L'examen civique, réponses vérifiées / English / Questions
French civic exam 2026, Living in French Society
Under what conditions is a marriage legally recognised?
An official question of the French civic exam, with its answer and the official text that proves it, in French and English.
Multi-year residence permit no. 164
À quelles conditions un mariage est-il reconnu juridiquement ?
Under what conditions is a marriage legally recognised?
Answer. A civil marriage, held at the mairie (town hall), between two adults with no close family relationship, who both agree to it freely.
Un mariage civil, célébré à la mairie, entre deux personnes majeures, sans lien de parenté proche, qui sont d’accord librement.
In France, only a civil marriage held at the mairie counts in the eyes of the law. Both people must be 18 or older, except in rare exceptional cases, must not be close relatives, and must consent freely. They can be of the same sex or of different sexes.
The official text that proves it
« Le mariage civil est le seul mariage reconnu en France. Deux personnes, de sexe différent ou de même sexe, peuvent se marier si ces personnes : »
Civil marriage is the only marriage recognised in France. Two people, of different sexes or of the same sex, can marry if these people meet the following conditions.
In French, with its English meaning. read the official sheet
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Questions from the official lists of the French Ministry of the Interior, quotations from the civic training sheets, the Constitution and the 1789 Declaration, Licence Ouverte Etalab 2.0. This is not a government site. The official sheets are free, in French, on formation-civique.interieur.gouv.fr.
