When to sit the TEF IRN and the civic exam in your application
The two exams are not taken at the same point in the application, and one of them expires. The French certificate is valid for two years; the civic exam certificate has no end date. Sitting them in the wrong order often costs an extra session.
The fact that governs everything: one expires, the other does not
Before choosing a date, remember this asymmetry. It is not written side by side anywhere, and it is what makes candidates who go about things in the wrong order lose months.
| French certificate (TEF IRN) | Civic exam certificate | |
|---|---|---|
| Period of validity | 2 years from the exam date | None, it does not expire |
| Who says so | The certifying body, and the order of 22 December 2025 | The Ministry of the Interior |
| Consequence | To be taken neither too early nor too late | Can be taken right now, without risk |
On the French side, theorder of 22 December 2025 sets the validity of the certificate at two years, and the certifying body confirms it. On the civic side, the Ministry of the Interior writes in its general information on the civic exam that “ the certificate of success in the exam has no period of validity ».
The rule that follows, in one sentence
The civic exam can be taken as soon as you are ready. The French test must be timed according to the expected date for submitting your application. The rest of this page explains how to set this second date.
Count backwards from the submission of your application
The right reasoning starts from the submission, not from the booking. Three things come between your exam and your application, and none of them is instant:
- 1The results. Within 24 to 48 working hours for the civic exam, within 1 to 10 working days for the TEF IRN.
- 2The official certificate. This is the document that counts for your application, and it is the certifying body that issues it, not us. From experience, allow two to three weeks after the results. This is what we observe in practice, not a commitment from the certifying body: do not set a prefecture appointment to the exact day on this basis.
- 3The time needed to put together the rest of the application. Proof of address, proof of financial resources, civil status documents: this is usually what takes the longest, and it does not depend on us.
We do not give processing times
The time taken to process a residence permit or naturalisation application varies according to the département and the type of application. We are a training organisation, not a government authority: we do not give any figures on this point. Ask your prefecture, and for the substantive conditions, see the official government information.
The useful window
Putting these three time frames end to end, the reasonable window for taking the TEF IRN is two to four months before the date on which you plan to submit. Early enough to have the certificate in hand and some margin in case of a second attempt; late enough for the two years of validity not to run out while your application is being processed.
The two calendar traps, and they mirror each other
Trap 1, taking the test too early
This is the most common among well-organised candidates. You take the TEF IRN “to be on the safe side”, eighteen months before submitting. Then the application is delayed, a supporting document, a house move, a change of circumstances, and the certificate reaches the end of its two years while you are putting your application together. You then have to retake everything, and pay again.
Trap 2, leaving it too late
The mirror image, and it costs even more. You book a session at the last minute, you end up paying the urgent rate, you do not have time to prepare, and if you do not reach the level, you have to wait 20 days before sitting again, then a few more weeks for the certificate. A month and a half lost, for trying to save a week.
Waiting periods between two attempts, to plan ahead
If you are considering a possible second attempt, and it is better to consider it, build the waiting period into your calendar: 20 days between two TEF IRN exams, 48 working hours between two civic exams. The details are in our article on new attempts.
The right time, application by application
The required level and the civic exam category depend on what you are applying for. The Decree No. 2025-647 of 15 July 2025 sets out the two conditions for residence, and theorder of 10 October 2025 sets out the three categories, which are not interchangeable.
| Your application | French level | Civic category | Recommended order |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multi-year residence permit | A2 | “multi-year residence permit” | The civic exam as soon as possible, the TEF IRN 2 to 4 months before submission. |
| 10-year resident card | B1 | “resident card” | Same. B1 often requires a preparation course: plan it before setting the date. |
| Naturalisation | B2 | “naturalisation” | The civic exam first, B2 afterwards, it is the most demanding level and the one where a second attempt is most likely. |
The course pages detail each case: A2 for the multi-year permit, B1 for the resident card and B2 for naturalisation. The substantive conditions for the resident card are explained in our article on the ten-year card.
Also check whether you are exempt
The cases of exemption are narrower than rumour suggests, and they are not the same for nationality and for a residence permit. Before booking anything, read our article on exemptions : it may spare you both exams.
Can you take both exams on the same day?
Yes, and many candidates do, it means one trip instead of two. Two important points, however.
What is mandatory: the four TEF IRN papers
The four TEF IRN papers must be taken in a single session, on the same day, in person : it is the order of 22 December 2025 that requires this for the certificate to be admissible. A certificate obtained in two goes is worthless. This point is not negotiable and it does not depend on the centre.
What is flexible: the civic exam
The civic exam is a separate exam, lasting 45 minutes maximum. Nothing requires you to take it on the same day as the TEF IRN, and nothing forbids it. Booking both together costs 265 € at the public rate, compared with two separate registrations, the full price list is on the prices page.
