Tests for France
French level for a residence card in France since 2026
France now asks a certified French level for a first multi-year card and a first resident card. Pick the card in the tool to see the level, then check your scores.
Minimum level · France: first 10-year resident card
Overall CEFR level B1, written and oral skills
| TEF IRN | overall level B1: 300 or more on three tests and 267 or more on the weakest |
| TCF IRN | level B1 printed on the attestation (scoring rules set by France Éducation international) |
Results must be less than two years old (IRCC for Express Entry; French orders for residence cards and naturalisation). Provincial programmes set their own levels.
Since 1 January 2026, foreign nationals in France must prove a minimum level of French for two residence cards. A first multi-year residence card (carte de séjour pluriannuelle) requires level A2 of the Common European Framework, and a first resident card (carte de résident, valid ten years) requires level B1; the resident card requirement does not apply after age 65. The rules come from an order of 22 December 2025, published in the Journal officiel on 26 December 2025, which recognises two certifications: the TCF of France Éducation international and the TEF of the CCI Paris Île-de-France. Service-Public describes the same levels. On the TEF IRN, the CCI sets the overall level with two thresholds: 200 in three tests and 167 in the weakest for A2, 300 and 267 for B1. On the TCF scale, B1 starts at 300 in comprehension and 6 out of 20 in expression. Naturalisation is a separate procedure and asks B2.
My TEF IRN overall level
Overall level
B2
| B2 | 400 / 367 |
| B1 | 300 / 267 |
| A2 | 200 / 167 |
Thresholds: three tests / weakest test.
Charts, converters and questions by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · How charts and questions are built
The levels, card by card
| Card (first application) | Level since 1 January 2026 | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-year residence card | A2 | |
| Resident card (10 years) | B1 | not required after age 65 |
| For comparison: naturalisation | B2 | written and oral |
On the Council of Europe global scale, A2 covers simple, routine exchanges on familiar matters; B1 covers most everyday situations and giving brief reasons for an opinion. The tool above shows the level each French procedure asks; the order on residence card certifications is the legal reference.
Two certifications, two families of tests
The order names the TCF of France Éducation international and the TEF of the CCI Paris Île-de-France. Each organiser has a version for residence and nationality: the TEF IRN and the TCF IRN. The TEF IRN format is published by the CCI (four short tests, 90 minutes in total). For the TCF IRN, a new format has been mentioned since 2025 that we could not confirm on an official source.
A2 and B1 in TEF IRN scores
The CCI does not average the four scores; it applies a double threshold, explained on its results page:
| Level | Three tests at least | Weakest test at least | Card it covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| B1 | 300 | 267 | resident card and multi-year card |
| A2 | 200 | 167 | multi-year card |
Example: 330, 315, 302 and 275 gives B1; the same profile with 260 in the weakest test gives A2, enough for a multi-year card but not for a resident card.
A2 and B1 on the TCF scale
The TCF candidate manual places A2 from 200 and B1 from 300 in the comprehension tests, and from 2 and 6 out of 20 in the expression tests. How the TCF IRN combines its tests into an overall level is not confirmed here: the certificate states it.
From booking to filing
Registration is done with an approved centre of the organiser you choose; this site is independent and takes no bookings. Each centre sets its own dates and fee, and we have no confirmed TEF IRN or TCF IRN price to quote. For the TEF IRN, the CCI announces results within 1 to 10 working days, so leave a margin of a few weeks between the test and the appointment where you file your application. Keep the certificate itself: it is the document that proves the level.
Timing your test
A test certificate is valid 2 years. Sit the test once you know when you will file, not years ahead. If you plan to apply for French nationality later, note that it asks B2 in four tests on the same day, under stricter conditions explained on the naturalisation page; a B1 certificate for your resident card will not be enough then. The CEFR page converts any TEF or TCF score into a level.