Glossary:
residence card and exam terms

Name: Sylum
Address: 6 rue Ampère, Saint-Denis, Île-de-France, 93200, FR
Telephone: +33187663091

The words you read on government websites and exam notices, explained simply. With the French term, as you will see it on your documents.

C

CEFR — Common European Framework of Reference for LanguagesCECRL: The European scale of language levels, from A1 (beginner) to C2. For residence cards and citizenship, the required level is A2 (2 to 4-year card), B1 (resident card) or B2 (citizenship). The level for each procedure (in French)
CIR — Republican integration contractContrat d’intégration républicaine: The contract signed with the State when you are first admitted to stay in France. It includes civic training and, if your level is below A2, free French classes from the OFII. The attendance certificate for these classes does not prove your level to the préfecture. I have just arrived (in French)
Civic examExamen civique: 40 multiple-choice questions about France and its values, in French, on a computer, in 45 minutes. You need 32 correct answers. It is required for the 2 to 4-year card, the resident card and naturalisation. The certificate has no expiry date. The civic exam (in French)

DALF — Advanced diploma in French languageDiplôme approfondi de langue française: French diploma at levels C1 and C2, issued by the French Ministry of Education. It has no time limit and is accepted for citizenship.
DELF — Diploma in French language studiesDiplôme d’études en langue française: French diploma from level A1 to level B2, issued by the French Ministry of Education. It has no time limit. A DELF at the required level replaces the test: DELF A2 for the 2 to 4-year card, DELF B1 for the resident card, DELF B2 for citizenship.

Family reunificationRegroupement familial: The procedure that allows a foreign national living legally in France for at least 18 months to bring their spouse and minor children. It requires, among other things, stable income and housing suited to the family.

Long-stay visa equivalent to a residence permit (VLS-TS)Visa de long séjour valant titre de séjour: A visa that counts as a residence permit for its first year. You must validate it online within 3 months of arriving in France. Before the visa ends, you must apply for a residence card.

Multi-year residence cardCarte de séjour pluriannuelle: A 2 to 4-year residence card, usually applied for after a first one-year card. For the first multi-year card, you need level A2 and must pass the civic exam, since 1 January 2026. 2 to 4-year residence card (in French)

Naturalisation: Becoming French by decision of the State (by decree). Among other conditions, you must live in France legally, usually for at least 5 years. Since 1 January 2026, you also need level B2 in French, spoken and written, and must pass the civic exam. French citizenship (in French)

OFII — French office for immigration and integrationOffice français de l’immigration et de l’intégration: The public body that welcomes people admitted to stay in France: integration contract (CIR), civic training, free French classes, medical check.

Préfecture: The State administration in each département. It issues residence cards and examines citizenship applications. Most residence permit applications are made online, on the ANEF website.

Receipt (récépissé)Récépissé: A temporary document from the préfecture when you apply for or renew a residence permit. It generally allows you to stay in France, and depending on what it says, to work, while your application is examined. It is not a residence permit.
Residence permitTitre de séjour: The document that allows a foreign national to live in France for more than 3 months. There are several: one-year card, multi-year card of 2 to 4 years, 10-year resident card, permanent resident card. European Union citizens do not need one.
Resident cardCarte de résident: A 10-year residence card. For a first resident card, you need level B1 in French and must pass the civic exam, since 1 January 2026. Simply renewing the same card requires no test and no exam. 10-year resident card (in French)

TCF IRN — French test for integration, residence and nationalityTest de connaissance du français pour l’intégration, la résidence et la nationalité: French test designed by France Éducation international, accepted for residence cards and citizenship. 4 parts: listening, reading, writing, speaking. The certificate is valid for 2 years. The TCF IRN (in French)
TEF IRN — French test for integration, residence and nationalityTest d’évaluation de français pour l’intégration, la résidence et la nationalité: French test designed by the CCI Paris Île-de-France, accepted for the same procedures as the TCF IRN. 4 parts, like the TCF IRN. The certificate is valid for 2 years. The TEF IRN (in French)