France’s language tests for foreigners seeking citizenship defeat French people

Paris: The French government has been accused of making some of its new language tests for foreigners seeking to stay in the country so hard even its own citizens would fail them.

An impact report on a new immigration law expected to come into force before the end of the year suggested the stricter requirements could lead to 60,000 people being refused permission to remain in France.

The tests, which cost around €100 (£83.20), are part of bill passed a year ago, that includes tighter border controls and tougher measures to expel foreign migrants. Ministers argue its primary aim is to promote greater integration of foreigners.

Until now, those applying for a carte de séjour – a document allowing them to remain in France – were required to signed an “integration contract” and promise to learn French. Only those applying for French nationality or long-term residency have been required to take a language test.

The law will require those applying for papers to have at least the level of French of a lower secondary school pupil, aged 11-15 years. Those seeking papers to remain for longer or for nationality applications will be required to show greater proficiency.

An investigation by FranceInfo suggested the levels required would challenge even native speakers. It sent 10 French volunteers, including a literature student with five years of post-baccalauréat higher education, to sit the tests those seeking French nationality will face. Five failed the written test but passed the oral, while two failed to reach a level necessary to obtain their own nationality.

Félix Guyon, of the Thot school that helps refugees and asylum seekers learn French, said: “The level is far too high for most foreigners who are seeking nationality or papers to stay for a long period in France.”

An impact report on the law for the upper house of parliament, the Sénat, suggested it would be applied to more than 330,000 people in the first year, with about 60,000 of them expected to fail the language tests and have their right to remain in France withdrawn.

Bruno Retailleau, the conservative interior minister, said last month: “If a foreign person has been legally resident in France for several years and is not able to speak French it’s because they haven’t made the effort.”

The text states anyone applying for nationality must “provide evidence of a level of language enabling them to at least understand the essential context of concrete or abstract subjects in a complex test, to communicate spontaneously and to express themselves clearly and in detail on a wide variety of subjects”.

Didier Leschi, the director general of the French Office for Immigration and Integration, said France was only aligning itself with the requirements in neighbouring countries including Germany.

He said: “The whole system is designed to give people a sense of responsibility and help them integrate. You have to have faith in people. They have three years to reach the minimum level and renew their residency permit.”

Marianne, who was born in Comoros but has lived in France for more than a decade and works as a cleaner, told FranceInfo: “The problem is I don’t have the time. I haven’t done any studies in France and I don’t have the necessary level.”

Chloé Odent, a coordinator and teacher with the association A Voix Haute (with a loud voice), said: “There are people who speak French very well, who communicate every day at work, but who are not going to pass this exam.”

The date the decree comes into effect has yet to be decided. Most retirees over the age of 65 are expected to be exempt as are those who apply for or renew annual visitor cards.

The legislation, known as the law to control immigration and improve integration, was drawn up by former interior minister Gérald Darmanin and passed in January 2024. Emmanuel Macron and his government saw this as a shift to the right.