Sworn Translation and Apostille in France

Apostille and sworn translation are two separate steps in a fixed sequence, not interchangeable concepts. First, the original document is certified with an apostille, and only then is it translated by a traducteur assermenté — a translator officially registered with a court of appeal in France. A translation made before the apostille is affixed is generally not accepted by French authorities — the entire chain must be completed again.

International Law Firm "Zahist" assists clients with the legalization of documents for France. In our practice, the main reason for refusals is precisely a failure to follow the correct order of steps. A person first finds a translator, has a diploma or birth certificate translated, and only then discovers that the document also requires an apostille, which would now have to be affixed separately to the original, with the translation done again. Such a double cycle costs both time and money, whereas following the correct sequence saves both resources from the outset.

We explain how to correctly affix an apostille to Ukrainian and French documents, who a sworn translator is and why that translator is mandatory, where translated documents are submitted, and how much the entire process costs.

Apostille and sworn translation — two steps in the correct order

Ukraine and France are parties to the Hague Convention of 1961, which, as early as 2003, abolished the requirement of consular legalization of official documents between the States Parties. Instead of a lengthy legalization procedure, a simple apostille stamp is sufficient.

An apostille confirms the authenticity of the signature and the authority of the official who issued the document — it is neither a translation nor a legalization of the content, but only a formal certification of the document itself as such.

Sworn translation (traduction assermentée) performs an entirely different function — it conveys the content of the document in French so that the translation has the legal force of the original for French authorities.

The order of steps is always the same: first the apostille on the original, then a translation of the already apostilled document, including the text of the apostille stamp itself. A translation that does not cover the apostille is considered incomplete and is most often returned for revision.

Apostille on documents issued in Ukraine

The competent authority for affixing an apostille in Ukraine depends on the type of document and is not the same in all cases. This often comes as a surprise to those encountering the procedure for the first time.

The Embassy of Ukraine in France is not authorized to affix an apostille — neither on documents issued in Ukraine nor on documents issued in France. Applying to the embassy with this request only wastes time that could immediately be directed to the relevant Ukrainian authority.

A practical tip is to affix an apostille to key documents (birth certificate, diploma, marriage certificate) before leaving Ukraine or during a short visit, rather than trying to resolve the matter once already in France.

Apostille on French documents for use in Ukraine

As of 1 May 2025, the apostille procedure in France changed substantially — apostilles are now affixed by notaries through 15 regional chambers of notaries, rather than by the courts of appeal, as was previously the case.

Since September 2025, the courts of appeal of France have ceased issuing apostilles altogether — all applications without exception are processed through the single online platform apostille.notaires.fr.

1. Create an application on the portal apostille.notaires.fr
2. Send the original document by post to the relevant chamber of notaries
3. Receive an email with the application tracking number
4. Pay for the service online
5. Receive the document certified with an apostille

The regulated fee for affixing an apostille is approximately EUR 10 excluding VAT for the standard processing time of several business days, while expedited processing within 24 hours costs about EUR 20–24.

An apostille may be affixed only to an official document — a private document cannot be apostilled without prior notarization, because the stamp confirms the signature of an authorized person, not the mere fact that the document was written.

Sworn translator — who this is and why this translator is mandatory

Traducteur assermenté is a translator officially entered on the list of court experts at a specific court of appeal in France; sworn-translator status is granted not on the basis of an examination, but on the basis of a submitted file and after the oath is taken.

Requirements for a candidate include a master’s-level education or equivalent, proven professional experience, and a clean criminal record; the application is submitted by registered letter to the Public Prosecutor by 1 March.

A simple translation bearing the stamp of a Ukrainian translation bureau has no legal force in France — French authorities consistently require a sworn translation prepared by a translator on the list of the relevant court.

The current list of sworn translators can be found on the website service-public.fr or on the Ministry of Justice portal experts-judiciaires.justice.fr, which aggregates the lists of all courts of appeal in the country.

