If you’re planning to apply for a long-term residence permit, a 10-year resident card, or French citizenship, big changes are coming from 1st January, 2026. You have no doubt been hearing about this for quite some time via various news and media channels and wondering how this will affect your application.
The French government is raising the required language levels for these applications, and the TCF IRN (Test de Connaissance du Français – Intégration, Résidence et Nationalité) will be at the heart of the process.
At LBS, we want to make sure you are fully informed and prepared for these new rules and how that can affect your application for French citizenship.
Want to know what your level is ? We have a free test you can do. Find the link at the bottom of this page.
The New Language Levels
From January 2026, here are the minimum levels of French you will need:
- A2 → Long-term residence permit (carte de séjour pluriannuelle)
- B1 → 10-year resident card (carte de résident)
- B2 → French citizenship (naturalisation)
These levels are based on the CEFR scale (A1 to C2). A2 and B1 represent “basic to intermediate” French, but B2 means becoming an independent, confident user of the language.
What is the TCF IRN? (TCF – Intégration, Résidence et Nationalité)
The TCF IRN is the official language test used for residence and citizenship applications. It measures your French level across 4 skills:
- Listening (25 questions)
- Reading (25 questions)
- Writing (3 tasks)
- Speaking (3 tasks with an examiner)
The test takes about 1 hour 35 minutes, and the results are valid for 2 years.
What Does B2 Mean in Practice?
If you are applying for citizenship, you will need to show that you can:
- Understand complex conversations and follow arguments
- Express your opinions clearly and defend your ideas
- Read detailed texts and capture nuanced meaning
- Write structured emails, essays, or letters
In short, B2 shows that you can function independently in French in everyday life, work, and civic situations.
How to Prepare
Reaching B2 doesn’t happen overnight — it takes regular practice and guidance.
✅ Assess your current level: Take a self-evaluation quiz or placement test.
✅ Build all four skills: Reading and listening are important, but speaking and writing count equally.
✅ Practice real-life situations: Formal emails, interview questions, conversations on current events.
✅ Work with a tutor or group: Structured lessons will help you progress faster.
Timing Matters
If you already have a test certificate at B1 or A2 from before 2026, it may still be valid for certain residence permits.
But if you are applying for citizenship after January 1, 2026, you will need to show B2 — even if your old certificate hasn’t expired.
At the end of the day, please keep in mind that it is down to each local prefectures discretion to choose the grading level. January 2026 is the LATEST date for this change. Some areas may already have this already in place.
How LBS Can Help
At LBS, we support you through the entire process:
- Explaining which test you need for your application
- Guiding you with your timeline
- Consolidating the documents for your naturalisation file
- Submission of application via appropriate platforms
- Support and guidance throughout the process
Becoming a French citizen or securing long-term residency is a big step — and we’re here to make it smoother.
📩 Get in touch today: tracy@lbsinfrance.com
