How to register for the French civic exam: step by step (2026)

Registration for France's civic exam happens entirely online, through the platform of one of the two state-approved operators: Le français des affaires (CCI Paris Île-de-France) or France Éducation International (FEI). You create a candidate account, pick an approved exam centre, then sit the test in person, on a computer or tablet. Here is the whole process, step by step.

Registration in 5 steps

1. Check that you actually need the exam

Since 1 January 2026, the civic exam has been required for three procedures:

a first carte de séjour pluriannuelle (CSP, the multi-year residence permit);
a first carte de résident (CR), for nearly every issuing ground;
French naturalisation by decree.

It is not required to renew an existing permit, nor for a first carte de séjour temporaire, and people over 65 are exempt, except for naturalisation. If you are in one of those situations, you do not need to register at all. Unsure? Check your case in a few questions with our eligibility test.

2. Create a candidate account with an approved operator

Two operators are approved to run the exam: Le français des affaires, backed by the CCI Paris Île-de-France, and France Éducation International (FEI). Registration takes place online, on the platform of the operator you choose:

You create your candidate account there and follow the steps shown. The exact fee and any documents you need are listed directly on the platform during registration.

3. Choose your variant, your centre and your date

During registration, you select the exam variant that matches your application: CSP, CR or naturalisation. You then choose where to sit the civic exam: the test takes place in person, at an approved exam centre. All that is left is to book a date and time slot that suit you, among the availabilities shown.

4. Prepare seriously

Between registration and exam day, practise regularly. Preparation can be completely free: the ministry publishes the official lists of knowledge questions, along with civic training fact sheets. The official study booklet, the livret du citoyen, fully updated in June 2026, covers the whole syllabus in five parts. Focus on the variant you registered for, because the question lists are not the same.

5. Sit the exam at your centre

On the day, you answer 40 multiple-choice questions in French, on a computer or tablet. With at least 32 correct answers, you earn your success attestation, which remains valid with no expiry date.

Where to take the exam

The exam takes place in person only, in approved centres spread across France. Each operator runs its own network and publishes its own directory: the CCI network finder for Le français des affaires, and FEI's map with search by city.

Find a centre (CCI)FEI centre map

The two networks are separate: if no nearby slot shows up on one platform, check the other before booking further away. For a quick overview with every official link in one place, see our exam centres page. If you live outside France, service-public.fr recommends contacting the Institut français, the Alliance française or the French consular authorities in your country of residence.

Choosing your variant

The variant you pick is not a detail. Each version draws from a different official list, and the difficulty rises with the stakes of your application: our CSP vs CR vs naturalisation comparison covers the differences.

CSP: you are applying for your first multi-year residence permit.
CR: you are applying for your first carte de résident (10-year card, long-term EU or permanent resident card).
NAT: you are applying for French citizenship, the most complete and demanding variant.

Double-check your situation before confirming your registration: revising the wrong list means losing precious preparation time.

Accommodations and exemptions

Two specific situations are covered:

You are over 65: you are exempt from the exam for the multi-year residence permit and the resident card, so there is nothing to register for. There is no age exemption for naturalisation.
You live with a disability or a chronic condition: you can request adapted exam conditions, or an exemption, using a dedicated medical form provided by the exam operator.

In the second case, contact your chosen operator early in the process to find out the exact procedure.

On exam day

The test lasts 45 minutes at most and runs on a computer or tablet, at the centre you selected. You answer 40 multiple-choice questions in French, and you need 32 correct answers out of 40 to pass: scoring rules and time management are covered in the score guide. To see what the questions themselves look like, theme by theme, read our guide to the 2026 exam questions.

The best way to avoid being thrown by the pace of the exam is to have already experienced it. Our free mock exam reproduces the real format, with 40 questions and a timer: you walk in on exam day knowing exactly what to expect.

Before you register

There is no point booking a date blindly. Before registering, measure your real level: PrépareFrance offers a free practice theme so you can test yourself question by question and spot your weak points. You will quickly know whether you can aim for an early date, or whether a few weeks of preparation make more sense before paying for registration.

Frequently asked questions

How much does registration for the civic exam cost?

There is no single national fee: according to service-public.fr, registration fees are set by each exam centre and can vary from one centre to another. The exact amount is displayed during registration, on the platform of the approved operator you choose.

Does the success attestation expire?

No. The attestation has no expiry date. Once you have passed, you can use it for your application without any time limit.