The 2026 French Civic Exam: Format, Pricing, Registration β The Complete Guide
Since January 1, 2026, the French civic exam is a mandatory step to obtain French nationality, a multi-year residence permit, or a resident card. Here's everything you need to know before registering β and how to maximize your chances of success.
What is the French civic exam?
The French civic exam is an official test that assesses your knowledge of the values, history, and institutions of the French Republic. It has been mandatory since January 1, 2026 for three types of applications:
- French naturalization;
- multi-year residence permit (CSP);
- resident card (CR).
The format: 40 questions, 45 minutes
The exam consists of 40 multiple-choice questions to be completed in 45 minutes. To pass, you need to score at least 32 correct answers, which is an 80% threshold. It's a demanding level: a quick read-through of the topics is usually not enough, real training makes the difference.
The 5 official themes
The official exam syllabus covers five major themes:
- Principles and values of the Republic β motto, secularism, symbols, fundamental freedoms;
- Institutions and political organization β President, Parliament, elections, local authorities;
- Rights and duties of the citizen β freedoms, justice, obligations;
- History and geography of France β major dates, figures, territory;
- Life in society β school, work, health, daily life.
To see what the questions look like, check out our examples of French civic exam questions with answers.
Registration and pricing
Registration is done through an accredited CCI center (Chamber of Commerce and Industry) and costs approximately 70β¬. In case of failure, you can re-register to retake the exam β each attempt is charged, so it's worth preparing well to succeed on the first try.
How to prepare effectively?
Good preparation combines three things:
- Learning the content β structured study cards by theme are better than scattered documents;
- Practicing with multiple-choice questions β the multiple-choice format has its pitfalls, you need to get used to it;
- Testing yourself under real conditions β timed online mock exams (40 questions, 45 minutes, 80% threshold) to arrive confident on the big day.
The Citoyen app brings it all together: 225 study cards, 678 exam-type questions, and mock exams under real conditions. Available in French, English, and Arabic. Free to start.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who needs to take the French civic exam?
Anyone applying, since January 1, 2026, for naturalization, a multi-year residence permit, or a resident card.
Can you retake the exam if you fail?
Yes, you can re-register for a new session, paying the registration fees again.
Is the exam available in multiple languages?
No β the official exam is conducted in French. However, you can prepare the content in your language: the Citoyen app offers study cards and questions in French, English, and Arabic to facilitate understanding.