French naturalization: how to pass the civic exam?

Verified 16 July 2026 - Public Service / (Prime Minister)

To be naturalized French, you must justify your assimilation to the french community, in particular by a sufficient knowledge of French history, culture and business. The level of knowledge expected is assessed during a civic examination. We tell you what you need to know.

FYI  

The civic examination concerns only the procedures for acquiring French nationality by decree (french naturalization and reintegration into french nationality). Procedures for acquiring French nationality by declaration are not concerned (marriage to a Frenchman, ascendant of a French, brother or sister of a Frenchman).

To be naturalized french, you must take a civic exam that assesses your knowledge in the domains following:

  1. Major landmarks in the history of France. Your knowledge of the historical construction of France must allow you to know and locate the main events or characters to which reference is made in social life.
  2. Principles, symbols and institutions of the Republic. You must know the rules of life in business (respect for laws, fundamental freedoms, gender equality, secularism) and the main elements of the political and administrative organization of France at the national and territorial level.
  3. Exercise of French citizenship. You should know the main rights and duties as they are mentioned in the charter of rights and duties of the french citizen.
  4. France's place in Europe and in the world. You must have a basic knowledge of the characteristics of France, situating it in a global environment, and the fundamental principles of the.

To know the required level, you can download and consult the citizen's booklet, the exam baseline and the list of knowledge questions.

Civic examination consists of a multiple choice questionnaire, written in French, of 40 questions including knowledge issues and situational issues.

You have to have 32 correct answers to succeed.

To prepare for the exam, you can download and consult the citizen's booklet, one repository and the list of knowledge questions.

You can benefit from a civic exam if your disability or health condition requires it.

You must provide a medical certificate which certifies that improvements are necessary and which specifies the improvements recommended.

FYI  

The instructor service or the minister responsible for naturalizations may request a new medical expertise to have your disability or state of health checked.

You may be exempted from providing a certificate of successful completion of the civic examination if your disability or state of health makes it impossible to assess your knowledge.

You must provide a medical certificate which certifies that your state of health makes it impossible to assess your knowledge via the civic examination.

FYI  

The instructor service or the minister responsible for naturalizations may request a new medical expertise to have your disability or state of health checked.

To take the civic exam, you must register with a center approved by the Paris Île-de-France Chamber of Commerce and Industry or by France Education International.

Civic examination mention naturalization: map of approved centers of the Paris French Chamber of commerce and industry (CCIP)

Online application for pre-registration for the civic exam mention naturalization in a center of France Éducation International

If you live abroad, you must contact a french institute, a french alliance or the consular authorities of your country of residence to know the procedures for passing the civic examination.

The examination center informs you, before the test, of the rules of the civic examination test.

The test is carried out on digital media.

The ordeal lasts maximum 45 minutes. The duration may be extended only in the case of a specific arrangement granted for justified medical reasons.

In case of non-compliance with the rules of civic examination, you risk nullity of your exam.

In case of attempted fraud or detection of fraud during the exam, you have the ban on taking the civic examination within 2 years of the exam.

Civic examination mention naturalization: map of approved centers of the Paris French Chamber of commerce and industry (CCIP)

Online application for pre-registration for the civic exam mention naturalization in a center of France Éducation International

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