France has changed the rules for foreigners applying for a multi-year residence permit, a resident card, or naturalization. Beginning January 1, 2026, foreign nationals applying for their first multi-year residence permit, resident card, or citizenship are required to complete a mandatory civic exam.
The successful competition of a civic exam has become an important part of the process that will entitle foreigners to obtain a multi-year residence permit, a resident card, or citizenship through naturalization.
A civic examination will be mandatory for foreign residents from non-EU countries applying for a multi-year residence permit starting January 1, 2026. It must be certified with a certificate of achievement. Applicants renewing an existing multi‑year permit or resident card are exempt from clearing the civic exam.
Civic Exam
To support foreigners in this new process, necessary for the acquisition of a multi-year residence permit, the Directorate General for Foreigners in France of the Ministry of the Interior has launched a website entirely dedicated to civic training.
The website brings together 222 thematic fact sheets and structured content to help foreigners follow their training, deepen their understanding of essential concepts, and prepare for the civic exam. It also carries French civic exam questions and provides practical answers regarding the content and procedures of the exam.
This training allows one to understand the principles and values of the Republic, to know the functioning of the institutions, as well as the rights and duties linked to life in France.
France Immigration Data
In 2024, the number of first-time residence permits and renewals issued to third-country nationals increased slightly, by 0.9% and 1.0% respectively, compared to 2023.
The increase in first-time permits was primarily driven by a rise in humanitarian applications (+13.4%); the increase in renewals was due to a rise in economic (+8.1%) and student (+6.5%) permits, offset by a decrease in family-related permits (-4.4%).
The number of foreign nationals legally residing in France as of December 31, 2024, increased by 3.9% compared to the previous year. 2024 provisional data shows 10,804 residence permits were issued to Indians, an increase of 8.8% over the previous year. Of the total number of Indians, 58.4% were students, while 24.7% opted for a residence permit for economic reasons.