Mandatory Civic Training 2026: What Changes for your Residence Permit

By The FrenchPappers team · Published on May 11, 2026 · Last verified on May 11, 2026 · 6 min read

Since January 1, 2026, a fundamental rule has changed for obtaining a multi-year residence card in France. The 24-hour civic training and the civic exam, until now taken after obtaining the permit, are now mandatory before the issuance. This reversal of logic has direct consequences on your administrative journey.

What is the civic training?

The civic training is part of the Contrat d'Intégration Républicaine (CIR), signed by every newly arrived foreign national when obtaining their first residence permit. It includes:

• A training of 24 hours spread over 4 days
• Modules on the values of the Republic, the organization of French institutions, the rights and duties of the citizen, and practical life in France
• Un civic exam written at the end of the training

The training is organized by theOFII (Office Français de l'Immigration et de l'Intégration) and is entirely free for the beneficiary.

The key change of 2026: before, not after

Before the reform, the logic was as follows:

1. You obtain your first temporary residence card (1 year)
2. You sign the CIR and complete the civic training during this first year
3. Upon renewal, you obtain your multi-year card

Since January 1, 2026, the logic is reversed:

1. You obtain your first temporary residence card (1 year)
2. You must complete the training AND pass the civic exam before the end of the first year
3. Passing the exam is a condition to obtain the multi-year card

Who is concerned?

This obligation applies to foreign nationals wishing to move from a temporary residence card to a multi-year card, that is to say the vast majority of newcomers after one year of residence. Those concerned notably include:

• Holders of an "employee" temporary residence card (CST) wishing to obtain a multi-year residence card (CSP)
• Holders of a "private and family life" temporary residence card (CST)
• Beneficiaries of family reunification
• Spouses of French nationals on first renewal

Certain profiles are exempted : nationals of certain countries with bilateral agreements, foreign nationals who have already completed a recognized equivalent training, and people over 65 years old.

How do you sign up for the civic training?

Registration is done via your personal account on the OFII website (ofii.fr). Here are the steps:

1. Log in to your OFII account with the number shown on your CIR summons
2. Select an available civic training slot in your department
3. Confirm your registration — places are limited, plan ahead
4. Attend the 4 days of training and take the final exam
5. Keep thecertificate of completion and the grade transcript of the exam — these documents will be requested during your renewal

And what if you fail the civic exam?

The 2026 law does not provide for automatic refusal in the event of failing the exam — it is a factor taken into account during the review of the renewal, and not an absolute ground for refusal. However, failing to attempted the exam is a ground for blocking.

Retake sessions exist. Check with your regional OFII platform for available timeframes.

What you must do now

• Check the expiry date of your temporary residence card (CST) : if it expires in less than 6 months, sign up immediately for the civic training
• Check your OFII account to see whether your training obligation is already recorded
• Keep all the certificates of training and exam results
• Anticipate the timeframes : training slots are often fully booked 4 to 8 weeks in advance