How to obtain a French Bulletin n°3 and what foreign police certificates France requires.
Overview
France's national criminal records register is the Casier Judiciaire National, maintained by the Ministry of Justice (Ministère de la Justice). The Bulletin n°3 (the publicly-available extract of an individual's criminal record) is free for personal use and orderable online at casier-judiciaire.justice.gouv.fr. For visa, residence, and naturalisation applications, you typically need both French and foreign police clearance certificates. Foreign certificates must be apostilled (Hague members) or legalised (non-Hague) and translated into French by a traducteur assermenté. The validity window is typically 3-6 months. This guide covers both French and foreign procedures, verified against casier-judiciaire.justice.gouv.fr and service-public.fr.
French Bulletin n°3 Certificate
- Free for personal use: No fee.
- Online order: Via casier-judiciaire.justice.gouv.fr. Available to French citizens and to foreign residents in France with French residency number.
- From abroad: Foreign citizens can order via the French consulate or via the central Bureau du Casier Judiciaire in Nantes.
- Processing time: 5-15 days by post; instant via online portal for eligible applicants.
- Contents: Adult criminal convictions still on the public register. Bulletin n°3 is the most restricted public extract — many convictions are not visible.
- Bulletin n°2: More detailed (visible to certain employers and authorities). Bulletin n°1: full criminal record (judicial use only).
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How do I get a French Bulletin n°3?
Free online at casier-judiciaire.justice.gouv.fr — available to French citizens and to foreign residents with French residency number. From abroad, order via French consulate or central Bureau du Casier Judiciaire in Nantes. 5-15 days by post; instant via online portal for eligible applicants.
Is the French Bulletin n°3 free?
Yes — free for personal use. No fee at any stage of ordering. The substantive cost is only if you need apostille for foreign use (free from MAEC/Cour d'Appel) or sworn translation for use abroad (EUR 35-80 per page).
Do I need foreign police clearance for a French long-stay visa?
Yes for most categories. Country of citizenship + countries of residence 5+ years are typically required. Must be apostilled in home country and sworn-translated into French. Maximum 3-6 months old. Plan 4-6 weeks before your French application.
What's the difference between Bulletin n°1, 2, and 3?
All from the French Casier Judiciaire National. Bulletin n°1 — full criminal record, judicial use only. Bulletin n°2 — more detailed than n°3, visible to certain employers (public sector, regulated professions) and some authorities. Bulletin n°3 — most restricted public extract, free for personal use, available online. For most personal applications, the Bulletin n°3 is sufficient.
How recent must my foreign police clearance be for French application?
Typically no more than 3-6 months old at the time of French application submission. French authorities apply this strictly. Order foreign certificates in the immediate run-up to your French application — combined timeline 6-10 weeks for ordering + apostille + sworn translation.
Can I use the French Bulletin n°3 for purposes abroad?
Yes — order the Bulletin n°3 + apostille from MAEC (free). Add sworn translation into the destination language if needed. The Bulletin n°3 is recognised internationally for personal use; some destinations may request the more detailed Bulletin n°2 for sensitive roles, but that's less commonly requested.
What if my home country doesn't issue police clearance certificates?
France accepts alternative documentation: notarised affidavit, reference letters from professional sources, embassy/consulate confirmation. Discuss with the French consulate before your application.
Can I order a French Bulletin n°3 if I'm not yet a French resident?
Foreign citizens generally cannot order a French Bulletin n°3 directly — you need a French residency number. The procedure for foreign citizens not yet in France involves applying via the French consulate in your home country. Once you have French residence (carte de séjour), you can order Bulletin n°3 directly online at casier-judiciaire.justice.gouv.fr.