· 7 min read
French B2 for Naturalisation Since 2026
By Language Lab editorial team
From 1 January 2026 France asks B2 French, written and oral, for naturalisation and citizenship by marriage, plus a civic exam. The decrees and the proof.
Decree 2025-648 of 15 July 2025 replaced B1 with B2 in the 1993 nationality decree: for naturalisation and reintegration applications filed from 1 January 2026, and for declarations of nationality by marriage made from the same date, you must show French at level B2, written and oral. The same decree added a civic exam, whose pass mark is set by ministerial order. An order of 22 December 2025 lists the proof: any diploma certifying French at B2 or higher, the diplôme national du brevet, state diplomas at level 3 or above, or a language attestation showing overall written and oral command at B2; attestations are valid for two years. The accepted tests are the TCF from France Éducation international and the TEF from the Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Files lodged before 1 January 2026 stay under the 2020 orders, at B1.
What changed, and for whom
| Procedure | Level before | Level from 1 January 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Naturalisation by decree | B1 | B2 |
| Reintegration into French nationality | B1 | B2 |
| Declaration of nationality by marriage | B1 | B2 |
| Multi-year residence card (for comparison) | — | A2 |
| Resident card, 10 years (for comparison) | — | B1 |
The nationality rules come from decree 2025-648; the residence-card levels from the companion decree 2025-647 of the same day, which sets A2 for the multi-year card and B1 for the resident card and makes the civic exam a condition for both. The jump to B2 is therefore the top of a ladder: A2 to stay, B1 to settle, B2 to become French.
What B2 means
B2 is the upper-intermediate level of the Common European Framework: following a discussion on an abstract topic, reading an article and summarising its argument, writing a clear, structured letter or report, speaking with enough fluency that a conversation with a native speaker does not strain either side. The order of 22 December 2025 asks the test to show overall command of written and oral skills at B2, so a strong oral with a weak written paper does not pass.
How to prove it
- A diploma certifying French at B2 or higher, for example a DELF B2 or DALF.
- The diplôme national du brevet, or a state diploma at level 3 or above of the national qualifications framework.
- A language attestation from an accepted test showing B2 overall: the TCF from France Éducation international or the TEF from the Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Attestations are valid for two years.
The 2020 orders that listed B1 diplomas and tests were repealed; the new order entered into force on 1 January 2026.
The civic exam
Decree 2025-648 writes into the naturalisation rules that the expected level of knowledge is assessed in a civic exam, with the pass mark fixed by order of the minister in charge of naturalisations. The Interior Ministry's own guidance describes the format and the pass threshold; the attestation of success is part of the naturalisation file. The exam exists alongside the prefecture interview, which still checks assimilation into the French community.
Transition
Decree 2025-648 entered into force the day after publication, but its language and civic-exam articles apply to naturalisation and reintegration applications filed from 1 January 2026 and to marriage declarations made from that date. The December order confirms that declarations and applications lodged before 1 January 2026 remain governed by the earlier orders, that is, at B1. If your file was complete and stamped in 2025, B1 still applies to it.
Getting from B1 to B2
- Sit a TCF or TEF now to know your written and oral profile; the weaker skill decides your plan.
- Read French news daily and write a short summary; B2 writing is the usual failure point.
- Book the test at least two months before you plan to file; attestations last two years, so there is no reason to wait for the deadline.
Frequently asked
What French level do I need to become French in 2026?
B2, written and oral, for naturalisation, reintegration and citizenship by marriage filed from 1 January 2026, under decree 2025-648.
Which tests prove B2 for nationality?
The TCF from France Éducation international and the TEF from the Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry, or a diploma certifying B2 or higher.
How long is a language attestation valid?
Two years, under the order of 22 December 2025.
I applied in 2025. Does B2 apply to me?
No. Applications and declarations lodged before 1 January 2026 remain under the earlier orders, at B1.
Is there also a civic exam?
Yes. Decree 2025-648 makes a civic exam part of the naturalisation assessment, with the pass mark set by ministerial order.
Checked against decree 2025-648 of 15 July 2025, decree 2025-647 of the same date and the two orders of 22 December 2025 on Légifrance on 3 November 2026.
