contract (CIR) is concluded, for a period of 1 year, between the French State and you. It can be extended in some cases for up to 1 year. It is based on reciprocal commitments.

By signing it, you agree to 

  • Follow regularly and seriously the prescribed training
  • Respond to the invitations of theOfii: titleContent
  • Carry out the steps indicated by the Ofii: titleContent and respond to requests from different operators (employment or other).
  • Report toOfii: titleContent any change of situation and contact details
  • If you are a parent: provide your child with an education that respects the principles of the Republic and accompany him in his integration efforts.

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 as well as on the organization of the French business, the history and culture of the French business
  • Language training
  • Career guidance advice and support to promote your professional integration
  • Support adapted to your needs to facilitate your reception and integration conditions.

The Republican integration contract includes two courses: language training and civic training.

Language training

The assessment of your written and oral comprehension and expression skills is carried out during your reception at theOfii: titleContent

The language training is you proposed if you have achieved results less than level A2 the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) in the test of written and oral comprehension and expression.

The language training lasts 600 hours. You can also take this training on an online learning platform.

If you accept it, this training is mentioned in the CIR and therefore becomes mandatory.

Please note

You are exempt from the competency assessment if you hold one of the following degrees or language tests:

  • Diploma attesting to a level of knowledge of French at least equivalent to level A2 of CEFR: titleContent
  • Diploma awarded by a French authority, in France or abroad, attesting a level at least equal to level 3 of the national framework of professional qualifications and the national diploma of the patent
  • Secure language test or certificate of less than 2 years issued by a nationally or internationally recognized certifying body, which certifies and validates the proficiency in written and oral skills of at least level A2 of CEFR: titleContent.

At the end of the training, the training organization gives you a certificate of attendance stating the number of hours completed and the results obtained on the initial and final evaluation tests.

If you are an employee allophone signatory to an EIF:

  • Your employer may offer you, as part of the skills development plan, training to help you reach the level A2 of CEFR: titleContent. 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 (PTA), training courses to help you reach the A2 level of the CEFR: titleContent.

Warning  

Since 1 January 2026, foreigners nationals who apply a first multiannual residence permit or a first residence card must have a command of the French language, level B1 for resident cards, level A2 for multiannual residence cards.

Civic Training and Civic Examination

The civic education is mandatory and includes 4 sessions with a total duration of 24 hours.

It covers the following topics:

  • Principles and values of the Republic: motto, secularism and symbols
  • Institutional and political system of France
  • Rights and duties related to life in France
  • History, geography and culture of France
  • Life in the French business.

At the end of this training, a civic exam including 40 multiple choice questions is to be passed.Passing this civic exam requires a score of at least 80%, or 32 correct answers.

Please note

In Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Reunion, Mayotte and Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, civic education includes a component relating to the history and geography of the department and the overseas region of your residence.

In Mayotte, civic training consists of two sessions lasting a total of 12 hours.

Warning  

Since 1 January 2026,successful completion of this civic examination is required for access to a multi-year residence card or a resident card.

There are 2 levels of difficulty of the civic examination, one level for access to a multi-year residence card and another for access to a resident card.

The Ministry of the Interior has set up a website dedicated to civic examination on which you can find information about this test, including:

  • Official list of knowledge questions,
  • Agencies approved by the Ministry of the Interior for the implementation of civic examination.

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 6 months after the start of the training, theOfii: titleContent invite you to a follow-up interview to take stock of the training followed.

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 professional 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 and passed the “CSP” civic examination, the prefect may, when renewing your 1-year temporary residence permit, issue you a multi-year card (valid for 2 to 4 years).

If you do not wish to receive career counseling or support to promote your professional integration, you must apply for a waiver.

The prefect may terminate the contract on a proposal from theOfii: titleContent when they find that you are in one of the following situations:

  • Failure to attend 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 planned termination and specify the consequences for the issue of the multi-annual residence card.

The closure of your CIR for non-compliance with obligations has consequences on your right to stay

  • Renewal of your annual residence permit : you will not be able to obtain a multi-year residence permit and will be affected by the limit of 3 renewals of your permit
  • Access to a multiannual title : you will not be able to obtain a multi-year residence permit when your temporary card expires.

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