Over 60,000 Foreigners Could Lose Their Right to Stay in France Due to New Language Requirements

The French government has changed the rules for residency permit and citizenship applicants. Due to upcoming language tests, 20,000 immigrants may lose their residence permits, while another 40,000 will be denied resident cards, writes Schengen.news, citing data from the French Ministry of the Interior.

The new rules have not yet come into effect. Foreigners are protesting, arguing that the new requirements put their future at risk and are "unfair," as they lack the time and resources to study. Meanwhile, The Guardian reports that some of the language tests for foreigners wishing to stay in France are so difficult that even native French speakers struggle to pass them.

The tests, which cost around €100, are part of a bill passed a year ago that tightens border control and introduces stricter deportation measures for foreign migrants. Ministers claim that the primary goal is to promote better integration of newcomers.

Until now, those applying for a residence card—a document allowing them to stay in France—had to sign an “integration contract” and promise to learn French. Only applicants for citizenship or long-term residence permits were required to take a language test. Under the new law, applicants for a residence permit must demonstrate a level of French equivalent to that of an 11- to 15-year-old middle school student. Those seeking long-term residency or citizenship will need to prove a higher level of proficiency.

Anyone applying for citizenship must "provide evidence that they have a command of the language sufficient to at least understand the main context of both concrete and abstract topics in a complex test, communicate spontaneously, and express their thoughts clearly and in detail on a wide range of subjects."

A study conducted by FranceInfo revealed that the required language level could be challenging even for native speakers. The company sent 10 French volunteers, including a linguistics student with a five-year university degree, to take the test that citizenship applicants must pass. Five failed the written test but passed the oral exam, while two did not meet the level required for obtaining a French passport.

A report on the impact of the new law states that in its first year, it will affect 330,000 people, with approximately 60,000 failing the language tests and losing their right to stay in France. Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau stated: "If a foreigner has been legally living in France for several years and cannot speak French, it means they have not made an effort."

Didier Leschi, Director-General of the French Immigration and Integration Office, noted that similar requirements exist in neighboring countries, including Germany. "The entire system is designed to give people a sense of responsibility and help them integrate," he said. "We must believe in people. They have three years to reach the minimum level and renew their residence permit."

The date of the decree’s implementation has not yet been determined. It is expected that most retirees over the age of 65 will be exempt from paying for the test, as will those applying for or renewing a one-year visitor card.

The bill, known as the Law on Immigration Control and Improved Integration, was drafted by former Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin and passed in January 2024. President Emmanuel Macron and his government have seen it as a shift to the right. It should be noted that similar political shifts have been observed in many other countries in recent months, as immigration policies in Europe and the U.S. continue to tighten.