There's a detail about French citizenship that surprises a lot of long-term residents: the language level required for naturalisation is not the same as for your residency card. As of January 1, 2026, French citizenship requires B2 — raised from B1. The 10-year residency card requires B1; multi-year permits require A2. So DELF B1 is the level you need for the 10-year card and is a necessary step toward B2 for naturalisation. That means independent, structured communication: not just ordering coffee or filling in forms, but sustaining a real conversation, writing a coherent argument, and demonstrating register awareness.
If you've been using conversational French to get by, you're closer than you think — but the gap between "getting by" and "B1-certified" has specific, examinable dimensions. This guide covers exactly what they are.
Official registration: DELF is administered by France Éducation International. Find exam centres and dates at your local Alliance Française or on the CIEP site.
Not sure which exam you need? See our comparison of all four European citizenship exams.
French Citizenship: The Legal Pathway
The primary route to French nationality for foreign nationals is naturalisation by residency. Under French law, the standard requirement is five years of habitual and regular residence in France. However, this is reduced to two years for applicants who have completed at least two years of higher education in France — a meaningful shortcut for graduates who remained after their studies.
A second pathway is declaration via marriage to a French citizen, subject to its own conditions and timelines.
The language requirement is not incidental to these pathways — it is described by French authorities as a central pillar of intégration républicaine. It is mandatory for all naturalisation and declaration-based applications without exception. There is no workaround via long-term residency or previous permit history.
The Language Requirement: B1, Not A2
This is the most important thing to understand before you start preparing.
Your residency card may have required A2. The 10-year card requires B1. As of January 2026, your citizenship application requires B2 — and the levels are genuinely different. A2 tests whether you can manage basic, predictable interactions. B1 tests whether you can function independently. B2 tests sustained argumentation, nuance, and fluency. You need a B2-level certificate for naturalisation.
Accepted proofs of B1 proficiency for the 10-year residency card (and as a step toward B2 for citizenship) include:
Important: The DELF is valid for life. Once you pass, the certificate never expires — it is a permanent proof of integration that remains valid regardless of when you submit your citizenship application.
Exemptions may apply to those who have completed their education in a Francophone country, or to older applicants with documented illiteracy. However, French authorities are applying these criteria more strictly over time.
DELF B1 Exam Structure: What You're Actually Being Tested On
The DELF B1 consists of four equal modules:
Total: 100 points. Pass threshold: 50/100.
⚠️ Scoring below 5/25 in any individual module results in automatic failure — even if your total is above 50. This is the note éliminatoire.
This eliminatory mark is the single most dangerous feature of the exam for unprepared candidates. A candidate who scores 22 in Listening, 22 in Reading, 22 in Writing, but only 4 in Speaking — fails. Total: 70. Result: fail.
Listening — audio recordings of conversations, announcements, and interviews. You answer comprehension questions demonstrating you've understood the main points and specific details.
Reading — longer texts than A2: articles, letters, advertisements. Questions test both global comprehension and specific information extraction.
Writing — two tasks. The first is typically a formal or semi-formal letter or email. The second requires you to express and justify an opinion in structured prose. Word limits apply, and both task completion and linguistic quality are scored.
Speaking — three parts: guided conversation, role-play scenario, and a prepared monologue. An examiner conducts the interaction and scores you on fluency, coherence, vocabulary range, and sociolinguistic appropriateness.
Why People Fail the DELF B1
The DELF B1 does not fail candidates because of vocabulary gaps. It fails them because of structural and register failures — things that feel natural in casual French but are penalised in a formal examination context.
The coherence problem. At B1, examiners are not looking for perfect grammar. They are looking for organised thought: clear paragraphs, logical progression, and explicit connectors (cependant, par conséquent, en revanche, c'est pourquoi). Candidates who write everything in one unbroken block — even if the French is technically correct — score poorly on task completion and coherence.
