# Naturalisation · French nationality by decree: key facts (2026) > French citizenship (naturalisation): language level B2, decided by Ministère de l’Intérieur · préfecture; the proof covers Niveau de langue B2, Examen civique, Entretien d’assimilation. Fee: €255 tax stamp (€127.50 in French Guiana). Language test and civic exam fees come on top (set by centres). Language requirement: No single exam: Naturalisation is a decision by the administration, not a test. Your file must meet every condition: residence, language, civic exam, resources, conduct and interview. Decision: The administration has up to 18 months from the receipt to answer (12 months if you have lived 10+ years in France); one 3-month extension possible. Country: France · Level: B2 · Exam organisation: Ministère de l’Intérieur · préfecture · Last checked: 2026-09-29 ## What does French citizenship (naturalisation) require? What you need since 2026: 5 years of residence (with exceptions), French at B2, the civic exam, an interview and a €255 tax stamp. It is set by Ministère de l’Intérieur · préfecture. Level: B2. ## Which exams prove the language and civic knowledge for French citizenship (naturalisation)? 3 parts: Niveau de langue B2 (—), Examen civique (45 min max.), Entretien d’assimilation (Not stated on the pages we could read). About 45 minutes of exam time in total for the timed parts. Source: ## What is the fee for French citizenship (naturalisation) in 2026? €255 tax stamp (€127.50 in French Guiana). Language test and civic exam fees come on top (set by centres). Source: ## Which language level is required for French citizenship (naturalisation)? No single exam: Naturalisation is a decision by the administration, not a test. Your file must meet every condition: residence, language, civic exam, resources, conduct and interview. Source: ## How long does the decision on French citizenship (naturalisation) take? The administration has up to 18 months from the receipt to answer (12 months if you have lived 10+ years in France); one 3-month extension possible. Source: ## Is there a separate test for French citizenship (naturalisation), and what is changing? No separate exam: you submit a B2 proof and your civic-exam pass; both tests can be retaken before you apply. Source: ## How do I apply for French citizenship (naturalisation)? Part of the citizenship application. No exam dates: apply online via ANEF (or on paper) once you have your B2 proof and civic-exam pass. Requirements include 5 years of residence (with exceptions). Source: ## How long do applications for French citizenship (naturalisation) take in practice? Plan time for the B2 test result and the civic exam before you apply; TCF/TEF results must be under 2 years old. Source: ## Where do I apply for French citizenship (naturalisation)? Online via ANEF; the interview takes place at your prefecture. Source: ## Where can I practise for the language and civic tests for French citizenship (naturalisation)? On EUpassway: free practice questions with an explanation for every answer and timed mock exams in the exam format, no account needed: https://eupassway.com/en/entrainement/questions-officielles — EUpassway is independent; the official sample exams of Ministère de l’Intérieur · préfecture are linked in the exam guide: https://eupassway.com/en/guides/fr-naturalisation. --- Full exam guide with all official sources: https://eupassway.com/en/guides/fr-naturalisation Free practice: https://eupassway.com/en/entrainement/questions-officielles This page: https://eupassway.com/en/exam-facts/fr-naturalisation Cite as: EUpassway (2026). Naturalisation · French nationality by decree: key facts. https://eupassway.com/en/exam-facts/fr-naturalisation EUpassway is independent and not affiliated with any exam organisation. Rules and fees change; the official source always prevails. License: CC BY 4.0.