Section actions
Duration: A few days to several weeks depending on the authority of the country of issue and the translator
Cost: Variable depending on country, authority and translator; request a quote and check official rates
On-site only
Who this guide is for
Section actions
- Persons presenting in France a civil status, diploma, criminal record or foreign judgment
- Applicants for residence, nationality, study or diploma recognition
- Persons required to verify whether an international convention exempts their apostille or legalization document
To be prepared in advance
Section actions
- The original document or official copy required, valid if a period is specified
- The exact instructions of the receiving authority
- The country of issue, the type of document and the authority that signed it
- The official list of expert translators if a certified translation is required
Step-by-step procedure
Section actions
- 1First ask the receiving authority if it requires the original, a copy, a translation, an apostille or a legalization. The ANEF does not provide a single rule valid for all countries and acts.
- 2Check the applicable agreement. Certain public acts circulating in the European Union are exempt from apostille; other documents are covered by a bilateral convention or the Hague Convention.
- 3If an apostille or legalization is required for a foreign document, obtain it from the competent authority of the country of issue or according to the applicable consular chain. The apostille certifies the signature or seal, not the veracity of the contents.
- 4Then have the document translated and, if requested, the apostille itself. Use an expert translator registered with a French court of appeal or a professional accepted by the receiving authority.
- 5Present the document together, its authentication and translation. A translation does not replace the original and does not in itself have the same legal function as the source act.
Common mistakes
Section actions
- Applying for an apostille when an agreement provides for an exemption
- Confondre apostille, legalisation, certification of copying and translation
- Have the document translated only without the required apostille entries
- Use a translator not accepted by the receiving authority
- Follow an automatic order without checking the specific instructions of the country and the procedure
Official sources
Section actions
Important remark
The receiving authority shall decide on the accepted documents. Exemptions and competent authorities depend on the country, document and conventions in force.
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