The naturalisation interview, step by step
The entretien d'assimilation (assimilation interview) is a key moment of naturalisation: an oral exchange at the préfecture (local government office) to check that you have integrated well. Here is how it unfolds and how to prepare for it calmly.
Last checked: 17 juillet 2026
What is the entretien d'assimilation?
When your naturalisation file is deemed complete, you are invited to a one-to-one interview. In France it takes place at the préfecture; abroad, at the consulate. It is run by an officer appointed by the prefect.
Its purpose: to check your assimilation into the French community. This is a requirement of article 21-24 of the Civil Code, which calls in particular for a sufficient knowledge of the French language, history, culture and society, an understanding of the rights and duties conferred by nationality, and commitment to the essential principles and values of the Republic.
What the officer assesses
- Your spoken French. The officer checks that you can genuinely converse. The B2 level evidenced in your file is confirmed out loud as well.
- Your knowledge of the rights and duties of the French citizen, as restated in the charter of rights and duties.
- Your commitment to the values of the Republic: liberty, equality, fraternity, laïcité (secularism), equality between women and men.
- Your personal integration path: your life in France, your work, your ties, the reasons for your application.
Examen civique and interview: two separate stages in 2026
This is the most common question, so let's be clear. The examen civique does not replace the assimilation interview. Since 1st January 2026, naturalisation by decree has two complementary stages:
| Examen civique | Assimilation interview | |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Written multiple-choice test on a computer (40 questions) | Oral exchange with an officer |
| What is measured | Knowledge: history, institutions, citizenship | Spoken French, values, integration path |
| Since when | New since 1 January 2026 | Already existed |
In other words: you must pass the examen civique (a test of 40 questions, threshold of 32 correct answers) and convince at the interview. The exam prepares the ground well for the interview: the themes (values of the Republic, institutions, rights and duties, history, life in France) are the same.
How the interview unfolds
On the day, bring the originals of your civil-status documents filed with your application. The interview is an exchange: the officer puts you at ease, asks questions about your life in France and checks your knowledge. At the end of the assessment, you sign the charter of the French citizen's rights and duties.
The interview report, together with the documents in your file, then allows the prefect to rule on your application.
How to prepare well
Three documents and one habit are enough to face the interview with confidence:
- The livret du citoyen (citizen's handbook), which gathers the essential expected knowledge.
- The charter of rights and duties, which you will sign at the end.
- The interview themes and example questions to practise answering out loud.
- The most useful habit: speaking French regularly, out loud, on these topics. The interview is above all a conversation.
Revise the examen civique and the interview themes
Our drills and mock exams for the Naturalisation track cover exactly the themes the officer raises at the interview: values of the Republic, institutions, rights and duties, history and life in France. Revising for the exam also prepares the oral.
Frequently asked questions about the naturalisation interview
What is the entretien d'assimilation (assimilation interview)?
It is a one-to-one interview at the préfecture (or at the consulate when abroad), run by an officer appointed by the prefect. It checks your assimilation into the French community: your spoken French, your knowledge of the citizen's rights and duties, and your commitment to the principles and values of the Republic.
Does the examen civique replace the naturalisation interview?
No. Since 1 January 2026, the examen civique (a written multiple-choice test) is added to the assimilation interview; it does not replace it. The exam measures your knowledge; the interview assesses your spoken French, your values and your integration path. Both stages count in the prefect's decision.
What does the interview cover?
Your sufficient command of French (the officer checks that you can genuinely converse), your knowledge of French history, culture and society, the rights and duties conferred by nationality, and your commitment to the essential principles and values of the Republic (article 21-24 of the Civil Code).
What should I bring to the interview?
The originals of the civil-status documents you filed with your application. The officer may check them during the interview.
Do I have to sign a document at the end?
Yes. After the assessment of your assimilation, you sign the charte des droits et devoirs du citoyen français (the charter of the French citizen's rights and duties). It restates the principles of the Republic and the rights and duties that nationality confers.
Civicap is an independent practice tool, not affiliated with the Ministère de l'Intérieur (French Interior Ministry), France Éducation international or the CCI. This page is informational and does not replace official information.
Sources: service-public.fr, immigration.interieur.gouv.fr, article 21-24 du code civil (Légifrance).