APOSTILLE FOR FRANCE
Apostille Services for France
Marrying in France, applying for a long-stay visa, buying property through a French notaire, settling an inheritance or opening a company? France accepts apostilles, and most French offices also want a French translation, often by a sworn translator. We handle the U.S. side from Boston.
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FRANCE AT A GLANCE
Hague Convention member
An apostille is all you need.
- Marriage at the mairie
- Property and inheritance
- Visas and residence
- French translation arranged
How documents for France work
Documents we prepare for France
- Birth certificates for marriage, residence and nationality
- Single status affidavits and divorce decrees for marriage
- Powers of attorney (procurations) for property purchases and sales
- Death certificates and affidavits for French inheritances
- FBI background checks
- Diplomas and transcripts
- Corporate documents for French companies
What France usually requires
| Document | Where the apostille comes from | What else to plan for |
|---|---|---|
| Birth certificate | Secretary of the Commonwealth or issuing state | Recently issued, long form; sworn French translation |
| Single status affidavit | Secretary of the Commonwealth, after notarization | French translation; check how recent it must be |
| Power of attorney (procuration) | Secretary of the Commonwealth, after notarization | Usually drafted by the French notaire |
| Corporate documents | Issuing state | Certified copies; French translation |
Requirements change and can differ by consulate, city and purpose. Always confirm the exact requirements with the office receiving your documents. We're happy to review what they sent you.
How we handle it
- 1
Tell us what the recipient asked for
Send us the list or the email from the consulate, school, employer or attorney. We review it and confirm exactly what each document needs.
- 2
We prepare each document
Certified copies, notarization by appointment, or retrieval of records you don't have yet.
- 3
Apostilles from the right offices
Massachusetts documents go to the Secretary of the Commonwealth, other states' documents to that state, and federal documents, like FBI checks, to the U.S. Department of State.
- 4
French translation and shipping
We arrange certified translation when it's needed, then ship everything back with tracking, to you or directly abroad.
Good to know
Marrying in France
The mairie usually asks for a recently issued birth certificate and proof you're free to marry. See Single Status Affidavit.
Buying property
Many buyers sign a procuration here so the French notaire can complete the sale. See Powers of Attorney.
Sworn translation
Ask whether the office requires a translator sworn in France.
Businesses
See Corporate Documents.
Common reasons clients need documents for France
Getting married in France
Recently issued birth certificates, proof of single status and sworn translations.
Buying or selling property
A procuration so the notaire can act for you.
French inheritances
Death certificates, affidavits and powers of attorney for the notaire handling the estate.
Long-stay visas and residence
Background checks and records when requested.
French nationality
Civil records for nationality applications.
Business in France
Corporate documents for French subsidiaries and partners.
Mistakes that delay French files
- An old birth certificate. Many French offices want one issued within the last few months.
- Translations that aren't sworn. Many offices require a traducteur assermenté.
- Signing a procuration before the notary arrives. It must be signed in front of us.
- A short-form birth certificate. French offices usually want the long form with parents' names.
- Missing documents for a previous marriage. Divorce decrees and death certificates may also be needed.
Working with French notaires
Paris, Lyon, the Riviera and beyond
Retiring in France
Long-stay visa documents and background checks when requested.
Students
Diplomas and transcripts for French universities. See Universities.
Dual nationals
Civil records for French nationality and transcription of U.S. marriages and births.
Families with French property
Procurations and inheritance documents for the notaire.
Need it translated too? We prepare certified translations in the same order. See French translation.
Frequently asked questions
Does France accept apostilles?
Yes. France has been a member of the Apostille Convention since 1965.
Do I need a sworn French translation?
Often, yes. Ask the receiving office whether they require a translator sworn in France.
Can you notarize a procuration drafted in French?
Yes, as long as you understand what you're signing. The notarial certificate will be in English.
Do you ship to France?
Yes, with tracking.
Can you meet a French notaire's deadline?
Tell us the signing date and we'll plan backward from it. Rush options are available.
Do you translate into French?
Yes. We arrange certified French translations, and can tell you when a sworn translator in France is required.
How recent does my birth certificate need to be for a French marriage?
French town halls often want a recently issued copy. Ask the mairie for its exact rule, and we'll order a fresh certified copy if needed.
Do you ship documents to French notaires?
Yes, with tracking.
Can you certify a copy of my passport for a French notaire or bank?
Yes, if you bring the original passport.
Can you get my birth certificate from another state for France?
Yes, through our nationwide network, with an apostille from that state.
Do I need an apostille for documents going to the French consulate in Boston?
It depends on the process. Follow the consulate's checklist, and we'll handle anything that needs authentication.
Sending documents to France?
Tell us the documents, the purpose and your deadline, and we'll map out every step.