Language and civic requirements for residency and citizenship in six European countries

The six countries side by side

Country by country

1. France

   • Language level at the first card A2 for a multi-year card A first multi-year residence card (carte de séjour pluriannuelle) needs French at A2 since 1 January 2026. A person with a diploma or a secure language test under 2 years old at A2 or above skips the language assessment at the reception interview. Source: Service-Public F17048: the republican integration contract (Vérifié le 26 juin 2026).
   • Language level for the permanent or long-term card B1 The first 10-year resident card (carte de résident) needs French at B1 since 1 January 2026. People over 65 are not concerned. Source: Service-Public F2208: the 10-year resident card (Vérifié le 1 juillet 2026), Service-Public F17048: the republican integration contract (Vérifié le 26 juin 2026).
   • Language level for naturalisation B2 Naturalisation, reinstatement and French nationality by marriage need spoken and written French at B2 of the European framework. Source: Service-Public F11926: proving your level of French for French nationality (Vérifié le 1 janvier 2026).
   • Civic or integration test Civic exam Since 1 January 2026 a civic exam is required before a first multi-year card, a first resident card or naturalisation. It is a 45-minute digital test of 40 multiple-choice questions, 28 on general knowledge and 12 on situations, with 32 right answers needed. For a card it follows a 24-hour civic training over 4 days. A renewal does not need it, and the certificate does not expire. Source: Service-Public A18713: a new civic exam for foreigners who want to settle in France (Publié le 18 décembre 2025), Service-Public F39530: how to pass the civic exam for a multi-year or resident card (Vérifié le 10 février 2026).
   • Accepted certificates TCF, TEF or a French diploma For naturalisation: a TCF certificate from France Éducation International or a TEF certificate from the Paris chamber of commerce, each under 2 years old at B2, or a French diploma such as the diplôme national du brevet or a diploma at level 3 or above of the national qualifications framework. Source: Service-Public F11926: proving your level of French for French nationality (Vérifié le 1 janvier 2026).
   • Years for the permanent or long-term card Not found on an official page The pages read do not state the general number of years for the resident card. The page on the 10-year resident card gives 3 years of marriage to a French citizen for one case. Source: Service-Public F2208: the 10-year resident card (Vérifié le 1 juillet 2026).
   • Years for naturalisation 5 A minimum of 5 years of residence in France, with shorter terms for some cases (2 years after 2 years of higher education in France, for instance). Source: Service-Public F2213: naturalisation by decree (Vérifié le 16 juillet 2026).
   • Keeping the US nationality Not found on an official page Not found on the pages read.

2. Spain

   • Language level at the first card Not found on an official page Not found on an official page we read.
   • Language level for the permanent or long-term card None listed The sheet on the national long-term residence permit lists 5 years of legal and continuous residence, no criminal record in Spain and in the countries lived in during the last 5 years, and no threat to public order. No language level or test appears on it. Source: Ministerio de Inclusión, sheet 49: national long-term residence permit (Last updated May 2025).
   • Language level for naturalisation DELE A2 Nationality by residence needs the Spanish diploma DELE at A2 or above, unless the applicant already holds it or is from a country or territory where Spanish is spoken. Source: BOE, Real Decreto 1004/2015: procedure for Spanish nationality by residence (Published 7 November 2015).
   • Civic or integration test CCSE Nationality by residence needs a test of constitutional and sociocultural knowledge of Spain (CCSE), set and run by the Instituto Cervantes. No such test appears on the sheet for the long-term permit. Source: BOE, Real Decreto 1004/2015: procedure for Spanish nationality by residence (Published 7 November 2015), Ministerio de Inclusión, sheet 49: national long-term residence permit (Last updated May 2025).
   • Accepted certificates DELE diploma, CCSE result The DELE is issued by the Spanish Ministry of Education and, in its name, by the Instituto Cervantes. The administration can check the DELE and CCSE results itself. Source: BOE, Real Decreto 1004/2015: procedure for Spanish nationality by residence (Published 7 November 2015).
   • Years for the permanent or long-term card 5 5 years of legal and continuous residence. Absences of up to 6 continuous months do not break it, within a total of 10 months over the 5 years. Source: Ministerio de Inclusión, sheet 49: national long-term residence permit (Last updated May 2025).
   • Years for naturalisation 10 10 years by general rule. Article 22 sets 2 years for nationals of Ibero-American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea or Portugal and for Sephardic Jews, and 5 years for refugees. Source: BOE, Código Civil, articles 22 and 23 (Consolidated text, article 22 and 23 in force).
   • Keeping the US nationality Renounce The applicant declares that they renounce their previous nationality. Article 23 exempts the natives of the countries named in article 24.1. Source: BOE, Código Civil, articles 22 and 23 (Consolidated text, article 22 and 23 in force).