The register problem. French has a sharp formal/informal divide, and the exam tests whether you navigate it correctly. Using tu with the examiner in a role-play involving a formal interaction — a complaint to a company, a conversation with a doctor — is scored as a sociolinguistic error. It costs real points under the "Compétence sociolinguistique" criterion.
Ignoring the prompt. Many candidates write beautifully structured text that does not answer the specific question asked. Task completion is a scored criterion. A well-written response to the wrong question scores close to zero on that dimension.
Poor time management. With 45 minutes for Writing and a 15-minute Speaking interaction, candidates who haven't practised under timed conditions regularly run out of time mid-essay or rush their oral monologue into incoherence.
The Most Common Mistakes
Starting too late. B1 represents independent language use. For a complete beginner (A0), reaching B1 readiness typically requires 350–400 hours of study. Even for those already at A2 from their residency application, the jump to B1 is substantial and should not be underestimated.
Practising the wrong French. Casual spoken French — the kind you pick up in daily life, from French friends, or from entertainment — does not train the formal writing and structured speaking the exam rewards. Exam preparation needs to be exam-specific.
Mixing up residency and citizenship requirements. Many applicants who already hold a titre de séjour assume their existing language certification is sufficient. A2 certification does not satisfy the B1 requirement for the 10-year card, and B1 does not satisfy the B2 requirement for naturalisation (as of January 2026). You need the correct level for your goal.
Not accounting for timeline. Exam results and certificate processing take time. Sit the exam at least 6 months before your citizenship eligibility date — this builds in time for results, for certificate issuance, and critically, for a retake if needed. Since the DELF is valid for life, there is no penalty for sitting it early.
Strategic Tip: Sit the DELF Before Your Residency Period Ends
Because the DELF certificate never expires, the smartest move is to sit B1 as soon as you reach B1 readiness — that satisfies the 10-year card requirement. If you are aiming for citizenship, you will then need B2. Sitting B1 early removes one variable from your timeline.
How to Prepare: What Actually Works
Passing the DELF B1 requires preparation that is exam-specific, not general. That means practising the exact formats, time limits, and scoring criteria of the real exam — not just improving your French.
Prep2go.study is built for exactly this situation: immigrants and expats with a fixed citizenship goal, a specific exam to pass, and no time to waste on general language content that won't move your score.
The DELF preparation on Prep2go includes:
The interface is in English. No prior French is required to start. Average preparation time for those starting from A2: 8–12 weeks of focused practice.
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Your citizenship application (from 2026) depends on reaching B2. The DELF B1 is the step before B2 and is passable with the right preparation — but it penalises candidates who treat it like a general language test.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does the DELF B1 certificate expire? No. The DELF is valid for life. Once issued, it remains a permanent proof of French language proficiency and never needs to be renewed.
Can I use the TCF or TEF instead of the DELF? Yes. The TCF (Test de connaissance du français) and TEF (Test d'Évaluation de Français) are both accepted for French citizenship applications. However, unlike the DELF, these certificates have a limited validity period (typically 2 years). The DELF is often the better long-term choice.
What happens if I score below 5/25 in one module? You fail the exam automatically, regardless of your total score. This is the note éliminatoire. All four modules must reach the 5/25 minimum.
I passed A2 for my residency card — is that enough? No. As of January 2026, French citizenship requires B2. Your A2 certificate satisfies the multi-year permit requirement; B1 satisfies the 10-year card. For naturalisation you need B2.
How far in advance should I sit the exam? At least 6 months before your citizenship eligibility date. This allows time for results, certificate processing, and a potential retake without delaying your application.
How long does it take to go from A2 to B1? It varies, but most candidates with a structured preparation approach reach B1 readiness in 8–16 weeks of consistent study from an A2 baseline.
Information based on French nationality law and official DELF examination criteria. Always verify current requirements with French authorities (préfecture or consulat) before submitting your naturalisation application. See our FAQ for more on language requirements.
Source: France Education International - Official DELF/DALF Authority