Following law no. 2024-42 of 26 January 2024, the language requirements for residence and citizenship applications are changing. From 1 January 2026, a higher level of French will be required to obtain certain residence permits and to become a naturalised citizen: level A2 for a multi-annual residence permit, B1 for a residence permit and B2 for naturalisation. To meet these new expectations, the TCF Intégration, Résidence et Nationalité (TCF IRN) is being adapted: since 12 May 2025, it has been possible to assess candidates up to level B2.

What is the TCF IRN since May 2025?

The TCF IRN is an official French language test issued by the French Ministry of Education. It is intended for foreign nationals over the age of 16 who wish to prove their level of French when applying for naturalisation, a residence permit or a multi-annual residence permit.
Since May 2025, this test has been used to assess language skills up to level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), with results valid for two years.
The test consists of four parts:
- Listening comprehension 25 questions in 20 minutes
- Written comprehension 25 questions in 35 minutes
- Oral expression 3 exercises in 10 minutes
- Written expression 3 exercises in 30 minutes
The levels required vary according to the type of application: A2 is required for a multi-annual residence permit, B1 for a resident's permit, and B2 for a naturalisation application.

To sum up, what has changed?

Language requirements for residence and citizenship procedures in France are being tightened. From now on, a minimum level of French will be required:
Multi-annual residence permit A2 level (no previous requirement)
Resident card B1 level (instead of A2)
Naturalisation B2 level (instead of B1)
To keep pace with these developments, the TCF IRN has undergone a facelift since 12 May 2025 allowing assessment up to level B2. The changes mainly concern the comprehension tests:
- in oral comprehensionthe number of questions has been increased from 20 to 25 and the duration from 15 to 20 minutes.
- in reading comprehensionThe number of questions has also been increased from 20 to 25, and their duration has been extended from 20 to 35 minutes.
As a result, the total duration of the test goes from 1h15 to 1h35This will ensure a more comprehensive assessment of language skills in line with the new legal requirements.

Why not take the TCF IRN at the Alliance Française de Toulouse?

The Alliance Française de Toulouse, an official accredited centre, organises monthly exam sessions in a friendly and professional environment.
To help you succeed, a TCF IRN preparation course is also available a few days before the test. It will enable you to familiarise yourself with the tests and strengthen your skills with confidence.

For more information or to register:
TCF IRN : https://alliance-toulouse.org/catalogue/test/tcf-irn/
Test preparation : https://alliance-toulouse.org/catalogue/preparation-examens/preparation-tcf-irn/

Source : France Education International