Where translated documents are submitted

A sworn translation is required for applications to a whole range of French authorities — and this list is much broader than applicants usually expect.

1. Prefecture — for obtaining or renewing a residence permit (titre de séjour)
2. Town hall — for registering a marriage or a PACS
3. CAF — for family and housing benefits
4. CPAM — for health insurance
5. ANTS — for exchanging a driving licence
6. Educational institutions — for recognition of diplomas and admission to studies

Each authority may have its own additional requirements as to the format of the translation — some accept only the original translation with a wet seal, while others accept a scanned copy. Specific requirements should be confirmed in advance with the authority to which the documents are submitted.

Cost and timeframes of a sworn translation

The cost of a sworn translation for private individuals is not regulated and is set freely on the market — which is why prices charged by different translators and bureaus may differ several times over even within the same city.

Urgent translations should be ordered only when there is a genuine need — the surcharge for a 24–48-hour turnaround may substantially exceed the cost of the translation itself, whereas the standard timeframe of 3–7 days generally fits typical prefecture or town-hall deadlines.

Typical mistakes in legalizing documents for France

The most common mistake is translating a document before the apostille is affixed: in that case, the sworn translation will have to be done again, because it must cover the apostille stamp itself, not only the main text of the document.

The second common mistake is engaging a translator who is not on the official list of a specific court of appeal; such a translation, even if accurate in substance, is formally not accepted by the authorities.

The third is relying on outdated information about how to obtain an apostille in France: after the 2025 reform, the courts of appeal no longer issue apostilles, and applying to them means a loss of time.

The fourth mistake concerns documents issued in Ukraine: attempting to obtain an apostille from the wrong authority, for example applying to the Ministry of Justice with a diploma instead of the Ministry of Education and Science.

Which documents most often require translation and an apostille

Clients most often seek assistance with the legalization of civil status records — birth, marriage, or divorce certificates, as well as diplomas and their supplements. These are precisely the documents required to apply for a titre de séjour, register a marriage at a French town hall, or have education recognized for university admission or to confirm professional qualifications for employment.

1. Birth certificate — for a titre de séjour, registration of a child, and applying for CAF family benefits
2. Marriage or divorce certificate — for the town hall, the prefecture, and a change of surname in official documents
3. Diploma and its supplement — for recognition of education, admission to an educational institution, and employment in one’s field
4. Certificate of no criminal record — for certain types of residence permits or professional activities
5. Court judgments — for custody and child support matters, or for recognition of Ukrainian court decisions in France

The same sequence applies to each of these documents: first an apostille in Ukraine according to the type of document, then a sworn translation into French, either in France or by a translator recognized by the French system.

Sworn translation of French documents into Ukrainian

The reverse situation — when a document issued in France is needed for use in Ukraine — arises less often, but the procedure is, in logic, entirely the mirror image.

First, the French original is certified with an apostille through the notarial chamber under the new rules, and only then is the document translated into Ukrainian. This may be done by a sworn translator in France, whose signature is later additionally certified, or by a translator in Ukraine after the apostilled original has been brought into the country.

For the translated document to be used before Ukrainian public authorities, the translation is additionally notarized under Ukrainian rules. This is a separate step, distinct from the French concept of a sworn translation, and it should not be confused with the translation itself.

Legal assistance with the legalization of documents for France

Identifying the correct authority for the apostille, finding a sworn translator on the list of the relevant court, and not confusing the sequence of steps is a task in which a single mistake means repeating the entire procedure.

The lawyers of International Law Firm "Zahist" help determine which authority in Ukraine or in France is responsible for apostilling a particular document, and assist clients at every stage — from filing an application for an apostille to selecting a sworn translator.

We also advise on the requirements of specific French institutions regarding the format of the translation, so as to avoid a repeat application due to a formal non-compliance.

If you need to legalize documents for France and wish to avoid the typical procedural mistakes, contact International Law Firm "Zahist" — we will review your situation in a consultation.