3. Portugal

   • Language level at the first card Not found on an official page Not found on an official page we read.
   • Language level for the permanent or long-term card Basic Portuguese (A2 course) Permanent residence needs proof of basic Portuguese: a school certificate, a CAPLE test certificate, or a certificate of level A2 or above from a Portuguese as a host language course. Source: AIMA: permanent residence authorisation, article 80 (No date on the page).
   • Language level for naturalisation Test or certificate Naturalisation needs a test or a certificate showing sufficient knowledge of Portuguese language and culture, history and national symbols. The level is not written in the law text read. Source: Diário da República, Lei Orgânica 1/2026: Nationality Law, republished (Published 18 May 2026, in force the next day).
   • Civic or integration test Culture and rights test Naturalisation also needs sufficient knowledge of the fundamental rights and duties tied to nationality and of the political organisation of the State. Source: Diário da República, Lei Orgânica 1/2026: Nationality Law, republished (Published 18 May 2026, in force the next day).
   • Accepted certificates CAPLE, school or A2 course For permanent residence: a school certificate, a CAPLE test certificate, or a certificate of A2 or above from a Portuguese as a host language course given by a public school, an IEFP centre or a Qualifica centre. Source: AIMA: permanent residence authorisation, article 80 (No date on the page).
   • Years for the permanent or long-term card 5 5 years with a temporary residence authorisation. Long-term resident status needs 5 years of legal and uninterrupted residence. Source: AIMA: permanent residence authorisation, article 80 (No date on the page), AIMA: long-term resident status, article 125 (No date on the page).
   • Years for naturalisation 10 10 years of legal residence for nationals of countries other than Portuguese-speaking countries and EU member states, which get 7. The periods count in total if they fall within 12 years. Organic Law 1/2026 was published on 18 May 2026 and entered into force the next day. Source: Diário da República, Lei Orgânica 1/2026: Nationality Law, republished (Published 18 May 2026, in force the next day).
   • Keeping the US nationality No clause found The republished Nationality Law has no article requiring the applicant to give up another nationality. Source: Diário da República, Lei Orgânica 1/2026: Nationality Law, republished (Published 18 May 2026, in force the next day).

4. Italy

   • Language level at the first card Not found on an official page Not found on an official page we read.
   • Language level for the permanent or long-term card Italian test, level not in the law The EU long-term residence permit depends on passing a test of knowledge of the Italian language. The law leaves the details to a ministerial decree, so the level is not in the text read. The permit also needs 5 years of a valid permit and an income at least equal to the annual social allowance. Source: Normattiva, Decreto legislativo 286/1998, article 9 (Text in force on 28 October 2026).
   • Language level for naturalisation B1 Citizenship by residence needs Italian at no lower than B1 of the European framework. A person who signed the integration agreement or holds an EU long-term residence permit does not have to attach a diploma or certificate. The Constitutional Court ruled in 2025 that people with serious learning limits tied to age, illness or disability must be exempted. Source: Normattiva, Legge 91/1992, article 9.1 (with the Constitutional Court ruling 25/2025) (Text in force on 28 October 2026).
   • Civic or integration test Not found on an official page No civic test found in the articles read.
   • Accepted certificates Diploma or recognised certificate A diploma from a recognised public or accredited school, or a certificate from a body recognised by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Source: Normattiva, Legge 91/1992, article 9.1 (with the Constitutional Court ruling 25/2025) (Text in force on 28 October 2026).
   • Years for the permanent or long-term card 5 5 years of a valid permit. Source: Normattiva, Decreto legislativo 286/1998, article 9 (Text in force on 28 October 2026).
   • Years for naturalisation 10 10 years of legal residence for a foreigner. A citizen of an EU member state needs 4 years. Source: Normattiva, Legge 91/1992, article 9 (Text in force on 28 October 2026).
   • Keeping the US nationality No clause found Article 9 sets no condition about giving up another nationality. Source: Normattiva, Legge 91/1992, article 9 (Text in force on 28 October 2026).

