Immigration
OFII appointment and the integration contract
contrat d'intégration républicaine (CIR)
A one-year contract between you and the French State, signed at an OFII appointment, committing you to civic training and — if your French tests below A2 — to language classes.
Yes for most non-Europeans taking a first temporary or multi-year card and settling in France for the long term. There are exemptions, including people schooled for 3 years in French secondary education and students who took their degree in France.
When you are first admitted to stay in France on a lasting basis. OFII calls you in.
At an OFII territorial directorate.
- A one-to-one interview where the contract is presented in a language you understand, alongside a written and oral French test.
- Civic training of 24 hours over 4 days, ending in a 40-question multiple-choice exam passed with 32 correct answers.
- Language training of up to 600 hours if you test below A2.
- A follow-up interview within 6 months.
The contract runs 1 year and can be extended by up to another year for legitimate reasons. Completing it is what opens the way to a multi-year card; dropping out limits you to renewing a temporary card.