Discover our TCF preparation courses for access to French nationality.
What is the TCF IRN?
The TCF IRN (Intégration, Résidence et Nationalité) is the French test required for the main residence and naturalization applications in France. It replaced the TCF ANF (accès à la nationalité française) on January 1, 2022. If someone still mentions the TCF ANF, the TCF IRN is the test you need to take.
The test has four mandatory sections, for a total of about 1 hour 35 minutes:
- Listening: 25 questions (20 min)
- Reading: 25 questions (35 min)
- Writing: 3 tasks (30 min)
- Speaking: 3 tasks with an examiner (10 min)
Your results are expressed as CEFR levels, from A1 to B2. Since France's January 2024 immigration law, the requirements have gone up:
Naturalization: B2 (applications submitted since January 1, 2026)
Resident card: B1
Multi-year residence permit: A2
The level must be reached in each skill: a good speaking score does not make up for a weak writing score. Your certificate is valid for two years and must still be valid when you submit your application.
STUDENT PROFILE
This program is for people who live in France, or are preparing to move there, and need to prove their French level to apply for French nationality, a resident card or a multi-year residence permit. Your teacher first assesses your level in all four skills, then helps you close the gap with the level your application requires. For naturalization, that means aiming for B2 across the board, including reading and writing.
PROGRAM BENEFITS
The teachers of Global Lingua are at your disposal to support you in your learning of French and to optimize your preparation time. Indeed, our teachers will tell you about aspects of French that require improvement to enable you to reach level B1 in each of the two tests. You can increase your chances of joining an official certificate that proves that you have the required level in French to acquire French nationality. People enjoy attending our TCF ANF preparation classes for the following reasons:
- Program designed to obtain the required level at the TCF IRN tests
- French courses tailored to your specific needs
- Learning objectives determined between you and your teacher
- Tracking according to your individual rhythm
- Courses available for individuals of all levels
- Frequent evaluations to observe your progress
- Exercises and homework (if needed) to consolidate your skills
- Courses offered remotely by Google Meet or
DISCUSSED SUBJECTS
Listening. You practise understanding everyday spoken French: announcements, conversations and radio programs. Your teacher may recommend films, series or podcasts to help you get used to different accents and expressions, then check your understanding with questions.
Reading. You learn to quickly find information in a variety of documents: forms, emails, news articles and administrative texts.
Writing. You practise writing a message, a short narrative and an opinion piece, within the required time and length.
Speaking. Sessions focus on interaction: introducing yourself, asking for information and defending a point of view on social issues.
Topics are chosen based on your interests, and you are welcome to suggest your own materials. For naturalization, your teacher also prepares you for topics related to life in France and the values of the French Republic.
TEACHING METHODS
You can take the preparation courses for the TCF IRN remotely by Google Meet. It is possible to cancel or modify your class schedule, without penalty, with 48 hours notice. In addition to Global Lingua's online courses, you can access Sapere, our AI-powered language-learning platform. This allows you to complete personalized exercises to prepare for the exam.
LENGTH OF THE CLASSES
The TCF IRN preparation courses are given at the time that best suits your schedule. It is also possible for you to choose the frequency of your courses. You may decide to take 30-minute or one-hour classes, but you can also take longer courses. You can choose to start the program with a 30-minute class, before increasing the duration when you feel more comfortable.
OTHER CLASSES THAT MIGHT INTEREST YOU
At Global Lingua, it is also possible to benefit from the help of a teacher to optimize your preparation time for different tests. These are the following courses:
