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Traducteur agréé: when and how to have a document translated in France

In France an official translation is made by a traducteur agréé, i.e. a court expert registered on a court of appeal list. Depending on the document’s country of origin and the receiving authority, an apostille or legalisation may also be needed — here is what the official texts say.

Key facts

  • A traducteur agréé is a court expert on the lists of the courts of appeal or the Court of Cassation. [1]
  • An EU multilingual form can replace the translation of civil-status documents. [2]
  • To be legalised or apostilled, a translation must be made by a sworn translator whose signature is certified. [2]

Who is a traducteur agréé?

  • « Un traducteur agréé est un expert judiciaire inscrit sur les listes établies par les cours d’appel et la Cour de cassation. » (A traducteur agréé is a court expert registered on the lists drawn up by the courts of appeal and the Court of Cassation.) [1]
  • The official lists are available through the search tool « Trouver un expert agréé ou un traducteur agréé » (Find a court expert or sworn translator). [1]
  • When a document from an EU country is presented to an authority of another EU country, that authority « peut demander une traduction si nécessaire. Dans ce cas, la traduction doit être faite par un traducteur agréé. » (may ask for a translation if necessary; in that case it must be made by a traducteur agréé.) [1]

When translation can be avoided

  • « Un formulaire multilingue peut être joint à certains documents publics pour éviter de devoir fournir une traduction. » (A multilingual form can be attached to certain public documents so that no translation is needed.) These forms cover civil-status documents (birth, death, marriage, etc.). [2]
  • Certain public documents can be presented to an EU authority without any authentication formality, in particular in these areas: birth, being alive, death, name, marriage, divorce, PACS (French civil partnership), parentage, adoption, residence, nationality, absence of a criminal record. [2]
  • For other countries the rules vary: the Ministry of Foreign Affairs publishes a country-by-country overview. [2]

Legalisation and apostille

  • Legalisation is « la procédure d’authentification préalable de la signature de l’autorité ayant délivré le document » (the procedure authenticating the signature of the authority that issued the document). [2]
  • An apostille is « une procédure simplifiée de légalisation. Elle remplace la légalisation pour les pays où elle s’applique » (a simplified legalisation procedure that replaces legalisation for the countries where it applies). [2]
  • These procedures attest the authenticity of the signature, the capacity of the signatory and, where applicable, the identity of the seal or stamp — not the content of the document. [2]

Having a translation legalised or apostilled

  • For a translation to be legalised or apostilled: « La traduction doit être faite par un traducteur assermenté. » (The translation must be made by a sworn translator.) [2]
  • « La signature du traducteur assermenté doit être certifiée. » (The sworn translator’s signature must be certified.) [2]

Based on the official sources cited below (as of July 2026). Requirements depend on the document’s country of origin and the receiving authority — check with the one that receives your file.

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Sources

All information above comes from official sources:

  1. service-public.gouv.fr — Faire traduire un document (traducteur agréé)
  2. service-public.gouv.fr — Légalisation et apostille d’un document public
Certified translation in Ireland: who translates and who certifiesTranslating a birth certificate and certificate of good conduct for GermanyTranslation for recognition of foreign qualifications in AustriaSworn translation for evaluating your foreign diploma in the NetherlandsCertified translation for recognition of foreign education in the Czech RepublicTranslations for Swiss authorities: certification, notary, apostilleSworn translation and asseverazione: how it works in ItalyGetting a foreign qualification recognised in GermanySworn translation and recognition of qualifications (homologación) in SpainSworn translator in Poland: who they are and how to check a certificationExchanging a foreign driving licence for a Polish one: when a translation is neededDoctors and nurses: translating diplomas and documents for Polish chambersCivil-status records and criminal record certificates for Polish authoritiesDocuments for Italy
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