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French nationality: how can you justify your level in French?
Verified 09 May 2025 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
In order to obtain French nationality, you must prove that you have sufficient knowledge of the French language, depending on your situation. We'll tell you what you need to know.
What applies to you ?
Certain rules vary depending on whether you apply for acquisition of French nationality by decree (naturalization or reintegration into french nationality) , or that you are making a declaration of french nationality by marriage.
French nationality by decree
You must demonstrate a knowledge of French orally and in writing at least equal to level B1 the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
CEFR is a a rating that allows you to assess your level of proficiency in a foreign language.
You must provide a French diploma or a certificate of completion of a language test certified or recognized at international level.
The following diplomas and certificates are accepted:
- National patent diploma
- French diploma attesting a level at least equal to level 3 of the national classification of levels of training
- Diploma attesting to a level of knowledge of the French language at least equivalent to level B1 of the CEFR
- Certificate of Success of the French language proficiency test (FPT) issued less than 2 years ago by France Éducation International. The paperless certificate must be printed.
- Certificate of Success of the French Language Evaluation Test (TEF) issued less than 2 years ago by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Paris Île-de-France. The paperless certificate must be printed.
Please note
Certificates issued by theOfii: titleContent are not accepted (certificates of dispensation of language training, language skills and civic training).
You may be exempted from providing a French diploma or a language certificate if you are in any of the following 3 situations :
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
You obtained a diploma abroad at the end of your studies in French
French-speaking countries, Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia
You must provide a attestation of comparability of a Enic-Naric centre, issued in the light of diploma obtained at the end of studies in french in one of the following countries Algeria, Belgium, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Union of the Comoros, Congo (Brazzaville), Congo (Kinshasa), Côte d'Ivoire, Chad, Djibouti, Gabon, Guinea, Equatorial Guinea, Haiti, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali, Morocco, Monaco, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, Switzerland, Togo, Tunisia, Vanuatu.
The statement of comparability issued by a Enic-Naric centre certifies that you have completed your studies in French and obtained a diploma equivalent to or higher than level 3 of the national classification of levels of training.
The following certificates shall be accepted:
- Certificate of comparability issued by the Enic-Naric France Center. The application for the certificate is done online on the center's website.
- Certificate of comparability issued by other Enic-Naric centers. The certificate must be translated into French by a certified translator or authorized to intervene with the judicial or administrative authorities of another European country.
Your disability or health condition makes it impossible for you to complete your language assessment
You must provide a medical certificate which attests to:
- Either you can take a language test but by arranging the tests. The certificate must specify these arrangements. You will need to present this certificate to the organization before taking the French language test.
- Either your health condition makes language assessment impossible.
Please note
The instructor department may request a new medical assessment to verify that your disability or medical condition makes the assessment impossible.
You are a refugee, aged over 70, and have resided in France for 15 years or more
You are exempt from the production of a diploma or a certificate justifying your knowledge of the French language if you meet the following 3 conditions:
- You are a political refugee or stateless person
- You are over 70 years old
- You have resided in France for at least 15 years with a residence permit valid.
Declaration of French nationality by marriage
You must demonstrate a knowledge of French orally and in writing at least equal to level B1 the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
CEFR is a a rating that allows you to assess your level of proficiency in a foreign language.
You must provide a French diploma or a certificate of completion of a language test certified or recognized at international level.
The following diplomas and certificates are accepted:
- National patent diploma
- French diploma attesting a level at least equal to level 3 of the national classification of levels of training
- Diploma attesting to a level of knowledge of the French language at least equivalent to level B1 of the CEFR
- Certificate of Success of the French language proficiency test (FPT) issued less than 2 years ago by France Éducation International. The paperless certificate must be printed.
- Certificate of Success of the French Language Evaluation Test (TEF) issued less than 2 years ago by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Paris Île-de-France. The paperless certificate must be printed.
Please note
Certificates issued by theOfii: titleContent are not accepted (certificates of dispensation of language training, language skills and civic training).
You may be exempted from providing a French diploma or a language certificate if you are in one of the following 2 situations :
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
You obtained a diploma abroad at the end of your studies in French
French-speaking countries, Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia
You must provide a attestation of comparability of a Enic-Naric centre, issued in the light of diploma obtained at the end of studies in french in one of the following countries Algeria, Belgium, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Union of the Comoros, Congo (Brazzaville), Congo (Kinshasa), Côte d'Ivoire, Chad, Djibouti, Gabon, Guinea, Equatorial Guinea, Haiti, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali, Morocco, Monaco, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, Switzerland, Togo, Tunisia, Vanuatu.
The statement of comparability issued by a Enic-Naric centre certifies that you have completed your studies in French and obtained a diploma equivalent to or higher than level 3 of the national classification of levels of training.
The following certificates shall be accepted:
- Certificate of comparability issued by the Enic-Naric France Center. The application for the certificate is done online on the center's website.
- Certificate of comparability issued by other Enic-Naric centers. The certificate must be translated into French by a certified translator or authorized to intervene with the judicial or administrative authorities of another European country.
Your disability or health condition makes it impossible for you to complete your language assessment
You must provide a medical certificate which attests to:
- Either you can take a language test but by arranging the tests. The certificate must specify these arrangements. You will need to present this certificate to the organization before taking the French language test.
- Either your health condition makes language assessment impossible.
Please note
The instructor department may request a new medical assessment to verify that your disability or medical condition makes the assessment impossible.
On the same subject
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
Telephone administrative information - Allo Public Service
For more information on this topic, you can contact Allô Service Public.
Attention: the service does not have access to users' personal files and cannot therefore provide information on their status.
- Lundi : de 08h30 à 17h30
- Mardi : de 08h30 à 12h15
- Mercredi : de 08h30 à 12h15
- Jeudi : de 08h30 à 17h30
- Vendredi : de 13h00 à 16h15
- Service free
The informants who answer you belong to the Ministry of the Interior.
Acquisition of French nationality by reason of marriage (Article 21-2)
Acquisition of French nationality by decision of the public authority (Articles 21-24 and 21-24-1)
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