The only argument against the same day
Fatigue. The TEF IRN involves 1 hour 30 minutes of papers, including face-to-face spoken expression; the civic exam requires 45 minutes of concentration on 40 questions with only eight mistakes to spare. If you know your attention drops, separate the two since the civic certificate does not expire, you can take it several months earlier without any drawback.
We also offer to group the preparation course and the exam in the same week: see “Training and exam in the same week”.
The checklist before you book
- 1I know my application and therefore my required level (A2, B1 or B2) and my civic exam category.
- 2I have checked that I am not exempt.
- 3I have an expected date for submitting my application, even an approximate one: it is what sets the date of the French test.
- 4I have measured my current level with the free level test, to know whether I need preparation hours before the session.
- 5I am booking at least 7 working days in advance, to stay at the public rate.
- 6I have kept a margin in case I need a second attempt: 20 days’ waiting period, plus the time for the certificate.
The six points take half an hour to settle, and they avoid the only truly costly mistake in the whole process: a valid certificate, but at the wrong time. The session calendar for Rosny-sous-Bois is on this page it shows the dates, the places remaining and the rate that applies to each one.
Official sources
We are a training organisation, not a government body: each rule quoted above refers to the text that sets it. If you are in doubt about your situation, the official text and your prefecture are what count.
- TEF IRN, official presentation, Le français des affaires (CCI Paris Île-de-France)
“Your results certificate is valid for 2 years.” Levels A1 to B2, four papers to sit on the same day.
- TEF IRN, “Vos résultats”, Le français des affaires
Score from 0 to 499 per paper and level thresholds: A2 from 200, B1 from 300, B2 from 400, with a tolerance on the weakest paper.
General information on the civic exam, Ministry of the Interior
“The certificate of success in the exam has no period of validity.” “It is possible to take the civic exam at any time and as many times as necessary.” Multiple-choice test of 40 questions, 45 minutes maximum, 32 correct answers minimum.
Order of 22 December 2025 on proof of the level of French required of applicants for French nationality
Sets the validity of the certificate at two years and requires the four papers to be taken in a single session, on the same day, in person.
Order of 10 October 2025 on the syllabus, papers and organisational arrangements of the civic exam
Sets out the three alternative categories (“multi-year residence permit”, “resident card”, “naturalisation”) as well as the 40 questions, the 45 minutes and the 80% threshold.
Decree no. 2025-647 of 15 July 2025 on the provisions of Article 20 of Law no. 2024-42 of 26 January 2024 and on the republican integration contract
Links, for residence, the language level and the civic exam: A2 for the multi-year residence permit, B1 for the resident card.
10-year resident card for a foreign national in France, the administration’s official information
Substantive conditions, documents to provide and submission procedure. This is the reference to consult for everything concerning the processing of the application, which we do not handle.
The right time is the one you choose now
The Rosny-sous-Bois session calendar shows the available dates over several weeks: so you can fit your exam around your application schedule, not the other way round. Booking and payment online, Monday to Saturday.
Any questions? Message us on WhatsApp we answer candidates from Monday to Saturday.
Frequently asked questions
Your questions
When should you take the TEF IRN in relation to submitting your application?
Two to four months before the date on which you plan to submit. Early enough to receive the certificate and keep a margin in case of a second attempt, late enough that the two years of validity do not run out while your application is being processed.
How long is the TEF IRN certificate valid?
Two years from the date of the exam. This is what the certifying body publishes and what the order of 22 December 2025 sets for nationality applications.
Does the civic exam certificate expire?
No. The Ministry of the Interior states it explicitly: the certificate of success in the civic exam has no period of validity. That is why you can take it as soon as you are ready, with no risk of it expiring.
In what order should you take the TEF IRN and the civic exam?
The civic exam first, as soon as you are ready, since its certificate does not expire. The TEF IRN next, timed to the expected date of submitting your application, since its certificate is only valid for two years.
Can you take the TEF IRN and the civic exam on the same day?
Yes, nothing prevents it and many candidates do so to make only one trip. The only regulatory constraint: the four TEF IRN papers must be taken in a single session, on the same day. If your concentration drops quickly, it may be wiser to separate the two exams.
How long does it take to receive the official certificate?
Results are communicated within 24 to 48 working hours for the civic exam and within 1 to 10 working days for the TEF IRN; the official certificate, issued by the certifying body, arrives afterwards. From experience, allow two to three weeks. This is our observation, not a commitment from the certifying body: do not set a prefecture appointment to the exact day on this basis.
How long will the prefecture take to process my application?
We do not state it: it varies depending on the department and the type of application, and we are a training organisation, not a government authority. Ask your prefecture and consult the administration’s official information.