People applying for many (but not all) types of French residency cards will soon have to prove their language level by passing a French test.
The rules are set to come into force by January 1, 2026, at the latest.
Applicants who are subject to the tests will have to demonstrate an A2 level of French language proficiency on the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) scale when applying for multi-year residency cards (these apply, for example, to many employees and self-employed people) and B1 level for a 10-year carte de résident (up from A2).
These tests do not apply to British WA 'Brexit card' holders.
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The Connexion has published articles explaining the different levels and providing example exam questions as well as answering eight key questions about the language requirements for certain residency cards.
Applicants will have to provide a certificate from an approved language test, such as a TCF (Test de Connaissance du Français) or a DELF (Diplôme d'Etudes en Langue Française) with their application.
Below we present language-learning and training platforms which can help residency card applicants prepare for TCF or DELF exams. They are all referenced on the official government site serving students in France.
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Language proficiency test (TCF)
The TCF is designed for anyone over the age of 16 whose native language is not French.
It does not result in a pass or fail result, but rather provides a level on the CEFR scale by testing reading, writing, listening and speaking skills. The certificate is valid for two years.
To prepare for this test, France Éducation international recommends you:
Familiarise yourself with the TCF (format, length of the tests, candidate handbook)
Familiarise yourself with the TCF test procedure
Familiarise yourself with the sample tests and example questions
Immerse yourself in the French language as often as possible by reading, watching television, listening to the radio, listening to recordings, talking to friends and family.
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France Éducation International has compiled a bibliography of books and websites that offer training material and example exam questions.
Radio France international (RFI), the state-owned international radio news network of France, and TV5Monde, a French public television network, are listed amongst these resources.
RFI offers a series of podcasts and questions to practise skills in listening comprehension, from level A2 to level C1.
You can test your level to ensure you are practising with resources and exercises suited to your existing language skills.
You also have access to exercises that reflect TCF exam conditions. 10 different resources feature 16 short audio clips followed by four possible multiple choice answers for each clip. The extracts gradually get more difficult.
To practise effectively, it is worth noting that in a real TCF exam, each clip is played just once.
You can then self-mark your work using the answers provided. Your overall score can then be aligned to the CEFR scale level you performed at.
TV5Monde offers practice tests with questions written by the designers of the official tests, as approved by the France Éducation international TCF office. This resource is also available as a smartphone app.
Like RFI, you can start by testing your level, however you will only be placed from A1 to B2.
The site has 17 different packs of training questions designed to reflect the level of the TCF exam. They enable the user to practise skills in listening comprehension, grammar and language structure, and written comprehension, offering a total of 600 questions to work on.
You can also try a 90-minute TCF test ‘under exam conditions', to prepare for an official exam session.
TV5Monde even breaks down helpful tips and advice for excelling in each skill, covering how to prepare before the exam and also what to do during the exam.
Educational diploma (DELF)
The DELF is one of the main French educational diplomas recognised by the Ministry of the Interior as part of the residency card application process.
A key difference between this test and the TCF, is that you must select which level of DELF language exam you are aiming to pass. The test questions are tailored to each specific level.
Another main difference is that once acquired, the DELF certificate is valid for life rather than just two years.
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Themes covering all aspects of society (public, personal, professional or educational) can be covered in the exam.
France Éducation international offers DELF resources that can be filtered by target level, including practical information, FAQs and example subjects for written and oral expression.
Full DELF details and example exercises can be found in the candidate handbook.
France Éducation international also compiled a bibliography of textbooks that offer sample questions to practise for the DELF tests: books for level A2 can be found on page eight, while books for level B1 are on pages 9-10.
A repository of online support to accompany certain textbooks, as well as further digital language resources can be found on page 13 onwards. Below, we look at a few of these.
This site requires you to create an account which then gives access to 2,000 questions with corrections and explanations, and almost 50 mock exams per language level.
The National Centre for Distance Education (CNED) collaborated with France Éducation International to offer online preparation for the DELF B1 exam.
Each module allows you to prepare for the tests by completing and self-correcting activities building skills in: oral comprehension, written comprehension, oral production and written production. The activities are accompanied by lessons and lesson summaries.
This programme is not free however, and prices range from €225 to €645 depending on the length of training desired (3 months, 6 months or 9 months).
Curriculum Services Canada (CSC) offers video recordings and example question and answer booklets, covering oral and written production samples from A1 - B2 level.
The example answers are analysed, with strengths and weaknesses explained, and a grade is given.
This could be a useful resource if seeking to better understand how DELF exams are marked as well as continuing to train.
Read also: Are there any free government-approved online French courses?
