The short answer
- Since 1 January 2026, factual knowledge is certified by the civic exam, passed before you file
- The interview now centres on rights and duties, and on your adhesion to the values of the Republic
- It takes place after your file is declared admissible, at the préfecture, sous-préfecture or consulate
- A file can be refused without an interview if a condition is clearly not met: file a complete, solid dossier
For years, the naturalisation interview (entretien d'assimilation) was where candidates were quizzed on French history, culture and institutions. The 2026 reform split that job in two: facts are now tested by the civic exam, before you even file your application, and the interview that follows focuses on something no multiple-choice test can measure, your adhesion to the principles and values of the Republic.
Where the interview sits in the process now
For applications filed since 1 January 2026, the naturalisation path runs in this order:
- You pass the civic exam (NAT variant) first. The attestation of success is a required part of your application file, so the exam comes before filing: see how to register and the NAT variant details. The attestation never expires.
- You file your dossier, including the exam attestation and proof of your French level, B2 oral and written, through recognised diplomas or language tests.
- If your file is admissible, you are invited to the interview, at the préfecture, sous-préfecture or, if you live abroad, the consulate.
- The decision follows: naturalisation is granted by decree.
One consequence of the reform deserves emphasis: the administration can declare a file inadmissible, or refuse it, on the documents alone, without conducting an interview, when a condition is clearly not met. The interview is no longer an automatic step you can count on to explain gaps in your file.
What changed in 2026
| Before 2026 | Since 1 January 2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| Knowledge of history, culture and society | Tested orally at the interview | Certified by the civic exam, before filing |
| Focus of the interview | Broad, including factual quizzing | Rights and duties, adhesion to principles and values |
| French level | B1, oral | B2, oral and written, proved by documents |
| If the file is incomplete | Interview usually still held | Refusal possible on the file, without an interview |
What the interview assesses today
The interview verifies your adhesion to the essential principles and values of the Republic. The foreword of the official livret du citoyen, republished in June 2026, describes it in two parts: a conversation about your knowledge of the rights and duties of the citizen, and an assessment of your adhesion to the principles and values themselves, as expressed by the way you respect and apply them in daily life, in your family and in society.
Expect a discussion, in French, about laïcité, equality between women and men, fundamental freedoms, and what they mean concretely in everyday situations. Since a ministerial instruction of 2 May 2025, préfectures also apply a stricter overall assessment of assimilation, so consistency between your file, your answers and your situation matters.
How to prepare
The good news: if you prepared the civic exam seriously, you have already covered the substance. The interview asks you to express it in your own words.
- Reread parts 1 and 3 of the livret du citoyen, principles and values, rights and duties. The livret's own foreword tells candidates to study it before the exam and the interview.
- Read the two annexes of the livret: the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen of 1789 and the Charter of rights and duties of the French citizen.
- Practise saying it, not just knowing it. For each value, prepare a simple explanation in French and a concrete example from your own life: how laïcité plays out at work, what equality means in your family.
- Keep the exam themes fresh with theme practice, especially the two heavyweight themes: they are the same ground the interview walks.
Frequently asked questions
Do they still ask history questions at the interview?
The formal test of historical and cultural knowledge now happens at the civic exam, whose attestation is already in your file by interview day. The interview centres on rights, duties and your adhesion to the values of the Republic. Solid general knowledge still helps the conversation, but reciting dates is no longer the point.
Can my application be refused without an interview?
Yes. Since the 2026 reform, the administration can declare a file inadmissible or refuse it on the documents alone when a condition is clearly not met, without calling you in. A complete, coherent dossier is your first line of defence.
Does the civic exam replace the interview?
No, you need both. The exam comes first and certifies your knowledge; the interview comes after your file is admissible and assesses your adhesion to the principles and values of the Republic.
What French level is required for naturalisation?
B2, oral and written, proved by a recognised diploma or language test included in your file. The interview itself is conducted in French, so it is also, in practice, a conversation-level check of your ease in the language.
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