Certified Translating Service

In some cases, you may require certified translations. A certified translation is an official translation provided by a certified or sworn translator accredited by a French court of appeals. To be official, the translation must include:

• the original or a photocopy of the source document with the translator's stamp and signature, a registration number and date,
• the translation with the translator's stamp and signature, a registration number and date.

In most cases, these are the only translations that government agencies, city halls and courts throughout France and in most countries will accept for legal purposes and that are accepted when travelling abroad.

The types of documents that always must be translated by a certified translator include:

• birth certificates
• marriage certificates
• death certificates
• divorce judgments
• divorce decrees
• employment contracts
• affidavits
• employment certificates
• academic degrees
• academic records
• adoption-related documents
• criminal record searches

This list is not exhaustive and you should check with the authority or organization requesting the translation to confirm their requirements.

When you are sure that you require a certified translation, please feel free to use our new online quote service. It’s easy, fast and free.

Note Regarding the Acceptability of Photocopies: Please note that, in most cases, it is acceptable to attach a photocopy to the certified translation. There are, however, some cases, such as when getting married in a French civil wedding at a city hall, where you will be required to attach the original of your documents (e.g., your birth certificate). It would be impossible for us to know every situation in which an original document is required. Therefore you are responsible for understanding the required type of documentation needed for your particular circumstances. We cannot be held liable for any misunderstanding about requirements concerning original documents or any failure to provide them.

We strongly recommend, whenever you submit an original document to be certified and attached to your official certified translation, that you make photocopies before you turn over your original and that you keep them in your personal records.

We also suggest that you keep photocopies of certified translations issued to you. You never know when they may be useful.