Learning French has long been an uphill battle for many immigrants in France. Now, that challenge stands to intensify. With the immigration law that took effect in January 2024 and ongoing budget cuts, mastery of the French language has become an even more stringent requirement for immigrants, even as the state has pared back its instructional offerings to the bare minimum.

Since this summer, classes provided to foreigners by the Office français d'immigration et d'intégration (OFII, French Office for Immigration and Integration) – through organizations awarded government contracts – have moved online and become optional. They target holders of an initial residence permit whose language proficiency falls below the level expected in middle school (A2). Only classes for individuals who cannot read or write (which served 9,000 people in 2024) will continue to be offered in person.

Meanwhile, the French language levels required to obtain a multi-year residence permit, a resident card, and citizenship have all been raised (from A1 to A2, A2 to B1, and B1 to B2, respectively) and must now be proven through a certification, which costs between €100 and over €200. These changes have heightened concerns among instructors and many immigrants.

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