French Citizenship 2026: New Civic Booklet in Force
An order of 3 July 2026, published in the Journal Officiel of 16 July 2026, approves the new French citizen booklet (livret du citoyen), the official reference document for the civic exam required as part of the naturalization process. The 2022 version is formally abrogated.
If any of your employees are currently preparing for their civic exam, they must switch to the new booklet immediately.
2026 version of the civic booklet
✅ The 2022 booklet is void as of 16 July 2026. No transition period applies. Any employee preparing for a civic exam (examen civique) scheduled after that date must use the 2026 edition. Files already submitted and awaiting a prefectural interview are not affected, only the preparation phase for upcoming exams.
✅ The 2026 booklet introduces three subjects not covered in the 2022 version: environmental rights and responsibilities, digital life in France, and voluntary military service (service militaire volontaire). Employees who based their preparation on the 2022 edition must review these sections before their exam date.
✅ The overall structure has been substantially expanded: 5 parts, 13 chapters, and more than 50 sub-sections. Preparation timelines should be reassessed, particularly for employees with an exam scheduled in the coming weeks.
The civic exam (examen civique) and the French language test (B2 level, mandatory since January 2026) are separate requirements. The new citizen booklet is the reference for the civic exam only. The language evaluation follows a different framework and is not affected by this order.
Preparing your employees: key steps before their next exam date
- Identify every employee currently in an active naturalization process and alert them to switch to the 2026 booklet immediately.
- Reassess preparation timelines: the three new subjects may add several weeks to the preparation phase.
- Update your internal naturalization tracking with the new reference date (order of 3 July 2026, effective 16 July 2026).
- Share the 2026 citizen booklet directly with affected employees available on the Ministère de l’Intérieur website.
Our experts guide your employees through every step of the naturalization process.
France Immigration has supported 80+ nationalities every year.
Frequently asked questions
No. The 2022 version is abrogated without transition period. Any civic exam scheduled after 16 July 2026 must be based on the 2026 booklet, regardless of when preparation began.
No. Employees who have already completed their civic exam as part of an active naturalization file are not affected. The change only applies to upcoming exams.
The 2026 booklet is available on the Ministère de l’Intérieur official website. The order of 3 July 2026 and its full annex are published in the Journal Officiel of 16 July 2026.
The mobility sector is constantly evolving: subscribe to our newsletter and stay up to date!
- Mandatory formalities to complete
- The administrations responsible for the procedures
- Required documents
- Immigration statuses
