Citizenship: are spouses of french people affected by tougher language test rule?

MINISTER CLEARED UP CONFUSION IN CIRCULAR SENT TO PREFECTURES People who apply for French nationality due to being married to a French person will be affected by new tougher French language

tests, it has been confirmed. In upcoming changes to the rules for citizenship – which must be in force by January 1, 2026 – the level of French language ability required of some applicants

is rising from B1 (lower intermediate) to B2 (upper intermediate). Groups also impacted by increased language requirements include those on common working visas looking to settle down in

France long-term and people (other than over-65s) seeking a first 10-year carte de résident. People applying for or renewing Brexit Withdrawal Agreement cards are not affected. However,

there had been uncertainty as to whether people applying for citizenship by ‘declaration’ as spouses of French citizens were included in this change. The answer is that, yes, they are

included, states a circular on French nationality procedures sent out to all prefectures late last week. Read more: Rules to be toughened for French citizenship, says minister  The circular,

which we have read, confirms the rise from B1 to B2 “to apply to become French by naturalisation” and adds: “this will also apply to applications presented by spouses / civil partners of

French people”. Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau also wrote in the circular: “The decree putting this into action will be published in the coming months, to come into force, at the latest

by January 1, 2026.” The same decree is also expected to put into action several other ‘language’ elements from the 2024 immigration law, including raising the level to B1 from A2 for

applications for a 10-year carte de résident (an exemption will continue for over-65s) and making obtaining a first ‘multi-year’ residency card (valid two to four years) dependent on passing

a test at level A2. The previous uncertainty stemmed from the fact that the 2024 immigration law used the word ‘naturalisation’ in describing the raised level for citizenship, a term which

often refers only to citizenship ‘by decree’. Citizenship may be granted ‘by decree’ to applicants living in France for at least five years and deemed to be well integrated in the community,

whereas citizenship via marriage falls under a ‘by declaration’ category involving French family links or birth in France. Those applying via marriage already have to pass a language test

at level B1; the uncertainty was whether they were included in the rise to level B2. Other forms of citizenship by declaration do not require this.  The latter includes, eg. children born in

France to foreign parents and who claim citizenship as a right as teenagers as well as, under certain conditions, young people whose brothers or sisters are French or over-65s who have

French children. Several language schools recently told The Connexion that achieving B2 as opposed to B1 requires a significant step up in skills. Read more: New language tests for French

residency cause confusion