Multi-annual residence card and resident card: how to take the civic exam?
Verified 30 January 2026 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
Since 1er january 2026, foreigners nationals non-European who request the issuance of a 1re multi-year residence card or 1re resident card must justify of the success to one civic examination. Not all multi-annual residence cards and all residence cards are covered by this obligation. We take stock of the regulations that differ depending on the residence permit you have.
Warning
One sufficient knowledge of french is also mandatory to access a 1re multi-year residence card or one-year residence card 1re resident card.
Multi-year residence card
No. If you have one of the following multi-annual residence cards, you are not concerned by the obligation to have the civic examination:
- Residence permits not subject to Republican Integration Contract (CIR)
- Beneficiary of subsidiary protection and family
- Stateless and family.
Please note
Only there 1re request of multiannual residence card is concerned by civic examination. Renewal applications are not.
If you fill one of the following conditions, you are not subject to the civic examination:
- Over 65 years of age
- Have been educated in France for 3 years in secondary education
- Have completed 1 year of higher education in France.
The civic examination with the words “Multi-annual residence card” consists of multiple choice questionnaire, written in French, 40 questions including knowledge issues and situational issues.
You have to have 32 good answers to succeed.
FYI
The certificate of successful completion of the civic examination has no validity period.
The civic exam evaluates your knowledge in the following areas:
- Principles and values of the Republic
- Rights and duties related to life in France
- History, geography and culture
- Institutional and political system of France
- Living in the French business.
FYI
The Ministry of the Interior has set up a website dedicated to civic examination on which you can find, among other things, fact sheets by theme and the official list of knowledge questions.
To take the civic exam, you must register at a center approved by the Ministry of the Interior.
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Paris Île-de-France or France Éducation international offer a search tool to find an approved center.
Search tool proposed by the Paris Île-de-France Chamber of Commerce and Industry :
Search tool proposed by France Education International :
You can benefit from a civic exam if your disability or state of health requires it.
You may also be exempt from providing a certificate of successful completion of the civic examination if your disability or health condition makes it impossible to assess your knowledge.
You must in any case provide a medical certificate.
FYI
The administration may request a new medical expertise to have your disability or health condition checked.
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 the civic examination, you risk nullity of your examination.
In case of attempted fraud or detection of fraud during the exam, you have the ban on taking the civic examination in the 2 years following the examination.
Resident Card
No, not all resident cards are affected.
Foreigners requesting certain resident cards, a map of long-term resident - EU or a card of permanent resident are concerned.
Please note
Only there 1re application for a resident card is concerned by the civic examination. Renewal applications are not.
Resident Cards
If you request the issuance of a 1re resident card issued for the following reasons, you are concerned:
- Spouse of French
- Parent of child French
- Family reunification/spouse of a resident card holder
EU long-term resident card (foreigner in France for 5 years)
If you request the issuance of a 1re EU long-term resident card issued for the following reasons, you are concerned:
- Talent passport/European Blue Card after more than 5 years and family
- Refugee and Family Card
- Subsidiary Protection and Family Card
- Regular residence uninterrupted for at least 5 years. You must justify sufficient, stable and regular resources.
Permanent Resident Card
If you request the issuance of a 1re permanent resident card, you are concerned.
If you fill one of the following conditions, you are not subject to the civic examination:
- Over 65 years of age
- Have been educated in France for 3 years in secondary education
- Have completed 1 year of higher education in France.
The civic examination marked “Resident card” consists of a multiple choice questionnaire, written in French, 40 questions including knowledge issues and situational issues.
You have to have 32 good answers to succeed.
FYI
The civic examination with the words “resident card” is also valid for an application for a multi-year residence card.
The certificate of successful completion of the civic examination has no validity period.
The civic exam evaluates your knowledge in the following areas:
- Principles and values of the Republic
- Rights and duties related to life in France
- History, geography and culture
- Institutional and political system of France
- Living in the French business.
FYI
The Ministry of the Interior has set up a website dedicated to civic examination on which you can find, among other things, fact sheets by theme and the official list of knowledge questions.
To take the civic exam, you must register at a center approved by the Ministry of the Interior.
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Paris Île-de-France or France Éducation international offer a search tool to find an approved center.
Search tool proposed by the Paris Île-de-France Chamber of Commerce and Industry :
Search tool proposed by France Education International :
You can benefit from a civic exam if your disability or state of health requires it.
You may also be exempt from providing a certificate of successful completion of the civic examination if your disability or health condition makes it impossible to assess your knowledge.
You must in any case provide a medical certificate.
FYI
The administration may request a new medical expertise to have your disability or health condition checked.
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 the civic examination, you risk nullity of your examination.
In case of attempted fraud or detection of fraud during the exam, you have the ban on taking the civic examination in the 2 years following the examination.
Condition of access to a first resident card
Conditions for renewal of residence permits (legislative part)
Civic Examination Program
Arrangement of tests and dispensation for health reasons
Accreditation of bodies responsible for the implementation of civic examination