French Nationality Now Needs B2: What Changed in 2026
Facts last checked on 30 September 2026. Confirm the current rules with your préfecture or on service-public.fr before you apply.
For years the answer to "what level of French do I need for French nationality?" was B1. That answer is out of date. Under the 2024 immigration law, naturalisation applications now require B2, and the higher bar has applied since 1 January 2026. Many guides and forum posts still say B1, so this post sets out what changed, which tests prove the new level, what the residence cards require, and what the jump from B1 to B2 means for your preparation.
What changed, level by level
The 2024 law (loi du 26 janvier 2024) raised the French level for three steps of a residence path. The new levels apply to applications made from 1 January 2026:
| Step | Level now | Before |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-year residence card (carte de séjour pluriannuelle) | A2 | course attendance only |
| Resident card (carte de résident, 10 years) | B1 | A2 |
| Naturalisation (French nationality) | B2 | B1 |
If you applied before 2026, ask your préfecture which level applies to your file: transition rules depend on the date the complete application was lodged.
Which tests prove B2
You can prove the level with a French diploma (a baccalauréat or a higher-education degree in French, for example) or with a recognised test result. The tests most applicants use:
- TCF IRN (France Éducation International): the version of the TCF built for residence and nationality files. Each skill gets a CEFR level.
- TEF IRN (CCI Paris Île-de-France): the equivalent from the other test provider, also reported by skill.
- DELF B2: a diploma that does not expire, recognised as proof of B2.
The test results (TCF, TEF) are valid for a limited time for administrative files, while the DELF diploma is permanent. If you only need the paper for the application, the TCF or TEF IRN is usually faster to book; if you want a qualification you can reuse, the DELF B2 is the better investment.
What B2 means compared with B1
B1 is independent daily life: you can explain a problem, tell a story and give a simple opinion. B2 is argument: you can defend a point of view on a social question, weigh advantages and disadvantages, follow a radio discussion and write a structured text where each paragraph does a job. In practice the difference shows up in three places:
- Connectors. B2 texts are held together by words like cependant, en revanche, par conséquent, bien que (which takes the subjunctive).
- Formal register. A formal letter or an essay at B2 needs the right formulas and the right distance.
- Vocabulary on society. Environment, work, education, health, media, citizenship: the B2 exams write their tasks about public life, not just your own.
If you passed B1 a few years ago, expect roughly 1,500 to 2,000 new words and a lot of phrase work.
How to prepare in practice
- Take a vocabulary check first to see how far you are from B2.
- Set the exam date and work backwards: divide what is left by the weeks you have, and keep the last week for review.
- Learn complete phrases for the productive tasks: introducing an argument, conceding a point, concluding.
- Practise the exam format with official sample papers: france-education-international.fr publishes them.
Our French B2 Exam Kit covers the vocabulary and phrases for the DELF B2, TCF IRN, TEF IRN and the Canadian versions of both tests, with audio and a plan to your exam date. It is coming soon: leave your e-mail on its page to hear when it opens.
Official sources
- Service Public, naturalisation: service-public.fr
- TCF IRN: france-education-international.fr
- TEF IRN: lefrancaisdesaffaires.fr
Words on Repeat is not affiliated with France Éducation International or CCI Paris Île-de-France.