Last November, the interior minister said that language knowledge was a basic requirement for integration into society, but the Immigration and Integration Office stated that failing the language exam is not automatically grounds for deportation.

The French government is about to make significant changes to its migration policy. Last December, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin presented an immigration bill which would allow those willing to work to stay in the country, and deport those who commit a criminal offence. The bill would also enable the revocation of residence permits from foreign individuals who do not respect the principles of the French Republic, including human dignity and secularism, as well as the national flag and the anthem.

Nous proposons de pouvoir retirer un titre de séjour, si un étranger ne respecte pas les principes de la République, comme la dignité de la personne humaine et la laïcité. pic.twitter.com/3nDybMVI6q

— Gérald DARMANIN (@GDarmanin) December 6, 2022

The minister also emphasized that a basic mastery of the language is an essential condition of one’s integration into society. Therefore, the bill also states that an individual is required to have a minimal command of the French language before being granted a residence permit valid for several years. Currently, the law only requires participation in a language course, without mandating the passing of tests or exams.

The bill will be tabled in the Senate soon, on 28 March, but Didier Leschi, the head of the Immigration and Integration Office (OFII) has made a surprising announcement on the subject. Speaking at a hearing of the French National Consultation of Human Rights (CNCDH), Leschi stated that those failing the French language exam will not automatically be deported.

🏛️🔔 Projet de loi sur l’immigration : selon Didier Leschi, directeur de l’@OFII_France, les ressortissants étrangers qui échoueront á l’examen de langue française que le gouvernement veut imposer dans le cadre du PJL ne seront pas expulsés ⬇️ https://t.co/ZpTqHl9jRC

— Observatoire de l’immigration et de la démographie (@ObservatoireID) March 14, 2023

Depriving foreigners of their residence permit for lack of French language knowledge is not on the table, Le Figaro points out quoting Didier Leschi as saying. The language objective will contribute to the motivation of people, the head of OFII opined. Non-Europeans wishing to settle in France will have to sign a so-called integration contract (CIR), Mr Leschi said. Those signing it undertake to undergo training to help them integrate into French society. Citizenship training is compulsory and language training may be required depending on their language skills. 67 per cent of the signatories of the integration treaty have a minimum knowledge of French, Mr Leschi pointed out. It is about European harmonisation, because countries with much higher language requirements are not necessarily countries with lower levels of social integration, the head of the OFII said.

Last November, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said that command of French was needed for integration and the government proposes that all foreign nationals wishing to settle in France should take a language test. The minister wants everyone who already has a residence permit to take the test as well. Those who succeed can stay because they can speak the language and fit in, but the residence permit of those who fail will be withdrawn and they will have to leave.

Pour s’intégrer, il faut parler français. C’est pourquoi nous proposons que tous les étrangers qui souhaitent s’installer dans notre pays passent un examen de langue. Ils devront le réussir pour obtenir leur titre de séjour. pic.twitter.com/EF3IWdhRXp

— Gérald DARMANIN (@GDarmanin) November 3, 2022