Who is exempt from the A2 requirement and from the examen civique?
3 min read
Before paying for a sitting, ask the right first question: are you even covered? Several situations exempt you from the language condition, from the examen civique, or from both.
Information verified on 12 August 2026, from the service-public.gouv.fr F34501 sheet, notices published by several préfectures, and the arrêté of 30 December 2025. Practice at the counter varies: have your situation confirmed by your préfecture or by the OFII before deciding not to sit an exam. This page is not legal advice.
The exemptions, case by case
| Situation | Exempt from… | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 65 or over | language and examen civique | Provided by the law of 26 January 2024. ⚠️ Several sources indicate it must be explicitly requested from the OFII and is not always automatic in practice — confirm with the OFII |
| Disability or chronic illness | language and/or examen civique; or accommodations (extra time) | On a medical certificate drawn up on the model annexed to the arrêté of 30 December 2025 |
| At least 3 school years in a French secondary establishment (in France or in a French establishment abroad) | language and examen civique | Also exempts from the CIR itself |
| At least one academic year of higher education in France | language and examen civique | Same |
| Beneficiaries of international protection — refugees, subsidiary protection, stateless persons, and their families | language and examen civique | These permit categories fall outside the CIR obligation |
| Permit categories not subject to the CIR — passeport talent, visitor, student, etc. | language | Depends on the exact card: check yours |
| Algerian nationals | outside the scope entirely | Residence is governed by the Franco-Algerian agreement of 27 December 1968, not by the CESEDA |
| Aged 16 to 18 under CESEDA L. 426-1 | examen civique | |
| For naturalisation only: French-language schooling | language | Préfectures accept at least 5 years of schooling in a French-language establishment, or a diploma obtained in a French-speaking country through studies conducted in French |
Three costly misconceptions
1. "I'm a national of a French-speaking country, so I'm exempt." No. For naturalisation, nationality of a French-speaking state is not by itself sufficient — the exemption rests on schooling or on a diploma obtained through study in French. This is the commonest and most expensive error.
2. "I did the CIR, so I'm covered." No. Since July 2025 the OFII routes every signatory below A2 into language training, but having attended the training does not replace producing a diploma or a certification. ⚠️ Some préfecture notices mention an « attestation de formation »: if your préfecture appears to accept it, get that confirmed in writing before deciding not to sit an exam — practice is not uniform.
3. "Passing one exempts me from the other." No. The language condition and the examen civique are two independent conditions of CESEDA art. L. 433-4. You have to satisfy both.
What an exemption does not change
An exemption removes a condition from an application file, not the need for French in daily life. And it applies to one procedure: being exempt for the carte de séjour pluriannuelle says nothing about what will be required later for the carte de résident (B1) or for naturalisation (B2), which rest on different texts and different levels.
If you are not exempt
What follows is straightforward, and free to start:
- Understand exactly what is required: the A2 requirement for the carte de séjour pluriannuelle.
- Choose between a test and a diploma: TCF IRN or DELF A2.
- Do not forget the second condition: the examen civique in 40 questions.
- Find your level with our free practice sitting, then work on writing and speaking.
More frequent questions, with their sources, are collected in our FAQ.