How France handles apostilles and sworn translation — the traducteur assermenté system and what foreign documents French authorities require.
Overview
France has been a member of the Hague Apostille Convention since 1965. Documents from other Hague countries need only an apostille from the country of origin to be valid in France — no consular legalisation. Within France, apostilles for outgoing French documents are issued by the Service de l'apostille at the relevant Cour d'Appel (regional Court of Appeal) for civil status, court, and notarial documents, OR the Bureau des légalisations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for federal documents. For foreign documents used in French procedures, sworn translation by a traducteur assermenté (sworn translator listed with a Cour d'Appel) is required. The list of authorised sworn translators is maintained by each Cour d'Appel and centrally accessible via experts-judiciaires-cour-cassation.com. This guide details every step, verified against service-public.fr and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
French Apostille System
| Document Type | Issuing Authority | Apostille From | Indicative Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil status (birth/marriage/death) | Mairie (Town Hall) | Cour d'Appel of the region | Free |
| Academic degree (university) | Issuing French university | Cour d'Appel | Free |
| Police clearance (Bulletin n°3) | Ministry of Justice | Cour d'Appel OR online | Free |
| Court/notarial document | Notary or court | Cour d'Appel | Free |
| Federal/MFA documents | Ministry of Foreign Affairs | Bureau des légalisations MAEC | Free |
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See Paid Plans →Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I get an apostille for a French document?
At the Cour d'Appel (Court of Appeal) of the region where the document was issued. France has 36 Cours d'Appel — each issues apostilles for documents from its jurisdiction. The service is free. Federal documents (Ministry of Foreign Affairs documents) are apostilled by the Bureau des légalisations of MAEC. Walk-in service is typically same-day; mail-in takes 5-15 business days.
Is the French apostille service free?
Yes — French apostille service at Cour d'Appel is free. The substantive costs are only if you need sworn translation for foreign use (traducteur assermenté EUR 35-80 per page) or if you need apostille from a foreign country first (varies by country).
What is a traducteur assermenté?
A French sworn translator — registered with a Cour d'Appel (Court of Appeal). Translates documents for use in French legal and administrative procedures, signs and stamps the translation with their official seal. The list is maintained by each Cour d'Appel and centrally at experts-judiciaires-cour-cassation.com. Cost EUR 35-80 per page typically.
How much does sworn translation cost in France?
EUR 35-80 per page typical, depending on document complexity and language pair. Common documents (birth certificate, marriage certificate, academic degree) cluster around EUR 40-60 per page. Less common languages (Mandarin, Arabic, Korean) at the higher end. Multi-page documents (academic transcripts, court rulings) often quoted per word.
Does France accept apostilles from other countries?
Yes — France is a Hague Apostille Convention member since 1965. Documents from other Hague-member countries are accepted in France with just the originating country's apostille. For non-Hague countries, dual legalisation by home-country authorities + French embassy/consulate in the country of origin is required.
Do I need to translate everything into French?
Generally yes for any document not in French. Documents in regional languages (Alsatian, Breton, Occitan) are accepted in their respective regions but French is required for national authorities. Some procedures may accept English-language documents at initial assessment but require French translation for the formal submission.
Can I use a sworn translation from Belgium/Quebec/Switzerland in France?
Generally yes for translations from French-speaking jurisdictions. Translations from Belgian (Belgique francophone), Swiss (Suisse romande), or Canadian (Québec) sworn translators are typically accepted in France. Verify with the receiving French authority before relying on this. For translations from non-French-speaking countries (German, Spanish, Italian sworn translators), accept may be more variable — best to use a French traducteur assermenté.
How long are French civil status documents valid for foreign use?
French civil status certificates (acte de naissance, acte de mariage) generally need to be issued within 3-6 months of submission to foreign authorities. Most French communes accept online ordering via service-public.fr — fresh certified copies issued same-day or within 5 days. The apostille itself doesn't expire.