Where to take the civic exam: FEI centres in France and abroad

The closest FEI centre is probably 40 minutes away by public transport, and the next available slot is two to six weeks out depending on whether you live in Paris or a mid-sized city. That's the reality of the system since 1 January 2026: a single operator, France Education International, which inherited the civic test on top of the DELF it was already running, and a network of centres that roughly mirrors the Alliances françaises and Instituts français mesh.

This guide explains how to find a centre, book a slot, anticipate the timelines that can stretch a procedure by several weeks, and prepare your trip on the day — without inventing a list of addresses that will be out of date by the end of the quarter.

One operator, several dozen centres

Since the reform took effect in early 2026, FEI is the only operator authorized to organise the civic exam for the three permits concerned — the carte de séjour pluriannuelle, the carte de résident and naturalization. Every centre where you can sit the test is authorized and supervised by FEI, which guarantees uniform conditions everywhere in France and abroad. To understand the exact role of this historic DELF operator, see France Education International and the civic exam.

The journey is standardised. You file your application on the ANEF portal, your file is processed by préfecture services, and an FEI convocation is then sent to you by email with a unique registration code. You then log in to the FEI portal to choose your centre and slot from current availability, with an interactive map showing centres in your geographic area. Before booking, check that the centre is identified as "civic-exam authorized" and not just as a TCF or DELF centre — these are distinct certifications, and not every language centre is authorized to run the civic test. The official up-to-date list is on france-education-international.fr; the full regulatory framework is on service-public.fr.

Mainland France: every major city, but Paris fills up fast

Every major city is covered — Paris and the Paris region, Lyon, Marseille, Toulouse, Lille, Bordeaux, Nantes, Strasbourg, Rennes, Montpellier, Nice, Grenoble and around thirty other cities offer regular sessions. Network density depends mostly on candidate concentration: Paris can open several slots a week, while a mid-sized city settles into a fortnightly or monthly rhythm.

The mainland trap is Paris saturation. The first available slots in Paris regularly run beyond six weeks in normal periods, and more so in September. If you live in the Paris suburbs and your filing date is pressing, look first at suburban centres (Sèvres, Nanterre, Saint-Denis) or in provincial towns one or two TGV hours away: it's often faster to sit the test in Tours or Reims on a Saturday morning than to wait five weeks for a slot inside the city. The FEI portal shows real-time availability and it's often worth logging back in mid-week — cancellations free up slots 48 hours out.

Overseas territories: fewer centres, more lead time

The FEI network covers all the DOM-TOM (French overseas territories). Sessions are organised in Martinique, Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Réunion, Mayotte, New Caledonia, French Polynesia and Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, generally in the préfecture of the regional capital or in local partners — Alliance française, Institut français, accredited public lycée. Coverage is complete, but session frequency is markedly lower than in mainland France: where Paris opens several slots a week, some overseas centres run on a fortnightly or even monthly rhythm during school holidays.

The practical consequence for DOM-TOM residents is that you have to plan ahead. As soon as you receive your convocation, log in to the FEI portal to book: the first available slots can be four to six weeks out, sometimes more in peak season. If no local slot suits you and you have to travel to mainland France for family or professional reasons, nothing administratively prevents you from combining the trip with sitting the test elsewhere in France.

Sitting the exam from abroad

Are you temporarily living abroad for work, family or study reasons? The FEI network also relies on centres outside France, mainly the Instituts français present in more than 90 countries and the Alliances françaises under agreement in more than 130 countries. Some consulates also centralise the sittings when a consular service organises it locally. Not all of them are authorized to run the civic test — to check availability in your country of residence, consult the Fondation des Alliances françaises website or contact the local French embassy.

Abroad, generally count 6 to 12 weeks between convocation and sitting, sometimes more in countries where demand is low and sessions are quarterly. Pricing may also differ from the mainland setup depending on the country — the exam itself stays free for the candidate within a French permit procedure, but local administrative fees may apply. Ask at booking time to avoid surprises.

