Freshness tracker · FRFrance

French-language requirement for multi-year residence cards

In force Residency

Under decrees implementing the 2024 Loi Immigration, from 1 January 2025 applicants for a multi-year carte de séjour (carte pluriannuelle) must demonstrate at least A2 French proficiency (up from A1), and applicants for a ten-year carte de résident must reach B1 (up from A2). Exemptions apply for specified health and age grounds.

Who it affects

Third-country nationals renewing short-term cards into multi-year or long-term residence.

Sources

Primary: Ministère de l'Intérieur ↗

Corroborating: Légifrance ↗ · Office français de l'immigration et de l'intégration ↗

Verified 2026-04-21 · methodology · report a correction