Language test centres say they are in limbo, waiting for news of when new competency levels will apply to foreigners seeking certain residency cards or French nationality.
The changes – part of the 2024 immigration law – must be in place by January 1, 2026, but could be brought in earlier if a decree is passed. Centres say they were briefed on the new levels only in April.
Claire Bizzarri, from Alliance Française Aix-Marseille Provence, said: “We still don’t know when it comes into force so we are a bit at sea. We don’t know much about how it will work and how to give the best advice to candidates.”
Alia (surname withheld), an administrative worker at Alliance Française Bordeaux, said:
“We’re still waiting for a lot of information. The change must be in place by January but it could be in three months, four months, five months, we’ve no idea.
“As the levels are rising, it is complicated for candidates, as they can’t predict the change date and most are still taking level B1 [for nationality] in hopes of putting in their applications before the change [to B2] comes in.
“It’s best to take your test quickly. What will count will be the date you submit your card/nationality] application. But if you take a test and the change happens before you apply, your certificate might no longer be valid.
“So, we are at a crossroads moment and people are worrying a lot.”
More difficult tests
Tom Rowe, manager at Inlingua La Rochelle, said: “There are two schools of thought as to what will happen now: some say as it will be harder, fewer will sign up. Others say because it is harder, people will be taking tests again and again until they get the level they need. It’s not the best situation, as we already see some people come to do it three or four times as it is.”
The references are to European language levels A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 and C2, from very basic to the level of a native-speaker graduate.
Mr Rowe said there is a “huge difference” from B1 to B2, which is the level required to study for a French bachelor’s degree.
Nicolas Moutier, spokesman for the Paris chamber of commerce which runs the TEF certificates, said: “Following the adoption of the immigration law, we have adapted our test [it now assesses for levels up to B2 – advanced intermediate – as opposed to B1 formerly].
“But we’re still awaiting publication of the decree and have no foresight as to its exact contents or its publication date by the Interior Ministry.”
Another test, TCFIRN (intégration, résidence, nationalité) is being adapted, starting in May.
Extra questions are added to the listening and reading comprehension parts.
Who needs to take the new language tests?
There are three groups affected by the new rules:
1. People who came on visas subject to signing a Republican integration contract (CIR) at the Ofii immigration service will, from the new rules’ start date, no longer be able to apply for a first multi-year (two to four years) residency card without presenting a French language certificate showing at least level A2.
This affects most employees and self-employed people, and some people who come to
France due to family links.
At present, it is possible to get a multi-year card by attending free language lessons as part of the CIR if one’s level was initially assessed by Ofii as less than A1. In another new rule, people may no longer renew one-year cards more than three times;
2. Those applying for a 10-year carte de résident, giving broad rights to live and work in France, must show level B1, up from A2;
3. Applicants for nationality must show level B2, up from B1.
Groups not affected include Brexit cardholders; people, such as retirees, coming on ‘visitor’ visas/cards; and highly skilled workers on a passeport talent.
Those affected will all in future have to organise their own tests at language centres, as is already the case for carte de résident and nationality applicants.
These cost about €100. The main exception will be those with a diploma for a recognised examination in France at CAP or BEP professional certificate level or upwards, including the Bac or an undergraduate degree.
An exception for over-65s for the carte de résident also continues.
People are otherwise not excluded from the new rules on age or disability grounds but may ask for test adaptations, or to be excluded if they have a medical certificate stating that their condition makes it impossible for them to take a test.
Accepted tests include a ‘certification’ of one’s level, valid for two years, or a diploma of French as a foreign language.
The former includes the TCF or the TEF, which assess for several levels at once, depending on the sophistication and precision of answers given.
Diplomas are valid for life, the most common being the DELF.
This is taken at a specific target level, which you can pass or fail.
Test centres can be found here or, for the TEF, here.
All the tests involve written and listening comprehension, a one-to-one oral exam and having to write short passages.
Alia, from Bordeaux’s Alliance Française, said the DELF is a little more complex than the TCF, especially in the written part, but the tests are otherwise similar.
“If you’re not sure of your level, it’s better to take the TCF, then, depending on your replies, you’ll know your level after it’s been marked.
“But if you sign up for DELF B2, and you don’t meet the level, you won’t pass.”
Asked if reaching a higher level will be difficult, she said “it really depends on the person”.
Lack of information on changes
Marianne Bertolo, an administrator from The Place Deby centre in Grenoble, said: “We’ve got very little information, only what France Education Nationale [FEI; in charge of organising tests] has told us: the latest date is January 1, 2026, but it can be at any time before, and the TCFIRN must change from May 12 to anticipate the new law.
“We have to organise ourselves differently, as tests will last longer, and FEI has said we’ll no doubt see an increase in candidates towards the end of the year. We also offer all ELF levels and FEI has advised we should now orient people towards the higher levels as if their dossier is submitted after the law changes, they risk losing their money.
“They can go for current levels, but must keep in mind that the levels will change very soon.
“They prepare using past papers. We have examples of DELF B2, but don’t know what the new TCF will look like, so things are a little uncertain. We learnt the news only a short while ago.”
Ms Bizzarri said in Marseille/Aix they are allowing people who booked DELF B1 to cancel and change, if they wish.
An Interior Ministry spokeswoman told The Connexion: “For the language levels, the application decrees could be published during the summer, but the effective date from which they will apply will probably be January 1 while Ofii puts everything in place.”
Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau said he is writing to prefects to ask them to be tougher on citizenship candidates’ integration into French life.
