France
Europe
France has been a Hague member since 1965. Since 2025, French apostille formalities are handled through the notariat (Notaires de France apostille service) rather than the former Cour d'appel / Procureur route; a fee applies depending on the delivery timeframe. Verify the current designated authority for your document type.
Why people process documents for France
Non-EU nationals moving to France need apostilled civil status documents and background checks from their home country.
French universities and Campus France require apostilled transcripts and degrees from non-EU applicants.
Most commonly processed documents
These are the document types most often processed for use in France — documents issued abroad that need an apostille or legalization. Documents issued in France are apostilled in France itself, by the authorities described above. Each guide link goes to a full guide; document types without a guide yet are listed for reference.
Requirements at a glance
Common mistakes to avoid
- Using a non-sworn translator — France requires traducteur assermenté for official documents.
Example scenarios involving France
Illustrative examples based on common situations; names and details are changed. Typical situations where the country appears as the document's issuing country or as the destination. See all cases →
The problem: An Indian expat living in Hong Kong had their Indian birth certificate notarized and apostilled by Hong Kong authorities, but France rejected it.
Result: In this example, the application was resubmitted with the correct apostille from India — the issuing country's competent authority.
Relevant services
Frequently asked questions
What translation does France require for official documents?
France requires a sworn translation (traducteur assermenté) — a translator officially appointed by a French Court of Appeal. Standard certified translations are not accepted for immigration, university, or legal purposes.
Reviewed by
Laura ChenLegal Document Expert
Specialist in documents for the English-speaking market with a focus on fast and secure processing.
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