A2, B1 or B2 — which level for which application
3 min read
These are three different levels, and the confusion is expensive: you prepare for A2, you obtain A2, and then you discover that the application you had in mind required a different one. The three levels are not stages of one single path — they belong to three distinct documents.
The table worth keeping in mind
| Application | French level required | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| multi-year residence permit (carte de séjour pluriannuelle) | A2 | requirement in force since 1 January 2026 |
| resident card (carte de résident) | B1 | CESEDA art. L. 413-7 |
| naturalisation | B2 | decree no. 2025-648 of 15 July 2025 |
What changed in 2025, and why so many pages are wrong
For naturalisation, B1 used to be enough. Decree no. 2025-648 of 15 July 2025 raised the requirement to B2. Many pages, forums and information sheets still describe the earlier state — that is the first thing to check on any source you consult.
It is also the reason why a result that is "sufficient" can stop being sufficient between the moment you sit the exam and the moment you file an application for a different procedure.
The civics exam, by contrast, is common to all three
The civics exam does not follow the same logic. The text provides for three mentions — multi-year residence permit, resident card and naturalisation — without differentiating the content.
And there is a practical consequence worth knowing: passing the "carte de résident" mention also satisfies the condition for the multi-year residence permit. In other words, the mention you sit can cover more than your immediate application.
The format itself — 40 questions, 32 correct answers required, 45 minutes — is covered separately: the civics exam in 40 questions.
How to read this before booking
- Start from the application, not from the test. The question is not "which test should I take" but "what level does my application require", and only then "which test proves it".
- Check the level as it stands on the date you file, not on the date you started revising.
- Look at the overall-levels line on the attestation, not at the raw score — that is the line the préfecture reads. See results and attestation.
If your application is the multi-year residence permit, the dedicated article sets out what proves A2 and for how long: A2 level and the multi-year residence permit. And if you think you fall under an exemption, check it before paying for any session: who is exempt.
What this page does not tell you
- Whether your own situation falls under an exemption. The cases are exhaustively listed in the texts; we cannot apply them to your file.
- Which supporting documents your préfecture will additionally ask for. The documents and filing arrangements vary between préfectures and are not published uniformly.
- What the requirement will become after 2026. It already changed in 2025; we describe the current state and date every page.
Practising
Our exercises prepare for the A2 level and for the civics exam: exam tests and exercises with assessment. Short answers are on the FAQ page.
We are neither an examination centre nor a law firm, and we do not run any examination; this is not legal advice. Before filing, check the required level with your préfecture and against the texts in force. Last checked: 19 October 2026.