https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from France in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed The French language test website which foreigners in France use to obtain the certificates now required for many immigration processes has been down for at least a week, leaving students unable to register for exams or access their results. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260512/french-language-test-website-down Tue, 12 May 2026 13:39:33 +0200 french-language-test-website-down If you're one of many foreigners in France faced with taking a French language test in order to secure residency or citizenship, it might be helpful to know how the test is marked and what examiners are looking for. https://www.thelocal.fr/20240219/reader-question-how-is-the-french-language-test-scored Mon, 19 Feb 2024 17:48:35 +0100 reader-question-how-is-the-french-language-test-scored With France's new, stricter language requirements now in force for certain multi-year residency cards and citizenship applications, what will happen to those who cannot pass the language tests? https://www.thelocal.fr/20250218/what-happens-if-you-fail-the-new-french-language-tests Tue, 18 Feb 2025 13:57:37 +0100 what-happens-if-you-fail-the-new-french-language-tests If you are looking to take a French language test - whether that is for admission into French university or for residency/ citizenship purposes, here is what you can expect in terms of prices and where to find exam centres. https://www.thelocal.fr/20240131/how-much-do-french-language-tests-cost-and-where-can-i-take-them Wed, 31 Jan 2024 16:30:11 +0100 how-much-do-french-language-tests-cost-and-where-can-i-take-them Over-65s will, in fact, be exempt from the new French language and civics test requirements for residency cards, which started on January 1st, 2026. https://www.thelocal.fr/20251022/french-government-confirms-civics-and-language-test-exemption-for-over-65s Wed, 22 Oct 2025 15:22:51 +0200 french-government-confirms-civics-and-language-test-exemption-for-over-65s The Local has received clarification from the interior ministry on one of the most common questions readers have asked about France's new language rules - whether retirees are exempt from the requirement for French tests. The short answer? It depends. https://www.thelocal.fr/20240131/reader-question-are-pensioners-exempt-from-frances-new-language-test-rules Wed, 31 Jan 2024 14:59:19 +0100 reader-question-are-pensioners-exempt-from-frances-new-language-test-rules In the last couple of years, France has made some significant changes to the requirements for French citizenship - here's an overview of what has changed, and what has stayed the same. https://www.thelocal.fr/20251010/guide-all-the-recent-changes-to-french-citizenship Fri, 10 Oct 2025 18:08:09 +0200 guide-all-the-recent-changes-to-french-citizenship Language classes can be expensive so if you're seeking to learn French or just improve your language skills, here are some of the free or affordable classes on offer. https://www.thelocal.fr/20220721/how-to-find-affordable-language-classes-in-france Thu, 21 Jul 2022 14:54:18 +0200 how-to-find-affordable-language-classes-in-france France's government has announced the start date for new stricter language requirements for French citizenship applications. https://www.thelocal.fr/20250728/revealed-start-date-for-new-french-language-requirements Mon, 28 Jul 2025 13:40:18 +0200 revealed-start-date-for-new-french-language-requirements Following an announcement from the French government about the launch of the new, stricter language requirements for French nationality applications, an interior ministry spokesman confirmed who they will apply to. https://www.thelocal.fr/20250728/do-new-french-language-rules-affect-ongoing-citizenship-applications Mon, 28 Jul 2025 19:40:12 +0200 do-new-french-language-rules-affect-ongoing-citizenship-applications In a memo sent out to public officials, the French interior minister specified that new, stricter language rules for French citizenship will also apply to applications based on marriage, clearing up previous confusion on the subject. https://www.thelocal.fr/20250506/latest-new-french-citizenship-language-rules-do-apply-to-applications-by-marriage Tue, 06 May 2025 15:23:11 +0200 latest-new-french-citizenship-language-rules-do-apply-to-applications-by-marriage According to France’s Interior Minister, foreigners resident in France who are struggling to get to grips with the language ‘aren’t trying’. As many of The Local's readers can attest, learning French can be difficult. https://www.thelocal.fr/20250214/i-really-struggle-with-french-local-readers-call-out-minister-over-claim-theyre-making-no-effort Fri, 14 Feb 2025 14:51:06 +0100 i-really-struggle-with-french-local-readers-call-out-minister-over-claim-theyre-making-no-effort France's new immigration law brings in tougher language requirements for foreigners seeking residency or citizenship. But, as every student of the French language knows, for every rule there is an exception. https://www.thelocal.fr/20240208/who-is-exempt-from-frances-new-language-test-rules Thu, 08 Feb 2024 15:32:19 +0100 who-is-exempt-from-frances-new-language-test-rules France's interior minister believes that "when a legally resident foreigner has not mastered French after several years, it's because he or she has not made the effort". The Local France's Editor and French learner Emma Pearson strongly disagrees. https://www.thelocal.fr/20250212/opinion-no-minister-not-having-perfect-french-is-not-due-to-a-lack-of-effort Wed, 12 Feb 2025 18:03:09 +0100 opinion-no-minister-not-having-perfect-french-is-not-due-to-a-lack-of-effort A new report has shown that thousands could be at risk of failing to meet the new, stricter language requirements to be brought in for foreigners in France - and could as a result lose their right to stay in France. https://www.thelocal.fr/20250212/french-language-tests-60000-people-at-risk-of-failing-new-requirements Wed, 12 Feb 2025 18:16:26 +0100 french-language-tests-60000-people-at-risk-of-failing-new-requirements As the new immigration law means that more people in France will need to take French language tests, we take a look at whether you will need to take classes in order to pass the exam. https://www.thelocal.fr/20250129/do-you-need-to-take-classes-before-the-french-language-test Wed, 29 Jan 2025 13:36:26 +0100 do-you-need-to-take-classes-before-the-french-language-test It's been almost a year since France's new immigration law requiring French language tests was passed, but some aspects of exactly how this will be applied remain unclear. On Wednesday, the French interior ministry clarified some points of the stricter language requirements. https://www.thelocal.fr/20250115/latest-french-interior-ministry-clarifies-new-language-test-rules-for-foreigners-in-france Wed, 15 Jan 2025 15:08:08 +0100 latest-french-interior-ministry-clarifies-new-language-test-rules-for-foreigners-in-france Since France passed its new immigration law in 2024, there has been confusion surrounding the implementation of new, stricter language rules for citizenship applications, particularly those based on marriage. Here is what the French interior ministry had to say to The Local on that topic. https://www.thelocal.fr/20250115/reader-question-will-new-french-language-rules-apply-to-citizenship-by-marriage Wed, 15 Jan 2025 15:49:28 +0100 reader-question-will-new-french-language-rules-apply-to-citizenship-by-marriage The French government has announced plans to 'accelerate' the implementation of new French language level requirements - which were part of the January 2024 immigration law. Here's what that means for foreigners in France. https://www.thelocal.fr/20241023/france-announces-plans-to-accelerate-new-language-requirements-for-foreigners Wed, 23 Oct 2024 14:24:35 +0200 france-announces-plans-to-accelerate-new-language-requirements-for-foreigners From the timescale to exceptions and the situation for over 65s, we're answering reader questions on the subject of France's new language requirements for foreigners. https://www.thelocal.fr/20240130/your-questions-answered-new-french-language-requirements-for-foreigners Tue, 30 Jan 2024 19:13:50 +0100 your-questions-answered-new-french-language-requirements-for-foreigners