What is France's 'Livret du Citoyen' and why it might be vital to you
If you're applying for French citizenship, then the Livret du Citoyen is about to become your bedtime reading, but it might be useful in other circumstances too.
What is it?
The Livret is a 28-page booklet on the subject of France - its history, geography, culture, politics and values.
The book is free and can downloaded from the French Interior Ministry website
here
.
It also exists in paper form, and is often distributed to young French people, for example first-time voters.
It ranges from factual information such as the number of communes in France (34,965 as of January 1st 2021) and the date of the abolition of the death penalty (1981) to information on France's key values and the rights and responsibilities of a French citizen.
Unsurprisingly, it is in French (which it will inform you is the only official language of the French Republic).
When do I need it?
The booklet is recommended reading for anyone applying for French citizenship, as its information forms the basis of the questions that you will be asked in the citizenship interview.
There's no need to wait until you have made your application, however, anyone can download the booklet for free at any time. You might just fancy some bedtime reading about France or you might genuinely find to helpful to integrating in your new home.
So I need to learn all 28 pages before my citizenship interview?
Relax, you're not expected to learn the whole thing by heart. The intro explains that the booklet lays out "examples of the type of knowledge required from candidates for citizenship".
It adds that candidates are "invited to study it before the interview, to better prepare for the discussion".
Forgetting the date of birth of King Henri IV (1553) won't automatically end your citizenship hopes - the interviewer is just looking for a decent overview of French history and geography.
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Knowledge of France's core values - and agreement with those values - is considered more important, so you should definitely know things like France's motto -
liberté, égalité, fraternité
- and be able to explain
laïcité
(French state secularism, find a full explanation
here
).
Is the interview limited to the information in the Livret?
Not necessarily, the booklet explains that its information is "not exhaustive". Interviewers can ask about other aspects of France, perhaps asking you which French singers, films or TV shows you like.
They'll also likely ask you how integrated you are into everyday life in France.
In short, the interview is about more than just being able to reel off facts like the number of départements in France (101, including 5 overseas départements) - it's about being able to demonstrate that you are integrated in French life, you understand France and you agree with broad values such as gender equality and democracy.
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In practice, interview candidates report a huge variation - some are grilled for an hour on every aspect of France and French life, others just have a quick chat. It's impossible to know in advance which one you will get, however, so it's a good idea to prepare for the tough version.
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