Is the LILATE certificate recognized by French authorities for immigration-related administrative procedures?

Administrative procedures related to immigration in France can seem complex and bewildering. Among the documents required for obtaining a residence permit, a residence card, or even acquiring French nationality, a language certification is requested to attest to your knowledge of the French language. Therefore, the following question arises: can the LILATE certificate meet these requirements?

Is the LILATE certificate recognized by French authorities for residence permit, residence card, or French nationality acquisition procedures?

The LILATE certificate, within the framework of French as a Foreign Language (FLE) learning, can play a crucial role in these procedures.

Indeed, to justify knowledge of the French language when applying for a residence card, the French state often requires a language certification attesting to a minimum level of language proficiency. Specifically, a level equivalent to A2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CECRL), both written and oral, is required. In this context, the LILATE certificate can provide an attestation corresponding to this level.

For those aspiring to French naturalization, authorities generally require a language proficiency level at least equivalent to B1 of the CECRL, both oral and written. Again, the LILATE certificate can be useful to meet this requirement, as it can attest to the required language proficiency level.

However, it is important to note that the recognition of the LILATE certificate in these administrative procedures varies depending on the competent authorities and individual situations.

Therefore, it is strongly recommended that applicants inquire directly with the competent authority requesting these documents to confirm the validity and acceptability of the certificate in their specific case.

Updated on: 16/09/2025