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French nationality: how can you justify your level in French?

Verified 24 February 2023 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

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You're asking for French naturalization

To get the French naturalization, you must justify knowledge of the French language orally and in writing at least equal to level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CERL). However, some people are dispensed.

You studied in French in a francophone country

You must provide a certificate of comparability of the Enic-Naric Center: titleContent if you have obtained a diploma in one of the following countries: Algeria, Belgium, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Comoros, Congo (Brazzaville), Congo (Kinshasa), Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Gabon, Guinea, Equatorial Guinea, Haiti, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali, Morocco, Monaco, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, Switzerland, Togo, Tunisia, Vanuatu.

The statement of comparability of the Enic-Naric Center: titleContent certifies that you have followed 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 Center: titleContent France
  • Certificate of comparability issued by other centers Enic-Naric Center: titleContent, translated into French by a certified translator

Request a certificate of comparability of a foreigners diploma

You are a refugee, are over 70 years old and have resided in France for at least 15 years

You do not have to justify your knowledge of the French language if you complete the 3 conditions following:

  • You are political refugee or stateless person
  • You have over 70 years
  • You've been living for at least 15 years in France with a residence permit valid
Your state of health does not allow you to assess your language level

You must provide a medical certificate.

This certificate shall attest to:

  • that you must have a test layout.
    The certificate shall specify these arrangements.
    You will need to present this certificate to the organization before taking the French language test.
  • or that your state of health makes it impossible to make any language assessment.

Please note

The instructor department may request a new medical assessment to verify that your disability or medical condition makes the assessment impossible.

You're in a different situation

You must provide a French diploma or a proof of passing a language test.

The following diplomas and certificates are accepted:

  • National patent diploma
  • French diploma attesting a level at least equal to level 3 of national classification of levels of training
  • Diploma attesting a level of knowledge of French at least equivalent to CERL B1 level
  • Print Dematerialized Success Certificate of less than 2 years from the French language proficiency test (FPT) Issued by France Éducation International (France Éducation International has replaced the Center international d'études PÉDAGGUES)
  • Print Dematerialized Success Certificate of less than 2 years from the French Language Evaluation Test (TEF) of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Paris Île-de-France

Find an organization to take the French Language Test (FCT)

Find an approved center to take the evaluation test (TEF)

Warning  

the certificates issued by theOfii: titleContent are not accepted (certificates of dispensation of language training, language skills and civic training).

You make a declaration of French nationality by marriage

To make a declaration of french nationality by marriage, you must justify knowledge of the French language orally and in writing at least equal to level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CERL).

You studied in French in a francophone country

You must provide a certificate of comparability of the Enic-Naric Center: titleContent if you have obtained a diploma in one of the following countries: Algeria, Belgium, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Comoros, Congo (Brazzaville), Congo (Kinshasa), Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Gabon, Guinea, Equatorial Guinea, Haiti, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali, Morocco, Monaco, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, Switzerland, Togo, Tunisia, Vanuatu.

The statement of comparability of the Enic-Naric Center: titleContent certifies that you have followed 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 Center: titleContent France
  • Certificate of comparability issued by other centers Enic-Naric Center: titleContent, translated into French by a certified translator

Request a certificate of comparability of a foreigners diploma

Your state of health does not allow you to assess your language level

You must provide a medical certificate.

This certificate shall attest to:

  • that you must have a test layout.
    The certificate shall specify these arrangements.
    You will need to present this certificate to the organization before taking the French language test.
  • or that your state of health makes it impossible to make any language assessment.

Please note

The instructor department may request a new medical assessment to verify that your disability or medical condition makes the assessment impossible.

You're in a different situation

You must provide a French diploma or a proof of passing a language test.

The following diplomas and certificates are accepted:

  • National patent diploma
  • French diploma attesting a level at least equal to level 3 of national classification of levels of training
  • Diploma attesting a level of knowledge of French at least equivalent to CERL B1 level
  • Print Dematerialized Success Certificate of less than 2 years from the French language proficiency test (FPT) Issued by France Éducation International (France Éducation International has replaced the Center international d'études PÉDAGGUES)
  • Print Dematerialized Success Certificate of less than 2 years from the French Language Evaluation Test (TEF) of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Paris Île-de-France

Find an organization to take the French Language Test (FCT)

Find an approved center to take the evaluation test (TEF)

Warning  

the certificates issued by theOfii: titleContent are not accepted (certificates of dispensation of language training, language skills and civic training).

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.

    Cost: free service

    The informants who answer you belong to the Ministry of the Interior.

    Attention: the service does not have access to users' personal files and cannot therefore provide information on their status.

    The service is available at the following times:

    • Monday: 8.30am to 5.30pm
    • Tuesday: 8:30 to 12:15
    • Wednesday: 8:30 to 12:15
    • Thursday: 8.30am to 5.30pm
    • Friday: 1 p.m. to 4:15 p.m

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