Stricter language rules for French residency cards planned from July
Original timetable for tighter ‘integration’ requirements had them set to be implemented by January 2026
The changes were scheduled to begin in 2026
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Stricter language rules to obtain a French residency permit are planned to be brought in next year, says a French minister for citizenship and the fight against discrimination.
One part of the immigration bill adopted in early 2024 saw new requirements for people obtaining certain residency permits, which would be granted only on the condition of passing a test to demonstrate ability in French.
This includes people receiving multi-year residency cards (Cartes de séjour pluriannuelles). Under the new law, they will need to show they have achieved an ‘A2’ level of French (simple, everyday French, with knowledge of tasks, actions, and basic tenses).
Applicants for a 10-year resident's card will need B1 French (lower intermediate), and people looking to gain French citizenship B2 (upper intermediate).
There are, however, no plans to enforce this for over-65s applying for the 10-year cards.
Read more: New tougher French language rules for immigration: who is affected?
Read more: French language tests harden: what changes and how to know your level
These changes were originally set to take place no later than January 1, 2026, for people seeking to obtain a residency permit after this date. The law left it open for the date to be fixed by ministerial decree.
However, the minister for citizenship and the fight against discrimination, Othman Nasrou, states he will ask local prefectures to put the changes are in place by July 1, 2025 “on an experimental basis.”
A new immigration bill is planned for early 2025, and it could include further new rules for foreign non-EU newcomers to France.
Read more: New immigration bill looms in France: what could it change?
Integration process is ‘broken’ in France
“The engine of integration has broken down,” said the politician to Public Sénat on Tuesday (October 22).
“We need to get it going again, and to do that we are going to be more demanding in terms of integration,” he added.
“The more demanding we are… the more the cohesion of our country will be preserved and the more the people we welcome will really be able to integrate,” he added.
Tougher language requirements on the way?
Mr Nasrou did not rule out a further strengthening of language requirements being part of the next year’s planned immigration bill.
“Personally, I would like us to go further in the long term by strengthening these [language] requirements,” he said.
This could potentially see people wanting a multi-year residency permit to have a B1 (lower intermediate) level in French, and those wanting to naturalise a C1 (fluent) level.
These are one level above the language levels from those included in the 2024 bill.
Other potential plans from the minister include lengthening the integration process for people seeking multi-year residency permits.
Currently, there is a one-year integration period, but the secretary said wishes to “extend it to ensure that new arrivals are properly integrated before issuing them with a residence permit for several years.”
Britons with a Brexit Withdrawal Agreement (WA) card, will not be affected by the language rules nor lengthened integration process.
Read more: A1, C2: What is the CEFR language rating in France?
