French residence permits and naturalization
TEF IRN: format, timings and what it is for
Intégration, Résidence et Nationalité - the consolidated test the French Ministry of the Interior recognises. It replaced the old "TEF pour la naturalisation", so any guide still using that name predates the current system.
Components and timings
| Component | Time | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Reading | 30 min | 20 questions |
| Listening | 20 min | 20 questions |
| Writing | 30 min | 2 tasks |
| Speaking | 10 min | 2 tasks |
- Components: All four, compulsory, same day
- Scheduling: All required components must be taken on the same day.
- Range: Currently certifies A1 through B2 only.
France raised the bar on 1 January 2026
| Objective | Level required |
|---|---|
| First multi-year residence permit | A2 |
| Long-term / ten-year resident card | B1 |
| French naturalization | B2 |
If you are working from a guide that says B1 is sufficient for French naturalization, that guide is out of date. B2 became the threshold on 1 January 2026, and TEF IRN was revised in April 2025 specifically so it could certify up to B2 in anticipation.
How TEF IRN certifies a level
IRN does not require every component to independently clear the generic CEFR floor. It applies its own rule, which tolerates one weaker test:
- B2At least 400 in three tests and 367 in the lowest
- B1At least 300 in three tests and 267 in the lowest
- A2At least 200 in three tests and 167 in the lowest
- A1At least 100 in each of the four tests
“TEF pour la naturalisation” no longer exists
CCI consolidated its fragmented French-administration testing into TEF IRN - Intégration, Résidence et Nationalité - in 2022. The old phrase survives on forums, older preparation books and a lot of stale blog posts, which is why so many candidates arrive looking for a test that is not offered under that name any more.
IRN changed again on 1 April 2025: the certification ceiling rose to B2, total testing time went to roughly 90 minutes, and the number and organisation of receptive items changed. Treat any IRN material published before mid-2025 with suspicion.
Exemptions exist for some applicants and recognised diplomas, and the competent prefecture decides whether one applies to you. This page describes the test, not your eligibility.
For the score bands, see the TEF score chart.
Before you book anything
Confirm the exact certificate your receiving authority wants before you register. A centre advertising “the TEF” may be offering a different variant than the one your program names, and the certificates are not interchangeable. Check fees and registration and results and validity too.
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