Civic exam: where to take it?
It is the most common confusion since January 2026: the civic exam is not taken at the prefecture. The prefecture processes your application and asks you for a certificate, but it is an approved centre that organises the exam and issues that certificate to you. Here is how it all fits together.
No, the civic exam is not taken at the prefecture
Many candidates turn up to their prefecture appointment thinking they will take the civic exam there, or wait for an exam notice that will never come. The prefecture does not hold the exam: it checks that you already hold the pass certificate when it processes your application.
In practice, the order is as follows: you first take the exam at an approved centre, you receive your certificate, then you attach that certificate to your residence permit or naturalisation application. If you turn up without it, your application is not admissible.
What the prefecture does, and what it does not do
- It processes your residence permit or naturalisation application.
- It requires the civic exam pass certificate, just as it requires your level of French.
- It does not organise any exam sessions and does not issue any certificate.
- It does not register you and does not refer you to a centre: it is up to you to take the initiative.
So where do you take it?
At a centre approved to organise the civic exam. MYSTORY is one: we organise the sessions at our centre in Rosny-sous-Bois, with slots several times a week and a registration we handle from start to finish.
The exam takes place on a standardised digital platform, under supervision, on our premises. Your result is given to you within 24 to 48 working hours, and the certificate follows.
- Gagny (93): reception and registration branch. The exams are taken in Rosny-sous-Bois.
- Sarcelles (95): reception and registration branch. The exams are taken in Rosny-sous-Bois.
- Rosny-sous-Bois (93): exam centre, where all the exams are taken, and reception branch.
Three categories, three procedures
There is not just one civic exam: there is one category per procedure. You must take the one that matches the permit you are applying for. A category you have passed does not count for another procedure.
How the exam works
- 40 multiple-choice questions, on a digital platform.
- 45 minutes to answer them.
- 32 correct answers out of 40 are needed to pass.
- Result given within 24 to 48 working hours, certificate valid for life.
- If you fail, you can register again for a later session.
| Your application | Category to take | Level of French required |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-year residence permit | Multi-year residence permit | A2 |
| Resident card (10-year) | Resident card | B1 |
| Naturalisation / French nationality | Naturalisation | B2 |
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Frequently asked questions
Your questions
Can you take the civic exam at the prefecture?
No. The prefecture processes your application and requires the certificate, but it does not organise any sessions. The exam is taken only at a centre approved to organise it, such as ours in Rosny-sous-Bois (93), open Monday to Saturday.
Will the prefecture send me an exam notice for the civic exam?
No, no exam notice will be sent to you. It is up to you to register at an approved centre, take the exam and attach the certificate to your application.
Should I take the exam before or after my prefecture appointment?
Before. The certificate is one of the documents in your application: without it, your application is not admissible. So plan the exam early enough.
Does the certificate have a period of validity?
No, the civic exam pass certificate is valid for life. However, it is specific to one category: if you later apply for a different permit, you will have to take the corresponding category.
And if I fail?
You can retake the exam at a later session. Our sessions are organised several times a week, and we point you towards preparation resources in between.
How long does it take to get a slot?
We organise sessions several times a week at our exam centre in Rosny-sous-Bois. Contact us to find out the next available dates for the category you need.