CSP, CR, naturalisation: which process applies to you

Since 1 January 2026, the civic exam applies to three distinct administrative procedures: the multi-year residence permit (CSP), the resident card (CR), and naturalisation by decision of the public authority.

The multi-year residence permit (CSP) is a residence permit valid for several years, issued after a first temporary residence permit, subject to civic integration conditions.

The resident card (CR) is a long-duration residence permit, subject to stricter conditions of integration and stability of residence in France.

Naturalisation is the procedure for acquiring French nationality by administrative decision — the most demanding of the three, and the one that has drawn the most attention with the introduction of this exam.

The precise conditions for each procedure — required length of residence, exemptions, special cases, age — are set by décret and may change. The format of the civic exam itself (40 questions, 45 minutes, 80% pass rate) is common to all three procedures, but the French level required can vary depending on yours.

If you don't know which of these three procedures applies to you, that's the first thing to clarify before starting to prepare for the exam — check your exact situation on service-public.fr or with your local prefecture.