France
Changes in the French language assessment for nationality and long-term residence
From 12 May 2025, the TCF Integration, Residence and Nationality (IRN) test will allow candidates to be evaluated up to level B2.
Following the promulgation of Law No. 2024-42 of January 26, 2024, the new government requirements for mastery of French are evolving and will be applied by the authorities no later than 1 January 2026:
- For naturalization, a B2 level will be required (currently B1 required);
- For a resident card, a B1 level will be required (currently A2 required);
- For a multi-year residence card, an A2 level will be required (currently none required).
To anticipate these new requirements, the TCF IRN is adapting and allowing candidates to be evaluated up to level B2 from 12 May 2025.
Only the comprehension tests undergo modifications:
- The listening test will increase from 20 to 25 questions and from 15 to 20 minutes;
- The reading test will increase from 20 to 25 questions and from 20 to 35 minutes.
TCF IRN B1 certificates are valid for naturalization until the promulgation of the decree (date of publication unknown to date).
For other applications (resident card and multi-year residence card), these certificates remain valid until their expiry date.
Ireland
Update on Stamp 2 bridging permission for English language course students
Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) has announced bridging permission for English Language course students who have successfully completed a second or third course and subsequently enrolled in a Higher Education Programme commencing by the end of October 2025.
The bridging permission will be a short-term Stamp 2 permission granted until 30 September 2025, from the date of expiry of their current IRP card, on the basis that applicants will be in a position to provide documentary evidence of a confirmed and fully paid Higher Education Programme listed on the Interim List of Eligible Providers (ILEP) commencing September 2025.
The Stamp 2 Bridging Permissions will be granted as follows:
- Students who have successfully completed a third English Language course (the maximum allowable) and have enrolled in and paid fees for a Higher Education Programme listed on the ILEP, commencing by end of October 2025, can avail of a bridging permission by applying via ISD’s online portal, provided all other criteria are met.
- Students who have successfully completed a second English Language course on or after 1 July 2025 and have enrolled in and paid fees for a Higher Education Programme listed on the Interim List of Eligible Providers (ILEP) commencing by end of October 2025, they can avail of this bridging permission by applying via ISDs online portal, provided all other criteria are met.
This bridging permission does not apply to students who have successfully completed a second English Language course prior to 1 July 2025, regardless of the date of application. These students have the option to undertake a third English language course and renew a permission on that basis, should they wish to.
Requirements for eligible students
Students wishing to avail of this bridging permission must have:
- An in-date IRP card or a card that has expired within one month when applying for the bridging permission;
- Successfully completed a third English Language course listed on the ILEP or successfully completed a second English Language course listed on the ILEP on or after 1 July 2025;
- Adhered to the conditions attached to their current residence permission;
- Enrolled in and paid fees in full for a Higher Education Programme listed on the ILEP;
- Applied for a renewal (bridging permission) via ISDs online portal.
Students will be required to:
- Satisfy renewal criteria;
- Provide evidence of their enrolment in a Higher Education Programme listed on the ILEP;
- Provide evidence that the course fees have been paid in full.
Registration Fees
Students whose second or third English language course finished on or after 1 July 2025 wishing to avail of this bridging permission will be fee-exempt. (Applications made via ISDs online portal will have the fee refunded when the application is processed).
Students whose third English language course finished prior to 1 July 2025 wishing to avail of this bridging permission will pay the standard fee of EUR 300.
Students who avail of this bridging permission will be required to renew their immigration permission prior to the bridging permission expiring on 30 September 2025.
The notice is valid from 1 May 2025 to 31 August 2025 only.
