The Republican Integration Contract (CIR)
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The Republican Integration Contract (CIR) is signed by a non-European foreign national with a residence permit who intends to settle permanently in France.
What is the Republican Integration Contract (CIR)?
The CIR is part of the Republican integration process. It is the first step in your integration into French society. It represents a mutual commitment between you and the French State.
Images of the front and back of the contract, divided into 8 sections.
It contains 8 sections:
- What the government is doing to support you in your integration into France.
- What you need to do during your integration process.
- A summary of your meeting with an OFII representative.
- The contract’s term of validity.
- Your signature and that of the OFII.
- Information about your commitments and the next steps in your journey in France.
- The principles of the French Republic that you agree to uphold.
- The protection of your personal data and a reminder of your rights.
It completes the Commitment Contract to respect the principles of the Republic that you signed as part of your residence permit application.
The State organises an individual reception scheme to promote your integration. It contains:
- A language test;
- A one-on-one interview with an counsellor from the French Office for Immigration and Integration (OFII) to assess your needs, recommend training courses and sign the CIR;
- A civic training course (24 hours), divided into 4 days of 6 hours each;
- Language training, if necessary;
- An end-of-process interview;
By signing the CIR, you agree to:
- Respect the core values of French society and the Republic;
- Attend the civic training and, if required, the language training regularly and seriously.
- Complete the administrative formalities prescribed by the OFII, including those relating to professional integration;
- Attend your end-of-contract interview if you are summoned;
- Follow the proposed support schemes;
- Report any changes in your situation to the OFII by letter.
Starting January 1, 2026, if you wish to obtain a multi-year residence permit, you will need to prove that you have reached A2 level in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). You must also present a certificate of success in the civic exam.
If you provide these two certificates and if you respect the CIR and the values of French society and the Republic, the prefect may issue you a multi-year residence permit (valid for 2 to 4 years) when you renew your one-year temporary residence permit.
You cannot obtain more than three one-year temporary residence permits.
Who should sign a CIR?
The CIR applies to you if you hold a temporary or multi-year residence permit with the following mentions:
- Carte de séjour vie privée et familiale (only for certain specific cases)
- Certificat de résidence pour Algérien
- Carte de résident
- Visa Long Séjour valant titre de séjour salarié
- Carte de séjour pour exercer une profession commerciale, industrielle ou artisanale
You are exempt if you meet any of the following conditions:
- You attended a French secondary school, in France or abroad, for at least 3 school years;
- You studied in France for at least 1 academic year;
- You are aged between 16 and 18 years and are eligible for a 10-year residence permit.
This procedure does not apply to foreign nationals of European countries (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland), or to their family members living in France with them.
The CIR is signed for a one-year period. The contract is fulfilled if both of the following conditions are met by the signatory:
- Diligent and serious attendance at training sessions;
- No manifestation of rejection of the essential values of French society and the Republic.
The contract may be extended for a maximum of one year by the Prefect, at the OFII's suggestion, if the civic and language training is ongoing at the end of the contract and the stay remains legal. In this case, the contract is extended for a further year, for a maximum of 2 years.
What are the penalties for non-compliance with the CIR?
The Prefect may terminate the CIR at the OFII’s recommendation if they find that you are in one of the following situations:
- You fail to take part in a prescribed training course for no legitimate reason;
- You do not respect your obligations within the framework of the CIR.
The Prefect has to inform you about their intention of terminating the contract. They mention the grounds for the considered termination and specify the consequences related to the issuance of a multi-year residence permit.
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