Which Documents Will Require an Apostille When Moving to France?
Are you moving to France? It could be for work, to study or a permanent change. If you are moving to France soon and want to ensure you have everything prepared, you will need to consider which documents may require apostilles. This blog looks at the documentation and legalisation requirements when moving to France.
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Does France Require an Apostille?
If you’re relocating to France from a country that is a signatory to the 1961 Hague Convention, you’ll need an Apostille to certify certain documents legally. This stamp verifies the authenticity of a signature, stamp, or seal on a public document, allowing it to be accepted in another member country without further legalisation.
For help getting your documents legalised for use in France, including Apostilles, notarisation, and translations, see our Apostille Services page.
France is a signatory to the 1961 Hague Convention, which simplifies document recognition between member states.
What Type of Documents Can Be Apostilled?
- Birth Certificate – This is probably the most commonly requested document. You will often need an Apostille on a recent certified copy of your long-form birth certificate, especially if you are applying for a long-term residency visa, or simply need to prove your legal identity and parentage in France.
- Marriage Certificate / Civil Partnership Document – If you are moving with your spouse, their birth certificate and your marriage certificate will undoubtedly need to be legalised. This is crucial for family reunification visas or for administrative processes like joining the French health system.
- Divorce Decree or Death Certificate of a Spouse – If you are divorced or widowed, these documents may be required to prove your current legal status.
- Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) / Criminal Record Check – To prove you have no serious criminal record, the French government will require an official background check from your home country. This document is almost universally required to have an Apostille.
- Educational Certificates/Diplomas – If you are applying for a Student Visa or a job in a regulated profession, your degrees and academic certificates will likely require an Apostille. This authenticates the seal and signature of the issuing university or institution.
- Professional Qualification Certificates – Any document verifying your professional standing that may be required for a work visa should be apostilled.
- Powers of Attorney (Procurations) – If you need someone in your home country to manage legal or financial affairs on your behalf while you are in France.
- Affidavits or Statutory Declarations – Documents where you declare a specific fact under oath, such as a Certificate of Single Status if you plan to marry in France.
- Corporate Documents – If you are opening a business or a branch of a foreign company, documents like your Certificate of Incorporation will require an Apostille.
Documents that are not in French or in a multilingual standard form must be translated by a ‘traducteur assermenté’ (a sworn translator) certified by a French court. This translation is usually done after the Apostille has been attached to the original document, and sometimes the translator’s signature will also need an Apostille.
Official translations must be carried out by a traducteur assermenté, registered with a French court. If you also need assistance locating or dealing with a French Will in connection with your move or probate matters, see our Finding a French Will page.
If you need help with French Probate, contact French Probate Matters on 020 8150 2010 or info@frenchprobatematters.com
Contact us for more information about the requirements.
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