Civic Exam
Examen civique
Alliance Française du Cap is a testing centre for the civic exam.
Are you applying for a multi-year residence permit, a French resident card, or French citizenship for the first time?
The civic exam is an official exam developed by the French Ministry of the Interior. It assesses your knowledge of French society, its values and how it functions.
Book your place
The exam takes place every Friday from 10AM onwards.
Exam fee
R2,000
per candidate · all three versions
Payment details are sent by email once your registration is confirmed.
Who needs the Examen Civique?
Since 1 January 2026, the civic exam is mandatory in France for certain first-time applications.
Important: Candidates applying for French Naturalisation or citizenship must have passed the TEF or TCF at B2 level or above before applying for the Examen Civique
Required for first-time applications for:
- A multi-year residence permit (CSP)
- A resident card (CR)
- Naturalisation (French citizenship)
A certificate of passing the civic exam is not required for renewal applications.
Not required for a first Temporary Residence Card (CST)
- CST (1 year): first residence permit, no civic exam required
- CSP (2 to 4 years): issued after the CST, civic exam mandatory
Three versions of the exam
The exam is available in three versions depending on your application. The level of difficulty differs depending on the permit you are applying for.
Multi-Year Residence Permit
Civic exam for the multi-year residence permit.
Resident Card
Civic exam for the resident card.
Naturalisation
Civic exam for the naturalisation track.
How the exam works
The 40 questions cover 5 topics
- 28 questions on knowledge of specific concepts, organised by topic (the official list is available on the civic education website)
- 12 questions based on real-life situations
Practical information
- The exam is taken exclusively on a computer.
- You will receive a notice one week before the exam with the practical details of your session.
- Exam Price: R2000
Get ready before you register
Before registering, get to know the tests and the exam format using the preparation resources available.
Official civic education website
- The exam programme
- Fact sheets organised by topic
- The official list of knowledge questions for the CSP and the CR
Free practice quiz
Practise with the quiz developed by the France Fraternités association: 50 free questions to help you prepare for the civic exam.
→ Take the practice quizHow registration works
Ready to take the civic exam?
Register online
Click the button below and complete the form on the official website.
We receive it
Your registration is sent to Alliance Française du Cap automatically.
Check your email
We confirm your registration and send you the payment details.
Pay the exam fee
Pay the R2,000 fee using the details in your email to confirm your place.
Only pay into the bank details sent to you by email from Alliance Française du Cap.
Send us an email
For more information about the civic exam at Alliance Française du Cap:
examen@afcapetown.co.zaOfficial exam website
For official information on the civic exam from the French Ministry of the Interior:
formation-civique.interieur.gouv.fr