What is A2-level French Language? France’s New Visa Requirement

The French government has updated its language requirements for residence permits, cards and naturalisation applicants, but what does it mean?

Coming into effect on January 1, 2026, foreign nationals must prove a minimum A2 level of French understanding to be eligible for multi-year residency permits. This new requirement increases to B1 for applicants for 10-year residency cards, and the requirement rises again to B2 for citizenship applicants. 

What does it mean?

‘A2’ and ‘B1’ form part of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) scale. The CEFR scale runs from A1 to C2 and is used to assess language ability, ranging from a basic user at A1 to a proficient user at C2, which is widely considered fluent.

The CEFR is an international standard for recognising language skills, assessing reading, writing, listening, and speaking abilities. It provides a clear way to measure proficiency across languages and countries, making it widely used for education, exams, and professional qualifications.

Previously, multi-year residence permit applicants were only required to prove they were learning French through a government training programme or through other means. However, under the new rules, which stem from the 2024 comprehensive immigration law, applicants must pass official tests at an approved examination centre. 

New Visa Requirements 

Official exams, such as the Test de Connaissance du Français (TCF) and the Diplôme d’Études en Langue Française (DELF), offer recognised language certification, unless applicants can present an official diploma or prior accredited qualification in the language.

A2, the minimum level required for residency visa applicants, is the second-lowest tier on the CEFR scale. This level demonstrates a basic, upper-beginner proficiency, enabling learners to understand everyday expressions, handle routine social interactions, and describe familiar aspects of their daily life in simple language.

For French citizenship, applicants must demonstrate B2-level French, meaning they can understand complex texts, follow detailed conversations, and express ideas clearly in both speaking and writing. At this level, they can handle professional and social situations, use a broad vocabulary, and apply correct grammar, showing they are capable of functioning independently in everyday life in French.

Possible Exemptions

The French government has put these new rules in place to encourage greater integration of foreign nationals, making previously optional language skills compulsory and reflecting a shift toward tougher immigration policies.

These new exams apply only to first-time applicants and don’t affect renewals of existing multi-year permits. Some applicants may be exempt: those 65 or older applying for residency cards, people with medical conditions, disabilities, or cognitive issues that make learning a language difficult.

Refugees and beneficiaries of subsidiary protection are also exempt, as are foreign students and researchers with a convention d’accueil, and holders of passeport talent permits. Applicants with certain French diplomas or degrees that already prove the required level of French may also be exempt.

If you’re unsure whether the new language and civics requirements apply to you, check with your prefecture, and prepare to study the material anyway – it’s better to be prepared than risk your residency.