Official format
The French civic exam
The civic exam checks that you know the principles and values of the French Republic, its institutions, your rights and duties, French history and everyday life in France.
Updated
At a glance
- 40 multiple-choice questions, written in French, each with one correct answer out of 4.
- 28 knowledge questions and 12 real-life scenarios (mises en situation).
- 45 minutes maximum, on a computer or tablet, in an approved centre. Adjustments are available on medical grounds.
- 1 point per correct answer, 0 for a wrong or missing answer.
- To pass: at least 32 correct answers out of 40 (80%).
The syllabus and number of questions are the same for the multi-year residence permit, the resident card and naturalisation.
The 5 topics
| Topic | Questions | Breakdown |
|---|---|---|
| Principles and values of the Republic | 11 | motto and symbols (3), secularism (2), scenarios (6) |
| Institutions and political system | 6 | democracy and the right to vote (3), organisation of the Republic (2), European institutions (1) |
| Rights and duties | 11 | fundamental rights (2), obligations and duties (3), scenarios (6) |
| History, geography and culture | 8 | periods and figures (3), territories (3), heritage (2) |
| Living in French society | 4 | settling in (1), healthcare (1), work (1), parental authority and school (1) |
After the exam
If you pass, you receive a certificate of success with no expiry date. You add it to your residence permit or citizenship application, so you must take the exam before applying.
Fraud: an exam involving fraud is cancelled, and the candidate cannot sit it again for two years.
Each centre sets its own price and session dates when you register. The texts we reviewed do not limit the number of attempts, except in cases of fraud.
Official sources (in French)
- Arrêté du 10 octobre 2025 relatif au programme, aux épreuves et aux modalités d’organisation de l’examen civique
- Service-public.gouv.fr : examen civique (titre de séjour)
- Service-public.gouv.fr : examen civique obligatoire à partir du 1er janvier 2026
- Ministère de l’Intérieur : formation civique, fiches et questions officielles
- France Éducation international : informations pour les candidats