France Apostille Service
Apostille Request Form
Documents for France usually come from three situations: marrying a French citizen (or recording a U.S. marriage with the French civil registry through the consulate), moving to France on a long-stay visa, and buying property or settling an inheritance before a French notaire. Each one asks for apostilled U.S. records and, nearly always, a French translation by a sworn translator.
France has been part of the Hague Convention since 1965. The apostille comes from the U.S. state that issued the document, or from the U.S. Department of State for federal records such as FBI checks. French consulates in the U.S. don’t apostille U.S. documents.
Does France Accept Apostilles?
Yes. French authorities accept apostilled U.S. documents. Note that some French offices, like many in Europe, want a birth certificate issued within the last three to six months, so ordering a fresh certified copy is often required.
Documents Most Often Apostilled for France
- Birth certificates for marriage, PACS and nationality files.
- Marriage certificates and divorce decrees for transcription and remarriage.
- Single status affidavits (certificat de coutume is issued separately) for marriage in France.
- Powers of attorney (procuration) for property purchases before a notaire.
- Death certificates for French successions.
- Degrees and transcripts for study and work.
French Translation
French offices usually require a translation by a traducteur assermenté (sworn translator), often one registered with a French court of appeal. Ask your notaire or mairie whether a U.S. certified translation is acceptable before ordering one.
How Our France Apostille Service Works
- Tell us the documents and the country. Call (971) 514-3743 or use the form above. We confirm which version of each document you need.
- We route each document to the right authority. State documents (birth, marriage and divorce records, notarized papers) go to the Secretary of State of the state that issued or notarized them. Federal documents, such as FBI background checks and naturalization-related records, go to the U.S. Department of State.
- We return the apostilled documents to you, or ship them directly abroad with tracking.
Cost and Timing
- Oregon documents: $195 for the first and $20 for each additional, including the state fee; next business day or within 10 business days.
- Most other states: $195 per document, about 10 business days (New York is $350 for the first and $65 for each additional).
- FBI background check: $195 regular (5+ weeks) or $390 expedited (about 10 business days).
- Certified translation: $65 per document, usually 1 to 2 business days.
France Apostille FAQ
Does France require a recent birth certificate?
Often yes, issued within the last three to six months. Order a new certified copy first.
Can you apostille a power of attorney for a French property purchase?
Yes. Sign it before a U.S. notary and we apostille the notarization in the state where it was notarized.
Do I need a sworn French translation?
Usually yes. Many offices accept only translators sworn in France.
Can the French consulate apostille my U.S. documents?
No. Only the issuing U.S. state or the U.S. Department of State can.
How much does a France apostille cost?
$195 per document for most states.
Start Your France Apostille
Call (971) 514-3743 or use the request form above. Tell us which documents you need for France and which U.S. state issued them, and we will confirm the steps and the price before you send anything. See also our Hague Convention countries list and pricing.