Choosing your centre, booking your slot

When several centres show up in your area, the criterion that weighs most in practice is the date of the first available slot. If your filing is pressing, take the closest date even if it means a centre a bit further away — an extra hour of travel on the day beats an extra month of waiting. On comfort, a short trip reduces morning fatigue and limits surprise risks (strikes, traffic), worth weighing if you live in a well-served area. FEI centres are in principle accessible to people with reduced mobility, but check the precise conditions (lift, signage, accessible toilets) on the centre's profile before confirming.

The booking itself takes five minutes once the convocation is received. You retrieve your FEI registration code in your secure ANEF mailbox, log in to the FEI portal, pick a centre and slot from real-time availability, and receive a confirmation email summarising date, time, address and documents to bring. Print this email or keep it accessible on your phone — it serves as the official convocation. The portal allows one free reschedule provided you respect a 48-hour cancellation window before the slot; beyond that, or in case of a no-show without cancellation, the session is recorded as a default and counts as one attempt.

Real timelines in April 2026

This is the question we're asked most, and the honest answer is that it depends on your area. In mainland France, in major cities, the wait for a slot ranges from two to six weeks depending on the season; in Paris, Lyon or Marseille, slots regularly free up by cancellation, watch the portal mid-week. In the Overseas territories, count four to ten weeks, more in peak season. Abroad, six to twelve weeks should be anticipated depending on local frequency.

The right strategic reflex is to book your slot six to eight weeks ahead when possible. You gain the flexibility to choose a time and centre that suit you, you leave a comfortable margin for revision, and you avoid getting stuck with an imposed slot.

Test day: what to bring

Three things, and three only. An original ID — residence permit, passport, your country's national ID card — no photocopy or phone scan, the original or nothing. Your convocation printed or saved on your smartphone, with the QR code legible. And something to write with if you want to take mental notes (paper scratch paper is provided, but a blue or black pen avoids having to ask).

Show up thirty minutes before the convocation time for registration formalities: ID check, signing in, locker drop-off, settling in. Past the official time, access is refused with no appeal — that's a strict FEI rule, and it applies even to a five-minute delay due to transport. For the full walkthrough of the test once in the room (question format, time management, material conditions), see the complete 2026 civic exam guide.

If you can't show up

Illness, family emergency, unexpected business travel: if you can't make your slot, cancel or reschedule via the FEI portal at the latest 48 hours ahead. The change is free the first time. Beyond that window, or if you don't show up without cancelling, the session is treated as a default and recorded as one attempt — you'll need a fresh registration to re-sit, and the inter-attempt waiting period applies. Anticipating this avoids dead losses: for the test's legal value and your certificate's validity duration, see civic-exam certificate validity and price.

FAQ

Where do I find the official up-to-date list of FEI centres?

On the official site france-education-international.fr, under "examen civique de naturalisation". The list evolves: trust no other source.

Can I sit the test in a region other than my préfecture's?

Yes. You're free to choose any authorized FEI centre, wherever you live in France. Your naturalization file is still processed by your préfecture, but the test happens wherever you want.

Are there FEI centres abroad?

Yes, via Instituts français, accredited Alliances françaises, and some consulates. Check the list of authorized centres on the FEI site or contact the local French embassy.

What documents to bring on the day?

Original ID + convocation (printed or digital). Show up 30 minutes before. Without an original ID, access is refused.

What to do if I miss my slot?

If you give notice more than 48 hours in advance, you can reschedule via the FEI portal (free the first time). Beyond that or in case of a no-show, the session counts as an attempt and you'll have to register again.

Conclusion

Choosing where to sit your civic exam is no longer a puzzle: one operator, a centralised portal, centres across France and abroad. The real question lies elsewhere — are you ready to validate the 32 questions out of 40 required? Cocorico trains you on the 245 official questions, with timed mock exams in real conditions, and a path adapted to your pace. Create your free account and discover all the covered exams — CSP, CR, naturalization. Book your FEI slot when you're really ready, not before.