Who is exempt from the civic exam?

People who are not concerned

Before talking about an exemption (dispense), check whether the exam concerns you. It applies to the first multi-year residence permit (carte de séjour pluriannuelle), the first resident card (carte de résident) and naturalisation by decree. The following are not concerned:

• renewals: only the first application is concerned, renewal applications are not;
• European citizens, for residence permits: the rule applies to "non-European" nationals. However, a European Union national applying for naturalisation takes the civic exam at the naturalisation level (mention).

Sources: service-public.gouv.fr, fiche F39530 and arrêté du 10 octobre 2025, annexe III, Légifrance (in French).

Declarations of nationality are not concerned: declaration by marriage, as a parent or grandparent (ascendant), or as a brother or sister of a French citizen. The exam only concerns naturalisation and reinstatement of nationality (réintégration) by decree. Source: service-public.gouv.fr, fiche F39426

The first one-year temporary residence card is not concerned, according to CCI Paris Île-de-France, one of the two bodies that run the exam. This is the rule published by this body, not a State text. Source: CCI Paris Île-de-France

For the overview, read who must take the civic exam.

Over 65

If you are over 65, you are not subject to the civic exam for the multi-year residence permit and the resident card. Source: service-public.gouv.fr, fiche F39530 and décret n° 2025-647, articles 7 and 8, Légifrance

This rule is written for residence cards. For naturalisation, you can be exempted from the certificate of success (attestation de réussite) if a disability or your state of health makes it impossible to assess your knowledge, with a medical certificate. Source: service-public.gouv.fr, fiche F39426

Disability or state of health

If you have a disability or a health problem, there are two options:

• adjustments to the exam, for example more time than the planned 45 minutes;
• an exemption, if your disability or your state of health makes it impossible to assess your knowledge.

For a residence card, in both cases, you need a medical certificate written according to the model attached to the arrêté du 30 décembre 2025, by a doctor who has an RPPS number. Source: service-public.gouv.fr, fiche F39530 and arrêté du 30 décembre 2025, Légifrance

For naturalisation, you can be exempted from providing the certificate of success if your disability or your state of health makes it impossible to assess your knowledge, with a medical certificate. An adjustment to the exam is also possible. Source: service-public.gouv.fr, fiche F39426

International protection

For refugees and beneficiaries of subsidiary protection, everything depends on the card you apply for:

• The resident card issued on the basis of refugee status: service-public.gouv.fr mentions neither an integration condition nor a civic exam for it. Source: service-public.gouv.fr, fiche F2208
• The multi-year residence permit of a beneficiary of subsidiary protection and their family: it is not concerned by the exam. Source: service-public.gouv.fr, fiche F39530
• A first EU long-term resident card (carte de résident de longue durée-UE): the exam at the resident card level is required, including for holders of a refugee card or a subsidiary protection card, except over 65 or with a medical exemption. Source: service-public.gouv.fr, fiche F39530 and fiche F17359

The Ministry of the Interior states in general terms that beneficiaries of international protection are not concerned by the civic exam. Source: formation-civique.interieur.gouv.fr

For any other case, for example the resident card of a beneficiary of subsidiary protection after 4 years with a multi-year permit, check with your préfecture before you register.

Bilateral agreements: Algeria, Tunisia and other countries

The Ministry of the Interior states that nationals of countries covered by certain bilateral agreements are not concerned by the civic exam. It does not give the list of countries on this page. Source: formation-civique.interieur.gouv.fr

Algerian nationals fall under the Franco-Algerian agreement of 1968. Their residence permits are certificats de résidence, and the Algerian certificat de résidence is not subject to the republican integration contract (CIR). Source: service-public.gouv.fr, fiche F17048

This rule applies to residence permits, not to nationality: for naturalisation by decree, the service-public page provides no exception based on nationality, and the civic exam is required, subject to the exemptions. Source: service-public.gouv.fr, fiche F39426

In every case, check your situation with your préfecture before you register.

For any other nationality, ask your préfecture, giving your nationality and the exact permit you are applying for.

How to request an exemption or an adjustment

1. Make an appointment with a doctor who has an RPPS number.
2. Have the medical certificate filled in according to the model attached to the arrêté du 30 décembre 2025.
3. Ask your préfecture how to send this certificate with your permit application.

Sources: service-public.gouv.fr, fiche F39530 and arrêté du 30 décembre 2025, Légifrance.

The details for each permit are on the pages multi-year residence permit, resident card and naturalisation.