Learning French in Paris: the CIR and level you need

Since 1 January 2026, your French is part of your visa file. Learn it early and the longer cards open up; leave it and you stay on one-year renewals.

The short version

If you settle in France on certain long-stay statuses, you sign a contrat d'intégration républicaine (CIR) with the OFII, the French immigration and integration office [1].
If your French tests below A2, the state offers up to 600 hours of free lessons as part of the CIR [1].
Since 1 January 2026, a first multi-year card needs A2 French and a first 10-year resident card needs B1, for applicants under 65 [2].
Naturalisation needs B2, spoken and written [3]. A civic exam with a pass mark of 32 out of 40 also applies [5].
Outside the OFII, Paris runs affordable adult evening courses, the Cours d'Adultes de Paris [4].

Why French now matters for your card

Many Australians arrive in Paris on a working holiday visa, a talent passport or as the partner of a French citizen, and assume French is a social nicety. It used to be, mostly. Immigration reforms changed that, and the new language rules took effect on 1 January 2026 [2].

Here's the ladder, as it stands in late 2026:

What you're applying for	French level (CEFR)	Civic exam	Source
First one-year temporary card	No set level, but you may need to sign the CIR	No	[1]
First multi-year card (2 to 4 years)	A2	Yes	[1][2]
First 10-year resident card	B1	Yes	[2]
French citizenship by naturalisation or marriage	B2, oral and written	Yes	[3][5]

The A2 and B1 rules apply to non-European applicants under 65 [2]. There are adjustments or exemptions for health problems or disability, backed by a medical certificate [2].

What do those levels mean in real life? A2 is getting by: shopping, simple chats with the neighbour, explaining a leaking tap to the syndic. B1 is holding your own at work and handling most daily life. B2 is arguing with the préfecture, in writing, and winning. Each step is a big jump, and B2 usually means hundreds of hours of study for an English speaker who starts from scratch.

The CIR: who signs it and what you get

The contrat d'intégration républicaine is for people admitted to stay for the first time who plan to settle long term [1]. It lasts a year and can be extended by up to another year [1].

Who signs it

You'll generally sign the CIR if you're on, for example [1]:

a vie privée et familiale card, which covers many partners of French citizens
a long-stay visa valid as a residence permit for an employee (salarié)
a card for commercial, industrial or craft work

You're not asked to sign it on several statuses popular with Australians, including the visitor card, student card, talent passport (and its family version), temporary worker card, trainee card and au pair card [1]. The working holiday visa (PVT) is a one-year stay, so it isn't really built for the CIR either.

That's good news if you're on a talent passport: the A2 rule for multi-year cards doesn't cover residence permits outside the CIR [2]. But if you later switch to a status that does need it, say from a working holiday to a partner card, the rules follow you. The B1 rule for a 10-year resident card has its own list of categories [2]. Check the Service-Public page for your exact situation before your renewal.

What happens in the CIR

OFII appointment. After you arrive, the OFII invites you to a meeting and a written and oral French test.
Civic training. Four compulsory sessions, 24 hours in total, on French values, institutions and daily life [1].
Language course, if needed. If you test below A2, you're offered a language course of up to 600 hours, which can also be done on an online platform [1]. It's free.
Follow-up interview. Within six months of starting training, the OFII checks your progress [1].
Renewal. If you met the contract, passed the civic exam and can prove A2, the préfet can grant a multi-year card of two to four years when you renew [1].

If you skip classes, the préfet can terminate the contract, which can block your multi-year card [1]. Treat the OFII timetable like a job.

You can skip the language test if you already hold a recognised diploma or test at A2 or above, with a test result under two years old [1]. If your employer has an allophone-staff training budget, you may also get up to 80 hours through work [1].

Proving your level: tests and diplomas

The préfecture won't take your word for it, or a certificate from a language school in Sydney.

For the multi-year and resident cards, accepted proof includes [2]:

a TCF or TEF result, valid for two years
a French diploma such as the DELF, DALF, DCL, DUEF or DFP at the required level
some French vocational qualifications and diplomas, such as the brevet or a CAP

Diplomas issued by foreign authorities aren't accepted, even from a French-speaking country [2]. That includes Australian high school or university French.

For naturalisation, you'll need a TCF or TEF certificate less than two years old, a French diploma at B2 or above, or certain French qualifications [3].

The civic exam

Since 1 January 2026 there's also a civic exam for first multi-year cards, resident cards and naturalisation [5]. It's a digital multiple-choice test of 40 questions in up to 45 minutes, and you pass with at least 32 correct answers [5]. Accredited centres and practice sheets are listed on the Interior Ministry's civic training site [5]. Renewals of the same card are exempt [5].

Where to learn French in Paris

The OFII course is a start, but it's built to get you to A2. If you need B1 or B2, you'll need more.

Option	Cost	Good for
OFII lessons under the CIR	Free	Getting to A2 if you've signed the CIR [1]
Cours d'Adultes de Paris (city-run)	€50 to €350 per course in 2026–27 [4]	Evening classes, steady progress, tight budgets
Alliance Française Paris Île-de-France	Fee-paying, check current rates	Intensive daytime courses and exam preparation
University language programmes	Fee-paying, by semester	Serious study, often with DUEF diplomas
Workplace training	Often free to you	Employees whose employer has a training budget [1]

The city's adult courses

The Cours d'Adultes de Paris run more than 640 courses in schools across the city, including French as a foreign language for people who've already had schooling [4]. Anyone over 18 can apply, whether or not they live in Paris, subject to places [4].

Key dates for the 2026–27 year [4]:

applications for annual and first-semester courses ran from 17 August to 7 September 2026
second-semester applications run from 5 to 25 January 2027, with classes from 22 February 2027

You apply through a Mon Paris account, can choose up to three courses, and there's a free online level test to help you pick [4]. Fees range from €50 to €350 depending on the course, with half price for people on certain benefits [4]. Places go fast, so set a reminder for January.

Make Paris your classroom

Lessons get you the grammar. Paris gets you the ears.

Swap English for French with a language exchange partner. Plenty of Parisians want to practise their English.
Join a club: running, choir, a rugby team. French comes faster when you need it to get the ball.
Do your admin in French. Each trip to the mairie is free speaking practice.
Watch French TV with French subtitles, then without.

Looking for a language exchange partner or a study buddy for the TCF? Ask in Cooee France, our Facebook group for Australians in France. Someone is always cramming for the same test.

The Australian angle

Dual citizenship is fine on both sides. Australia has allowed dual citizenship since 2002, and France also lets you keep your original nationality. B2 French and the civic exam are the price of a French passport.
Your Australian French doesn't count. HSC or VCE French, or a degree from home, won't satisfy the préfecture [2]. Book a TCF or TEF in France.
Start before you leave. The jump from zero to A2 is far easier with six months of lessons in Australia, and an Alliance Française at home can prepare you for the DELF.
Plan around renewals. Test results last two years [2]. Sit your TCF or TEF within that window of your card renewal or naturalisation application.

Learning French in Paris: OFII classes and the level you need to stay