German A1 for the spouse visa: what Start Deutsch 1 tests and how to pass it
Who must prove A1 German for a spouse visa, who is exempt, how the Goethe Start Deutsch 1 exam is built and scored, and a practical plan to pass it.
French language levels for residence and citizenship in France: A2, B1 and B2 in 2026
France raised the bar on 1 January 2026. The French you must prove now depends on what you are applying for: A2 for a first multi-year residence card, B1 for the 10-year resident card, and B2 for French nationality. This guide sets out the new levels, the proofs a State page says are accepted, how long they last, how the TCF IRN changed, and how to prepare.
What changed on 1 January 2026
France Éducation international summarises the change in a table. Before the reform there was no language requirement for a multi-year card, A2 for the resident card and B1 for naturalisation. The new levels are one step higher in each case, and for the multi-year card a requirement now exists where none did before.[2]
| What you are applying for | Before | From 1 January 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-year residence card (carte de séjour pluriannuelle, 2 to 4 years) | No level required | A2 |
| Resident card (carte de résident, 10 years) | A2 | B1 |
| French nationality (naturalisation) | B1 | B2 |
France Éducation international says the higher levels planned by the Ministry of the Interior had to be applied by 1 January 2026 at the latest, and a State prefecture page confirms the three levels from that date.[1][2] For nationality, Service-Public’s page on naturalisation by decree adds that from 1 January 2026 knowledge of French history and culture is also checked in a civic exam, under decree no. 2025-648 of 15 July 2025.[4]
The rule applies to first applications
The State page is explicit: the condition applies only at the first access to a residence card. If you already hold a two-year card, you do not need to prove A2 to renew it, but you will need B1 when you apply for the 10-year card.[1] That detail changes how you plan. A2 may be enough today, but B1 is the level your next step requires, so it is worth knowing where you stand before you book a test.
What counts as proof of your level
For the residence cards, the State page lists three ways to justify your French level:[1]
- a French test, either the TCF IRN or the TEF IRN;
- a DELF at level A2 or B1, depending on the level required; or
- a diploma obtained in France at least equivalent to level 3 of the national qualifications framework, such as the baccalauréat, a CAP, a titre professionnel, a licence or a master’s degree.
Two practical facts come from the same page. A TCF or TEF is valid for two years, and a DELF is valid without any time limit. The TCF or TEF costs between 100 and 200 euros, can be financed through the French training account (CPF), and some centres sell optional preparation courses that are not compulsory.[1] For nationality, the proofs accepted at B2 are set out on Service-Public, so read the current page for your route before you decide.[4]
The page also links to the official lists of exam centres for the TCF, the TEF and the DELF, which are listed under the sources below. Use those lists rather than a third-party booking site.[1]
The TCF IRN since May 2025
The TCF IRN (Intégration, Résidence et Nationalité) is for foreign nationals over 16 who need to prove their French for nationality, a long-term residence card, or the A1 step of the OFII citizenship course.[3] It has four compulsory tests, and since 12 May 2025 it can assess candidates up to level B2, to match the new requirements.[2][3] The TEF IRN, the alternative test, widened its own range to B2 shortly before; until April 2025 it only assessed levels A1 to B1.[5]
Only the comprehension tests changed:[2]
| Test | Old format | Since 12 May 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Listening comprehension | 20 questions, 15 minutes | 25 questions, 20 minutes |
| Reading comprehension | 20 questions, 20 minutes | 25 questions, 35 minutes |
| Total time of the exam | 1 hour 15 minutes | 1 hour 35 minutes |
Results are sent to the test centre within 15 working days of France Éducation international receiving the session papers, and you collect your certificate directly from the centre where you sat the test.[3] Build that delay into your plan, especially if you have a deadline.
TCF IRN, TEF IRN or DELF: how to choose
| TCF IRN | TEF IRN | DELF | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named on the State page | Yes | Yes | Yes, at A2 or B1 for the residence cards |
| Validity | 2 years | 2 years | No time limit |
| How it works | One test that reports the level you reach, up to B2 | One test that reports the level you reach, up to B2 | A diploma you sit at a chosen level |
All three come from the State page, apart from the “how it works” row, which is our reading of how the tests are set up.[1][2] Some considerations:
- If your timeline is uncertain, the diploma does not expire. A test result that expires after two years is only useful if you apply while it is still valid.[1]
- If you may need two steps close together, for example a multi-year card now and a resident card soon, a single result at B1 may cover both while it is valid. That is our suggestion, not an official rule, so confirm with your prefecture that a result above the required level is accepted.
- Check availability early. Each exam has its own list of approved centres, and sessions near you may be limited.[1]
What A2, B1 and B2 mean in practice
All three levels come from the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). The Council of Europe describes them like this:[6]
- A2. You can understand sentences and frequently used expressions about areas of immediate relevance, such as basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography and employment.
- B1. You can understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters met at work, school or leisure, and deal with most situations likely to arise while travelling where the language is spoken.
- B2. You can understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussion in your own field.
