Changes to the TEF IRN 2025 for the new visa, residency, and French citizenship criteria for 2026: everything you need to know to prepare for the exam

If you’re an expat in France living with your French partner and you plan to apply for a residence permit or French nationality, the TEF IRN French language test changes introduced in 2025 are crucial. Recent changes to the French visa language requirements mean stricter levels will apply from January 2026 — but you have time to prepare. Getting ahead now can save you stress (and maybe repeated exam sessions) later.

Understanding the TEF IRN French Language Test

So, let’s see:

• What is the TEF-IRN test?

• French visa language requirement 2026

• New TEF-IRN format

• TEF-IRN exam structure

• How to prepare for the new TEF-IRN 2025 exam

  
  

The TEF IRN certification (Test d’Évaluation de Français pour l’Intégration, la Résidence et la Nationalité) is a French language test specifically designed for integration, obtaining residency, and applying for French nationality. It evaluates everyday French in real-life contexts.

TEF IRN for the French visa language requirements

TEF-IRN is different from the classic TEF:

• It is tailored to the legal and administrative expectations in France.

• It focuses on functional competence (understanding, speaking, reading, writing in daily life).

• It is tied directly to the requirements for residence permits and naturalization.

  
  

The TEF-IRN is valid for two years. If necessary, you can retake the test 30 days after the results of the first test have been validated. Le français des affaires

Differences Between TEF and DELF

What are the differences between TEF and DELF?

• The DELF is a diploma (valid for life), while the TEF IRN is a certification valid for only 2 years.

• The DELF evaluates fixed levels (A1, A2, B1, B2, etc.), and you choose which level you sit for. The TEF IRN is an adaptive test up to B2: it measures your current level automatically.

• The DELF is often used for academic or professional purposes, while the TEF IRN is explicitly required for residency and citizenship procedures.

  
  

This means the TEF IRN is less about “showing off” a level for studies or work, and more about proving you can function in French society on a daily basis.

Schedule of Changes to French Language Requirements for Residency and Citizenship.

• The law behind this is Law no. 2024-42 of 26 January 2024, aiming to strengthen integration via language: B1 level for residency and B2 level for citizenship. (Le français des affaires)

  
  

• The revised TEF IRN format (evaluating up to B2 level) came into effect on 1 April 2025. (Le français des affaires)

  
  

• Parallel changes for the TCF IRN followed on 12 May 2025. (France Éducation international)

  
  

• The new level requirements for residence permits/naturalisation will be enforced no later than 1 January 2026. (Vie-publique)

  
  

The previous French language test for residency or nationality was up to B1, but the level requirement for naturalization in France is now B2. The TEF IRN 2025 assesses the ability to communicate in French in everyday situations from level A1 to level B2.

Exam component	Before 2015	From April 2015 (new format)
Levels evaluated	A1 to B1	Now A1 through B2
Level requirements	lower levels (A2 for residency, B1 for nationality)	From Jan 2026: A2 required for multi-year residence permit; B1 for carte de résident; B2 for naturalisation

TEF IRN French Exam for Residency or Citizenship 2025 at a Glance: Duration and Tasks of the French Exam

Understanding:

🎧 Listening	📖 Reading
20 minutes	30 minutes
10 questions all level + 10 questions adapted to candidate’s level	10 questions all level + 10 questions adapted to candidate’s level

Production:

🖊️ Writing	💬 Speaking
30 minutes (10min+20min)	10 minutes (5min+5min)
2 tasks: A: informal message: 40 words B: formal email: 100 words	2 tasks: A: getting information B: giving an opinion and advice

Let's Understand in More Detail the Structure of the New 2015 Format TEF IRN Exam

The TEF-IRN comprehension and writing tests are taken on a computer.

The basic structure remains, but expectations are raised up to B2.

• 🎧 Listening comprehension: 20 minutes – 20 multiple-choice questions.

- 2 parts in the test: one general (10 minutes – 10 questions all levels), 10 questions tailored to the candidate's level in the first part (10 minutes – 10 questions).

- Real-life audios: dialogues, announcements, everyday messages, radio, interviews…

• 📖 Reading comprehension: 30 minutes - 20 multiple-choice questions.

- 2 parts in the test: one general (15 minutes - 10 questions all levels), 10 questions tailored to the candidate's level in the first part (15 minutes - 10 questions).

- Texts from daily life: advertising, flyer, notice, registration, formal mail, administrative documents, newspaper… + fill gaps activities.

• 🖊️ Written production: 30 minutes. 2 exercises:

- Task A: writing a message/e-mail to a friend to get news (10 minutes – 40 words)

- New job, new house, travel, birth…

- Task B: Explaining motivation to obtain something (20 minutes - 100 words)

- Job, volunteer, activities, services…

• 💬 Oral production: the basic structure remains but expectations are raised up to B2.

- Task A is now to call to obtain information (5 minutes) => hotel, association, lesson, cooperative….

- Task B is to help a friend to make a decision by giving your opinion (5 minutes) => your friend hesitates between buying a house or an apartment, taking a dog or a cat, using a bicycle or the bus…

There is no preparation for the speaking exercises.

This is exactly the kind of training we practice in my daily mentoring program!

What doesn’t change

• The 3 parts listening, reading, and writing are still computer-based.

• The oral parts are recorded/evaluated in the same style (2 tasks).

• The test remains focused on realistic, everyday French, not academic or highly technical French. (Le français des affaires)

  
  

Preparing for the TEF IRN Exam

To meet the new requirements, you’ll want to:

• Practice all four skills regularly, not just one or two.

• Get used to newer formats: adaptive comprehension parts, mixed levels, administrative texts, realistic conversations.

• Do mock exams in exam conditions (timed; record yourself speaking).

• Work on weak points: e.g. oral fluency, written coherence, lexical range, varieties of structures…

  
  

With Daily Mentoring Program, you can expect:

• A structured plan for each week: tasks + production + feedback.

• Personalized correction especially for speaking & writing (so you see what “lifting from B1 to B2” concretely means).

• Regular exposure (listening, reading) curated to mirror exam content.

• Motivation & accountability — so you don’t leave preparation to the last moment.

  
  

See how Daily Mentoring can help you succeed at the TEF IRN

TEF IRN France 2026: Start Preparing Now for Residency and Citizenship Success

The changes in TEF IRN aren’t just bureaucratic: they reflect higher expectations for integration and language competence. If you’re in a relationship with a French partner and plan to apply for residency or citizenship, starting now gives you an advantage.

Don’t wait for the deadline of 1 January 2026 to meet the French B2 language requirement for citizenship (or French B1 language requirement for residency). Start preparing now for the TEF IRN French exam with expert guidance. My Daily Mentoring program helps expats in France practice daily, build confidence, and succeed at the French language test for residency and nationality.

Let’s make the language test an opportunity, not a barrier.

This article, and especially its English translation, was compiled with the help of AI.