Tightening of requirements, esp re language

Visa Requirements
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As predicted, the new Government is looking to harden integrations requirements. The immigration law last year proposed higher standards for language by July 26, Nasrou wants in bring this in a year earlier

So the planned levels are A2 for the issuance of a residence permit, B1 for a resident card and B2 for naturalisation.

He also proposes discussing increasing these further with a new immigration bill planned also for next year.

(I’m presuming that a residence permit is a annual carte de séjour (ie nit initial visa) and residence card is a pluriannual card.

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Not really surprising given the current context, and make-up of the government. I still remember when Pasqua was Minister of the Interior, and the changes to immigration law he brought in at the time.

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Making people take a language course is surely no bad thing… ???

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You might be surprised by the percentage of Brits resident in France who speak next to no French at all despite living here for decades.

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I think I’m more embarrassed by association rather than surprised.

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I seem to recall reading somewhere that there used to be an exemption to the language test for over 60s (when applying for citizenship) - I wonder if that will continue and also apply for CDS?

Though hopefully I could scrape through an A2 test… :slight_smile:

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Indeed, including many native speakers :face_with_hand_over_mouth:

That, of course applies to all countries, innit?

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“My language! heavens! I am the best of them that speak this speech. Were I but where 'tis spoken.”

(W. Shakespeare Esq. late of Stratford-upon-Avon) :smiley:

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That went a long time ago now for citizenship.

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I am still finding Brits coming out of the woodwork… been here for years, they tell me… when I ask if they’re on holiday…
and many of them seem to delight in telling me that they don’t speak a word of French… “but it doesn’t matter”… they say with a grin… aaaargh.

I try to encourage them to “join in local life”… but they’re adamant that their Anglo-enclave suits them down to the ground…
so I step back and let 'em get on with it…

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I leave them to it and only see them on the very rare occasion they attend local events.

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I am involved in so many local thingies… and one of 'em is to welcome foreigners/visiters… and explain some of the history of our little bit of France… thus I have no way of knowing to whom I am talking… just my cheery… “Bonjour” starts things off …

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Careful not spreading fear unnecessarily. The immigration bill from January the 26th 2024 only set language requirements for 3 type of residency permits:

  • Spouse of a French citizen
  • Parent of a French citizen
  • Family reunification

And it increased the level required for citizenship.

But all the other “residency permit” (including the WARP post brexit one, including the visitor / retiree one, etc.) remain unaffected.

And for those over 65 years old there is simply no language test apart for citizenship applications :wink:

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Yep it’s 65 now but they drop the exemption for citizenship though.

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That’s not completely accurate - see link - as also for EU card long durée, refugees etc.

But many here will have WARP cards and it has been clarified many times that renewals of these will have no language requirements.

Carte de résident : comment justifier de votre connaissance du français ? | Service-Public.fr.

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Is anyone aware of a B2 qualification that can at least be studied remotely? even if obliged to travel for a test. ISTR the B2 certification has to be obtained 2 years max ahead of any application?

Remote as I am I care what happens to France and it’s hard for me to live somewhere where i don’t have a vote in any decisions the country or even my locality might make.

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No, just as long as you have it. If one gets a diploma like DELF it is valid for life. The TCF-IRN certificates only lasts two years.

Study where you like, and physical exam centres all over the place.

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Sounds like DELF is best to look into then. Thanks Jane.

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Why? It’s their loss.

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Then there are all the cases of couples, no longer in the first flush of youth, where only one of them has decent French and tends to handle all the admin. Which is fine until they drop dead and the survivor can barely function.
This is our case unfortunately. As far as I’m concerned, if Him Indoors doesn’t smarten up his act, we’re moving to the UK.