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Examen civique: who needs it, format, official questions and booking

The examen civique (civic exam) tests your knowledge of the principles and values of the French Republic, its institutions and everyday life in France. Since 1 January 2026, you need a pass for a first carte de séjour pluriannuelle (multi-year residence permit), a first carte de résident (resident card) and for naturalisation.

Free practice questions for the examen civique are coming soon on FreeExamPath.

How the exam works

  • 40 multiple-choice questions in French: 28 knowledge questions and 12 situational questions (mises en situation)
  • Each question has 4 possible answers, and only one is correct
  • Time: 45 minutes at most, on a computer or tablet
  • Pass mark: 32 correct answers (80%)
  • Results: sent digitally 12 to 48 hours after the exam
  • The pass certificate has no expiry date

Who must take it

You must pass the exam before you apply, because the certificate is one of the documents in your application.

  • Carte de séjour pluriannuelle (multi-year residence permit): first application
  • Carte de résident (resident card), including the long-term EU resident card and the carte de résident permanent: first application
  • Naturalisation or reintegration into French nationality by decree: applications filed since 1 January 2026

Who does not need it

Check your own case on Service-Public before you book.

  • Renewals of a carte de séjour pluriannuelle or a carte de résident
  • Declarations of French nationality, for example through marriage
  • For the residence permits only: people over 65
  • Some permits and some people, for example permits not linked to the contrat d'intégration républicaine (republican integration contract) and certain beneficiaries of international protection; the ministry also mentions nationals covered by certain bilateral agreements
  • People whose disability or chronic illness makes the exam impossible, with a medical certificate on the official model

Which version to book

The exam has a separate version (mention) for each route: carte de séjour pluriannuelle, carte de résident and naturalisation. The format is the same, but the questions and their difficulty differ. Book the version that matches your application. A pass in the carte de résident version also counts for a carte de séjour pluriannuelle.

What the questions cover

The questions follow an official programme organised by theme. Every candidate gets the same number of questions per theme:

  • Principes et valeurs de la République (principles and values of the Republic): 11 questions, including 6 situational ones
  • Système institutionnel et politique (institutions and political system): 6 questions
  • Droits et devoirs (rights and duties): 11 questions, including 6 situational ones
  • Histoire, géographie et culture (history, geography and culture): 8 questions
  • Vivre dans la société française (living in French society): 4 questions

The official question lists

The ministry publishes the knowledge questions for each version, without the answer options or the correct answers. The situational questions are not published. You will find the links in the official sources below.

  • Carte de séjour pluriannuelle: 191 questions
  • Carte de résident: 209 questions
  • Naturalisation: 259 questions

Booking the exam

The Ministry of the Interior has approved the CCI Paris Île-de-France (Le français des affaires) and France Éducation International to run the exam. Each has centres across France, including overseas. You register online and choose a centre. Have your foreign national number ready (numéro étranger, also called the AGDREF number); EU citizens taking the naturalisation version do not need one. On the day, bring your residence permit; EU citizens taking the naturalisation version can show a passport or identity card instead. If you are applying for naturalisation from abroad, ask an Institut français, an Alliance française or the French consulate.

Fee

There is no national price: each approved centre sets its own fee. Compare centres near you and check the cancellation rules before you pay. Be wary of websites that charge for the official questions: preparing for the exam is free.

Results and resits

Your result is sent to you digitally 12 to 48 hours after the exam. The certificate shows your score and whether you passed. If you do not pass, you can sit the exam again as often as you need. A pass certificate has no expiry date. Cheating, or trying to cheat, leads to a ban from the exam for 2 years.

Adjustments for disability or illness

If a disability or a chronic illness requires it, you can ask for adjusted conditions, such as extra time, an enlarged display or an audio version, with a medical certificate on the official model. If your condition makes the exam impossible, the certificate can exempt you instead. Contact the exam centre before you register.

How to prepare for free

The Ministry of the Interior stresses that you can prepare entirely free of charge: you do not need to pay for questions or practice tests. Paid websites are not run by the ministry; they carry a risk of fraud and may contain false information. Free official resources:

  • The fact sheets (fiches) on each theme, on the official formation civique website
  • The official knowledge-question list for your version
  • For naturalisation: the livret du citoyen (citizen's booklet) and the charte des droits et devoirs du citoyen français
  • If you have signed a contrat d'intégration républicaine: the free civic training (formation civique) it includes

About this page

FreeExamPath is independent and not affiliated with the French Ministry of the Interior, the CCI Paris Île-de-France or France Éducation International. This page summarises official information and is not legal advice. Always check the official sources below.

Official sources

Frequently asked questions

How many correct answers do I need?

At least 32 out of 40 (80%), within 45 minutes.

Is the exam the same for every residence permit?

No. There is a version for the carte de séjour pluriannuelle, another for the carte de résident and another for naturalisation. The format is the same, but the questions and their difficulty differ. A pass in the carte de résident version also counts for a carte de séjour pluriannuelle.

Are all the questions published?

The knowledge questions are published in official lists, without the answers. The 12 situational questions are not published.

How much does the exam cost?

There is no national fee: each approved centre sets its own price. Preparing for the exam can be entirely free with the official resources.

Can I retake the exam?

Yes, as often as you need. Once you pass, your certificate has no expiry date.

Do I need the exam to renew my residence permit?

No. Only a first carte de séjour pluriannuelle or a first carte de résident requires it.

I am over 65. Do I need to take it?

Not for a carte de séjour pluriannuelle or a carte de résident. For naturalisation, there is no exemption based on age.

I am applying for French nationality through marriage. Do I need the exam?

No. Declarations of nationality, such as through marriage, do not require the examen civique. You must still prove French at level B2.

Which French level do I need?

A2 for a first carte de séjour pluriannuelle, B1 for most first cartes de résident (for example as the spouse or parent of a French national, through family reunification, or the EU long-term resident card) and B2 for naturalisation. Some resident cards, such as the one issued to refugees, have no language requirement. Our French language guide explains which tests and diplomas are accepted.

Is FreeExamPath an official website?

No. FreeExamPath is independent and not affiliated with the French Ministry of the Interior. We summarise official information and link to the sources so that you can check everything.

Official sources