What level of French do you need for a French residence permit, and how do you prove it?

Checked on 2026-10-25

Since 1 January 2026, non-EU nationals under 65 need French at A2 level for a first multi-year residence card and at B1 for a first resident card. Proof is a TCF or TEF certificate, or a listed diploma such as DELF, DALF, DUEF, DCL or a French national diploma. Diplomas from foreign countries aren't accepted.

Key facts

What	The law says	Source
First multi-year card	French at A2 or above	CESEDA art. R433-5; Service-public.fr F34501
First resident card (incl. long-term EU, permanent)	French at B1 or above	Service-public.fr F34501, « Carte de résident »
Since when	1 January 2026	CESEDA art. R433-5; Service-public.fr F34501
Age	Applicants over 65 are exempt	CESEDA art. R433-5; Service-public.fr F34501
Recognised tests	TCF (France Éducation international) and TEF (Paris chamber of commerce) only; certificate valid 2 years	Service-public.fr F34501
Diplomas	DUEF, DFP, DELF, DALF, DELF Pro, DCL; French professional certifications level 3+; CAP, BEP, CFG; brevet	Service-public.fr F34501
Foreign diplomas	Not accepted, even from French-speaking countries	Service-public.fr F34501, « Attention »
Health	Adjusted tests or exemption, with a medical certificate	CESEDA art. R433-5; Service-public.fr F34501

Which level for which card

The law (CESEDA art. R433-5, in force from 1 January 2026) says that for a multi-year card you must provide diplomas or a certification proving French at A2 of the Council of Europe framework or above, from a list set by ministerial order.

The ministry’s guidance on service-public.fr sums up the rule for non-EU nationals under 65:

A2 for a first multi-year card (carte de séjour pluriannuelle).
B1 for a first resident card: the resident card for spouses of French nationals, parents of French children and family reunification, the long-term EU resident card, and the permanent resident card.

Not every card is concerned: service-public.fr says the A2 rule doesn’t apply to multi-year cards not subject to the integration contract (CIR), or to subsidiary protection and stateless cards and their families.

How to prove it

Service-public.fr lists three ways:

A language certificate from a body recognised by the Ministry of the Interior. Only two tests qualify: the TCF from France Éducation international and the TEF from the Paris chamber of commerce. The four skills are tested separately, in person, on one day. The certificate is valid for 2 years.
A French language diploma: DUEF, DFP, DELF, DALF, DELF Pro or DCL, at the level required or above.
A French diploma or professional certification at level 3 or above (CAP, BEP, CFG, a title registered in the RNCP) or the diplôme national du brevet.

Diplomas issued by a foreign authority abroad are not accepted, even from a French-speaking country.

If you can’t take a test for health reasons

Art. R433-5 allows adjusted tests or an exemption for people with a disability or chronic illness. Service-public.fr says your treating doctor fills in a medical certificate, and the prefecture can have your condition checked.

The civic exam is required too: see “France civic exam for a residence permit”.

Sources

Change history

2026-10-25: Page created

This is general information, not legal advice, and Lumen is not a law firm. Rules change and offices differ: check the official sources above before you act. Found something wrong or out of date? Write to support@lumen.observer.