Naturalisation · French citizenship
Prepare for the French civic exam and the naturalisation interview
To become French by naturalisation, you pass the civic exam (examen civique, NAT version), then the assimilation interview at the prefecture. Practise for both.
- Step 1 Assimilation interview simulation An AI officer asks you the prefecture interview questions out loud, in French, and helps when you hesitate. 3 AI examiners Start
- Step 2 Quizzes by theme History, culture, institutions: the interview questions theme by theme, with an explanation after every answer. 580 questions in the bank Start
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Step 3 Civic exam mock test (40 questions, 45 min) The civic exam multiple-choice test in its real format, timed, with your score by theme and the answers explained. Pass mark: 32/40 Coming soon
The French civic exam in figures
- 40 multiple-choice questions, one right answer out of four
- 45 minutes at most, on a tablet or computer
- 32 correct answers to pass, that is 80%
- 5 themes of the civic training
28 knowledge questions taken from the official list, and 12 everyday situations (mises en situation). The test is written in French.
The 5 themes
- 1 Principles and values of the Republic
- 2 Institutions and political system
- 3 Rights and duties
- 4 History, geography and culture
- 5 Living in French society
Who takes the NAT civic exam?
Anyone applying for French nationality by decree: naturalisation or reinstatement in French nationality.
- Applications by declaration are not concerned: marriage to a French citizen, or being the ascendant, brother or sister of a French citizen.
- A disability or a health condition can give the right to adjusted exam conditions, or even an exemption, with a medical certificate.
- The civic exam does not replace the assimilation interview: both are part of the process.
How naturalisation works, exam side
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1
Register at an approved centre
With CCI Paris Île-de-France or France Éducation international. Abroad, ask an Institut français, an Alliance française or the consulate.
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2
The multiple-choice test, on screen
40 questions in French, 45 minutes at most. You need 32 correct answers to get the pass certificate.
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3
The naturalisation application
The civic exam pass certificate is one of the documents to provide with your application.
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4
The assimilation interview
At the prefecture, a spoken conversation checks your assimilation into the French community, including your knowledge of French history, culture and society.
Official source
The official NAT question list
The 28 knowledge questions come from a list the Ministry of the Interior publishes for free, together with the citizen's booklet (livret du citoyen). The situations are not on it: they ask you to apply the values and rules of life in France.
www.immigration.interieur.gouv.fr
Frequently asked questions
Are the civic exam and the naturalisation interview the same thing?
No. The civic exam is a 40-question multiple-choice test taken at an approved centre. The assimilation interview is a spoken conversation at the prefecture, on top of it.
How many correct answers do you need to pass the NAT civic exam?
At least 32 out of 40, that is 80%. The test lasts 45 minutes at most.
Where do you take the naturalisation civic exam?
At a centre approved by CCI Paris Île-de-France or by France Éducation international. If you live abroad, ask an Institut français, an Alliance française or the consular authorities.
Do you need the civic exam to become French by marriage?
No. The civic exam is for nationality by decree (naturalisation, reinstatement). Declarations, including by marriage to a French citizen, are not concerned.
Can you get extra time for a disability?
Yes, the test can be adjusted if your disability or health condition requires it, with a medical certificate. An exemption is possible when an assessment is impossible.