The step from B1 to B2 is the one that catches people out, because B2 moves from familiar topics to abstract ones. For citizenship, plan to practise explaining and defending an opinion, not only describing your day. That is our reading of the descriptors, so treat it as coaching rather than an official marking rule.
Language is not the only condition
Passing a language test does not complete your file. Service-Public’s naturalisation page says that from 1 January 2026 knowledge of French history and culture is also checked in a civic exam.[4] The State prefecture page we used covers only the language requirement and links to a Service-Public fact sheet for the detailed rules, including who may be exempt.[1] Read that sheet for your situation instead of assuming you are or are not exempt.
How to prepare
- Confirm your route and the level. Multi-year card, resident card or nationality, and whether it is your first application.[1]
- Choose your proof. Compare the validity and the practical points above before you pick a test or a diploma.[1]
- Take one timed practice test. Find your weakest skill. Listening and reading are longer than they used to be on the TCF IRN, so practise stamina as well as accuracy.[2]
- Train the weakest skill first, and speak out loud. Most people can read more French than they can say. Rehearse answers aloud, record yourself, and listen back.
- Book a centre early and allow for results time. Results are sent to the centre within 15 working days of France Éducation international receiving the session papers, so allow for that.[3]
- Note the date on your certificate. A TCF or TEF result is valid for two years, so apply while it is still valid.[1]
If freezing is what worries you most, read why we freeze in a new language and how to practise past it. And if your plans include Germany, our guide to the German A1 exam for the spouse visa covers the German side of the same question.
Where Fluency AI fits
Full disclosure: we sell short exam guides and are building a speaking coach, so weigh this section accordingly. Our 20-minute Exam Blueprints include a TCF IRN guide for each of the three steps on this page: TCF IRN A2 for the multi-year card, TCF IRN B1 for the resident card and TCF IRN B2 for naturalisation. For readers who prefer the diploma route, there are also guides for DELF B1 and DELF B2. You can compare them on the Exam Blueprints page and see current prices on the pricing page.
For daily speaking practice in French, join the Fluency AI waitlist. Speaking out loud to a private partner is a low-pressure way to rehearse answers before the real test. It does not replace an exam, a prefecture’s decision or a teacher, and it cannot guarantee a result. See our FAQ for how the guides work, and About Fluency AI for who we are.
Questions people ask
Do I have to prove A2 again when I renew my multi-year card?
No. The condition applies only to your first access to the card. A State page gives this example: if you already hold a two-year card, you do not need to prove A2 to renew it, but you will need B1 if you later apply for the 10-year resident card.[1]
How long are my test results valid?
A State page says a TCF or TEF result is valid for two years, while a DELF is a diploma valid without any time limit.[1] Plan your test date around the date you expect to apply, because an expired result will not do.
Is TCF Canada accepted for France?
The State page we read names the TCF IRN and the TEF IRN as the accepted tests, not TCF Canada.[1] TCF Canada is built for Canadian immigration, which we explain in our guide to CLB and NCLC scores for Express Entry. Do not assume another TCF version counts, and confirm with your prefecture before you book.
Can a French diploma replace the test?
For the residence cards, yes: the State page accepts a diploma obtained in France that is at least equivalent to level 3 of the national qualifications framework, such as the baccalauréat, a CAP, a titre professionnel, a licence or a master’s degree.[1] For nationality, the conditions and accepted proofs are set out on Service-Public, so check that page for your route.[4]
Is the TCF IRN harder than it used to be?
It is longer and it now measures further. Since 12 May 2025 it can assess candidates up to B2, and the two comprehension tests have more questions, which takes the total time from 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 35 minutes.[2] Only the comprehension tests changed.[2]
How much does the test cost?
The State page gives a range of 100 to 200 euros for a TCF or TEF and says it can be financed through the French training account (CPF). Some centres offer paid preparation courses, which are not compulsory.[1] The page does not give DELF fees, so ask your centre.
Sources
- Services de l’État en Haute-Saône (Préfecture). Maîtrise de la langue française pour obtenir un titre de séjour (page updated 3 December 2025). https://www.haute-saone.gouv.fr/Demarches/Sejour-des-etrangers-en-France/Je-demande-un-titre-de-sejour/Maitrise-de-la-langue-francaise-pour-obtenir-un-titre-de-sejour Also: Service-Public fact sheet F34501, linked from that page TCF test centres TEF test centres DELF test centres
- France Éducation international. Le TCF IRN évolue (news item on the new levels and the new test format). https://www.france-education-international.fr/actualites/nouveautes-tcf-irn
- France Éducation international. TCF: Intégration, Résidence et Nationalité (test information page). https://www.france-education-international.fr/test/tcf-irn?langue=en
- Service-Public.fr. French naturalization by decree (fact sheet F2213, verified 18 July 2025). https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F2213?lang=en
- Connexion France. Scope of French language tests widens ahead of new residency card requirements. https://www.connexionfrance.com/news/scope-of-french-language-tests-widens-ahead-of-new-residency-card-requirements/727795
- Council of Europe. Global scale, Table 1 (CEFR 3.3): Common Reference levels. https://www.coe.int/en/web/common-european-framework-reference-languages/table-1-cefr-3.3-common-reference-levels-global-scale