French naturalisation now requires B2, resident card B1
Since 1 January 2026, French citizenship requires B2 French, spoken and written; a first resident card requires B1.
The French level required for citizenship is set by decree no. 2025-648 of 15 July 2025. What follows is what the service-public page on the required level (F11926) stated when it was checked on 1 January 2026.
What changed
Naturalisation by decree and citizenship through marriage (déclaration de nationalité par mariage) require at least level B2 on the Common European Framework scale (CEFR), spoken and written.
A first resident card (carte de résident) requires level B1 (service-public, F2208).
Files submitted before 2026
Service-public does not say which level applies to a file submitted before 1 January 2026: the page on the required level states the current requirement only. That case turns on the wording of the decree itself, and the prefecture holding the file is the place to ask.
What this means in practice
A TCF or TEF pass certificate is accepted if it was issued less than 2 years ago (service-public, F11926).
The level is evidenced by recognised tests and diplomas; the list of accepted documents is published on the official portal and changes from time to time.
Fiscly is an educational tool to help you understand the French tax system. It is not a substitute for professional tax advice. Tax situations are individual — always verify with impots.gouv.fr or a qualified accountant (expert-comptable) for your specific case.