New language requirements for foreigners seeking French residency or citizenship have sparked controversy, with critics arguing the exams are so difficult that even native speakers struggle to pass them.
An impact report on the stricter immigration law—expected to take effect before the end of the year—suggests that up to 60,000 people could be denied permission to stay in France due to the heightened language standards.
The tests, costing around €100 (£83.20), are part of a broader immigration bill passed last year, which includes tighter border controls and stronger measures to expel migrants. Government officials claim the primary goal is to encourage better integration. Previously, applicants for a carte de séjour—a residency permit—were only required to sign an “integration contract” and pledge to learn French. Formal language exams were reserved for those applying for French nationality or long-term residency.
Under the new law, all applicants for residency permits must demonstrate a proficiency level comparable to that of an 11-to-15-year-old French student. Those seeking long-term residency or citizenship face even tougher requirements. A FranceInfo investigation revealed that these higher standards pose a challenge even for native speakers. Among 10 French volunteers who took the test—including a literature student with five years of higher education—half failed the written portion, though they passed the oral exam. Two participants failed to meet the level required for nationality.
Félix Guyon, of the Thot school, which helps refugees and asylum seekers learn French, warned: “The level is far too high for most foreigners who are seeking nationality or papers to stay for a long period in France.”
An official impact report presented to the upper house of parliament, the Sénat, estimates the new rules will apply to over 330,000 people in the first year, with approximately 60,000 expected to fail the language tests, putting their right to remain in France at risk.
Bruno Retailleau, the conservative interior minister, defended the policy, stating: “If a foreign person has been legally resident in France for several years and is not able to speak French, it’s because they haven’t made the effort.”
The law mandates that citizenship applicants must “provide evidence of a level of language enabling them to at least understand the essential context of concrete or abstract subjects in a complex test, to communicate spontaneously, and to express themselves clearly and in detail on a wide variety of subjects.”
Didier Leschi, head of the French Office for Immigration and Integration, argued that France is simply aligning itself with the standards of neighboring countries like Germany. “The whole system is designed to give people a sense of responsibility and help them integrate. You have to have faith in people. They have three years to reach the minimum level and renew their residency permit.”
For many, however, meeting the new language requirements is a daunting challenge. Marianne, a cleaner originally from Comoros who has lived in France for over a decade, told FranceInfo: “The problem is I don’t have the time. I haven’t done any studies in France and I don’t have the necessary level.”
Chloé Odent, a teacher with the association A Voix Haute (Out Loud), noted: “There are people who speak French very well, who communicate every day at work, but who are not going to pass this exam.”
The government has not yet announced the date when the new requirements will take effect. Most retirees over 65 are expected to be exempt, along with those applying for or renewing annual visitor permits.
The law, officially titled the “Law to Control Immigration and Improve Integration,” was drafted by former interior minister Gérald Darmanin and passed in January 2024. The shift toward stricter immigration policies is seen as part of President Emmanuel Macron’s move to the right on immigration issues.
