UPDATED NOVEMBER 2026
Applying for French Citizenship or a Multi-Year Residency Card?
Since January 2026, applicants for French citizenship or a multi-year residency card face a new requirement — an ‘examen civique’ (civic exam), made up of a 40-question QCM, pass mark 80 % — 32 correct answers)
This updated test aims to ensure that candidates have a solid understanding of French values, history, and institutions, and that they can demonstrate integration into French society.
The exam is mandatory and and is part of the government’s broader plan to strengthen civic knowledge and encourage active participation in French life.
The exam is in French, taken digitally, lasts up to 45 minutes and requires at least 32 correct answers out of 40. It includes knowledge questions and practical situations.
Who needs to take the exam
Applying for a residence permit? The exam applies to first applications for certain multi-year residence permits (cartes de séjour pluriannuelles) and resident cards (cartes de résident). It is not required for ordinary renewals. People over 65 are exempt from the residence-permit civic exam, and other exemptions depend on the type of permit and personal circumstances.
Applying for French citizenship? The exam applies to naturalisation and reintegration by decree. It does not apply to citizenship acquired by declaration, including through marriage to a French citizen. There is no automatic exemption simply because you are over 65. Medical exemptions or special arrangements may be available.
Already have a Brexit residence card? British residents with a card marked “Accord de retrait” come under the separate Withdrawal Agreement system. The general residence-permit exam rules described here do not apply to renewing these cards. However, if you apply for French citizenship by naturalisation, the citizenship rules apply.
What Will the Test Cover?
While the official version hasn’t yet been published, the examen civique is expected to include questions on:
- 🇫🇷 Republican values — liberté, égalité, fraternité, laïcité
- 🏛️ French institutions — the president, parliament, local authorities
- 🗳️ Civic duties — voting, obeying the law, paying taxes
- 📜 History and culture — key events, landmarks, national symbols
- 🗣️ Integration and everyday life — social norms, rights, and responsibilities
🧠 Try Our Practice Quiz!
What are the three words that appear on the façade of French town halls?
a) Travail, Famille, Patrie
b) Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité
c) Foi, Espoir, Charité
2 Who is responsible for proposing laws in France?
a) The President
b) The National Assembly and the Senate
c) The Constitutional Council
What is laïcité?
a) The separation of religion and the state
b) The right to practise any religion freely within public institutions
c) The promotion of Catholic values in schools
In which year was the French Republic first proclaimed?
a) 1789
b) 1792
c) 1870
What does the blue colour on the French flag represent?
a) The monarchy
b) The city of Paris
c) The Mediterranean Sea
What is the role of a maire (mayor) in France?
a) To represent the state locally and manage municipal affairs
b) To vote in national laws
c) To manage regional transport
Which of these rights is not guaranteed by the French Constitution?
a) Freedom of expression
b) Right to strike
c) Right to own a firearm
Who can vote in municipal elections in France?
a) Only French citizens
b) French and EU citizens living in France
c) Everyone living in France for more than 5 years
What is the motto of the European Union?
a) United in Diversity
b) Strength through Unity
c) Liberty and Justice for All
What is Marianne a symbol of?
a) The French Revolution
b) The French Republic and its values
c) The monarchy
🇫🇷 Answers and Explanations
What are the three words that appear on the façade of French town halls?
✅ b) Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité
💬 These words mean Liberty, Equality, Fraternity — the motto of the French Republic, born from the ideals of the 1789 Revolution.
Who is responsible for proposing laws in France?
✅ b) The National Assembly and the Senate
💬 In France, members of Parliament (the National Assembly and the Senate) can propose laws. The government can also introduce bills, but Parliament debates and passes them.
What is laïcité?
✅ a) The separation of religion and the state
💬 Laïcité is a core French principle ensuring that public institutions remain neutral about religion — everyone is free to believe (or not), but religion stays out of state affairs.
In which year was the French Republic first proclaimed?
✅ b) 1792
💬 The First French Republic was declared on 22 September 1792, after the fall of King Louis XVI and the end of the monarchy.
What does the blue colour on the French flag represent?
✅ b) The city of Paris
💬 The tricolour flag combines blue (Paris), white (the monarchy), and red (the blood of revolutionaries). Blue and red are traditional Parisian colours.
What is the role of a maire (mayor) in France?
✅ a) To represent the state locally and manage municipal affairs
💬 The maire leads the town council, oversees local services, registers births and marriages, and represents the French state in their commune.
Which of these rights is not guaranteed by the French Constitution?
✅ c) Right to own a firearm
💬 Unlike in some countries, there is no constitutional right to bear arms in France. Freedom of expression and the right to strike, however, are protected rights.
Who can vote in municipal elections in France?
✅ b) French and EU citizens living in France
💬 Since the Maastricht Treaty (1992), citizens of EU countries who live in France can vote (and stand) in local and European elections, but not in national ones.
What is the motto of the European Union?
✅ a) United in Diversity
💬 The EU motto reflects how Europeans are united to work together for peace and prosperity while keeping their national and cultural diversity.
What is Marianne a symbol of?
✅ b) The French Republic and its values
💬 Marianne is an allegorical figure representing the Republic — liberty, equality, and reason. Her image appears on coins, stamps, and in every town hall.
✅ Scoring:
- 8–10 correct answers → Excellent! You’d likely pass the real exam.
- 5–7 correct → Not bad — a bit more revision and you’ll be ready.
- 0–4 correct → Time to brush up on your French civics!
KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR MORE QUIZ QUESTIONS TO FOLLOW OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.