5. Germany

   • Language level at the first card Not found on an official page Not found on an official page we read.
   • Language level for the permanent or long-term card B1 The settlement permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis) needs sufficient German, which the Residence Act defines as B1. A successful integration course proves it. Source: Gesetze im Internet, AufenthG section 9 (Current text), Gesetze im Internet, AufenthG section 2 (Current text).
   • Language level for naturalisation B1 Naturalisation needs sufficient German, shown by a language exam at B1. Source: Gesetze im Internet, StAG section 10 (Current text).
   • Civic or integration test Knowledge of the legal and social order The permit needs basic knowledge of the legal and social order and the living conditions in Germany. Naturalisation needs knowledge of the legal and social order and the living conditions, and a statement of commitment to the free democratic basic order and to Germany's historical responsibility. The form of the proof is not on the pages read, except that an integration course proves it for the permit. Source: Gesetze im Internet, AufenthG section 9 (Current text), Gesetze im Internet, StAG section 10 (Current text).
   • Accepted certificates Integration course, B1 exam For the permit: a successful integration course. For naturalisation: a language exam at B1. Source: Gesetze im Internet, AufenthG section 9 (Current text), Gesetze im Internet, StAG section 10 (Current text).
   • Years for the permanent or long-term card 5 5 years with a residence permit, along with secured living costs, 60 months of pension contributions or comparable proof, and enough living space. Source: Gesetze im Internet, AufenthG section 9 (Current text).
   • Years for naturalisation 5 5 years of lawful habitual residence in Germany. Source: Gesetze im Internet, StAG section 10 (Current text).
   • Keeping the US nationality No clause found Section 10 lists no condition about giving up another nationality, and section 12, which used to deal with keeping it, is shown as repealed. Source: Gesetze im Internet, StAG section 10 (Current text), Gesetze im Internet, StAG section 12 (Current text, shown as repealed).

6. Netherlands

   • Language level at the first card Not found on an official page Not found on an official page we read.
   • Language level for the permanent or long-term card A2 The permanent residence permit needs the civic integration exam passed at A2 or above, or an exemption. The long-term EU residence permit also needs the civic integration requirement, and the page read does not state its level. Source: IND: permanent residence permit (Last update 20 May 2026), IND: residence permit for long-term EU residents (Last update 28 October 2026).
   • Language level for naturalisation A2 Naturalisation needs the civic integration exam at language level A2, taken with DUO, which gives the digital civic integration diploma. Source: IND: civic integration for naturalisation (No date on the page), IND: becoming a Dutch national through naturalisation (Last update 20 October 2026).
   • Civic or integration test Knowledge of Dutch Society The exam holds reading, listening, writing and speaking tests in Dutch and a Knowledge of Dutch Society part, with the Dutch job market in it, and a participation statement process. Source: IND: civic integration for naturalisation (No date on the page).
   • Accepted certificates Civic integration diploma The civic integration diploma at A2 or above. The IND lists exemptions, such as reaching the statutory pension age or a Belgian diploma taught in Dutch. Source: IND: civic integration for naturalisation (No date on the page), IND: becoming a Dutch national through naturalisation (Last update 20 October 2026).
   • Years for the permanent or long-term card 5 5 consecutive years with a valid Dutch residence permit. For the long-term EU permit: 5 consecutive years, no stay abroad over 6 consecutive months and no more than 10 months in all. Source: IND: permanent residence permit (Last update 20 May 2026), IND: residence permit for long-term EU residents (Last update 28 October 2026).
   • Years for naturalisation 5 5 consecutive years in the Kingdom with a valid residence permit, with earlier applications possible in some cases. Source: IND: becoming a Dutch national through naturalisation (Last update 20 October 2026).
   • Keeping the US nationality Usually renounce The IND says that a person who becomes Dutch usually has to renounce their current nationality. Article 9 of the Nationality Act lets the authority refuse a request when the applicant has not done what is possible to lose it, unless that cannot reasonably be asked. The page of the Act carries a notice of a change planned from 1 March 2027. Source: IND: becoming a Dutch national through naturalisation (Last update 20 October 2026), wetten.overheid.nl, Rijkswet op het Nederlanderschap, articles 8 and 9 (In force from 1 October 2026).

How to cite this page

EasyFranceNow, "Language and civic requirements for residency and citizenship in six European countries", https://easyfrancenow.com/updates/language-and-civic-requirements-europe, requirements read on Oct 28, 2026.

The requirements belong to the authorities named under each cell. Cite the page you used. The table, the CSV and the read days are ours. A rule can change after the day we read it.

Where this table sits: dated rule changes, State fees in six European countries, and the guides French Language Requirements for Residency and Citizenship: The Official B1 Thresholds Explained for Americans and French Citizenship for Americans: The Complete Naturalization Guide (2026).