A
Birth certificate Document
Official
civil status document attesting to a person's birth. Issued by the town hall (
mairie) of the place of birth (in France) or by the consulate. Three forms exist:
extract without parentage,
extract with parentage, and
full copy (
copie intégrale, with marginal notes). For French administrative procedures involving a person born abroad, a
certified translation is required.
Multilingual certificate (acte plurilingue) International
A civil status certificate issued under the Vienna Convention of 8 September 1976, drafted simultaneously in several languages (French, English, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Turkish, Greek…). It is accepted directly by French administrations without translation. Issued by 24 signatory countries, including Spain, Portugal, Italy, Germany, Switzerland and Turkey. Forms A (birth), B (marriage), C (death).
ANEF Institution
Administration Numérique pour les Étrangers en France (Digital Administration for Foreign Nationals in France). The official online platform (administration-etrangers-en-france.interieur.gouv.fr) for submitting applications for residence permits, naturalisation and family reunification. Progressively replacing in-person counters at the prefecture. Requires an account with a unique ID number.
Apostille International
An authentication formality for a public document, established by the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961. It certifies the document's origin (signature, capacity of the signatory, seal) and makes it valid in all 125 signatory states without further formality. In France, it is issued by the Apostille Office of the Court of Appeal (Cour d'appel) with jurisdiction over the signatory. Must be obtained BEFORE certified translation, on the original document.
Sworn (translator) Status
A translator listed as a judicial expert with a French Court of Appeal, who has taken an oath at a formal court hearing. Synonyms: certified translator, sworn translator, official translator, expert translator. Governed by Law 71-498 of 29 June 1971. The only professional authorised to produce a translation with official legal value in France.
B
Bruxelles II bis / II ter International
EU regulations on the recognition of matrimonial and parental responsibility decisions within the EU. Brussels IIa = Regulation 2201/2003. Brussels IIb = Regulation 2019/1111 (in force since August 2022). Enables automatic recognition of divorce, legal separation and parental responsibility judgments among the 27 Member States, without exequatur.
Bulletin n°3 (criminal record extract) Document
The version of the French criminal record that individuals may request for themselves, issued free of charge by the National Criminal Records Office (Casier Judiciaire National, Nantes) or online. Contains only the most serious convictions. The foreign equivalent (criminal record, ACRO, FBI report, Führungszeugnis, etc.) must be translated for French procedures.
C
CCAM Procedure
Certificat de Capacité à Mariage (Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage). A
mandatory document to marry a French national abroad, or a foreign national in France. Issued after filing a marriage application file including, among other things, the
translated birth certificate. Validity: 6 months to 1 year, depending on the town hall.
CEF (Études en France · Studies in France) Procedure
Centres pour les Études en France (Centres for Studies in France). A mandatory procedure for students who are nationals of 67 countries wishing to enrol in French higher education. Online platform: pastel.diplomatie.gouv.fr. Requires the translation of diplomas and academic transcripts.
Certified / Certification Status
A statement affixed by the sworn translator confirming that the translation is a "true copy of the original". Accompanied by the signature, the wet-ink stamp, the date, the registration number and the initials on every page. Gives the translation the same legal value as the original.
Hague Convention International
A generic name for several private international law conventions. The one of
5 October 1961 establishes the
apostille, which removes the legalisation requirement for foreign public documents (125 signatory states in 2026). The Convention of
29 May 1993 governs international adoption. That of
17 July 1905 / 14 March 1978 concerns marriage.
Vienna Convention (ICCS 1976) International
A convention of the
International Commission on Civil Status (ICCS), signed in Vienna on 8 September 1976. Establishes
multilingual civil status certificates (forms A, B, C) exempt from translation between signatory countries. Distinct from the well-known Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (1969).
Full copy (copie intégrale) Document
The complete version of a civil status certificate, reproducing its entire content and all marginal notes (marriage, divorce, acknowledgement of a child, death, etc.). Distinct from the extract. Required for most administrative procedures (naturalisation, marriage).
Court of Appeal (Cour d'appel) Institution
A French second-instance court. There are 36 across mainland France and overseas territories. Each Court of Appeal maintains a list of judicial experts · including sworn translators · admitted by application after a background check. The Court of Cassation (Cour de cassation) maintains a national list. Being listed is the sine qua non condition for practising as a sworn translator.
D
DAP (Demande d'Admission Préalable · Prior Admission Request) Procedure
A mandatory procedure for foreign students (outside the EU and outside the CEF procedure) wishing to enrol in first-year bachelor's degree studies at a French university. Requires translation of the secondary school leaving diploma and a French-language proficiency test.
Darija / Arabic dialects Linguistic
The various vernacular Arabic dialects spoken day to day (Moroccan darija, Tunisian derja, Algerian dardja, Levantine chami, Gulf khaliji, etc.). Never used in public records, which are drafted in Modern Standard Arabic (MSA / fusha). For French procedures, only the standard Arabic of official documents is translated.
E
ENIC-NARIC Institution
European Network of Information Centres / National Academic Recognition Information Centres. A European information network on the recognition of foreign qualifications. In France, operated by France Éducation International (formerly CIEP, Sèvres). Issues certificates of comparability for qualifications obtained abroad. Requires a certified translation of the diploma and transcripts.
Civil status (état civil) Institution
The set of
legal attributes identifying a person: surname, first name(s), date and place of birth, parentage, nationality, marital status, date of death.
Civil status certificates (birth, marriage, death) are the proof of these elements. Maintained in France by town halls and, for French nationals living abroad, by the
Central Civil Status Office in Nantes.
Exequatur Procedure
A judicial procedure allowing a foreign court decision to be recognised and enforced in France (outside the EU, where Brussels Ia / IIb applies). Falls within the jurisdiction of the tribunal judiciaire (French civil court). Requires a full certified translation of the judgment, the summons and any annexes.
Judicial expert Status
A qualified individual listed on an expert register held by a Court of Appeal or the Court of Cassation. Assists courts in legal proceedings by providing expertise on technical matters. Sworn translators are judicial experts in the Translation specialty. Governed by Law 71-498 of 29 June 1971.
F
H
Hijri calendar Linguistic
The Islamic lunar calendar used in several Arab-Muslim countries for civil status records. It begins in the year 622 CE. Some documents carry a dual date (Hijri + Gregorian). The certified translation converts the date to Gregorian format for French administrations.
J
Judgment Document
A
court decision issued by a tribunal. For French procedures involving a foreign judgment (divorce, child custody, inheritance), certified translation is mandatory. Generally comprises: heading, statement of facts, grounds, operative part (
dispositif), date and signature. See also
exequatur.
L
Legalisation International
A procedure to
authenticate a public document intended for use abroad, applicable
outside the Hague Convention. Involves
double certification: first by the foreign ministry of the issuing country, then by the consulate of the destination country. Heavier and slower than the
apostille.
Family record book (livret de famille) Document
An official French document recording a family's civil status events: marriage, children's births, deaths. Equivalent foreign family record books (the Spanish libro de familia, the Moroccan family record book, etc.) must be translated in full for certain procedures (naturalisation, family reunification).
M
Marginal notes (mentions marginales) Document
Annotations added in the margin of a civil status certificate to keep it up to date: marriage, divorce, acknowledgement of a child, change of name, acquisition of nationality, death. Marginal notes must be translated together with the main certificate.
MSA (Modern Standard Arabic) Linguistic
Modern Standard Arabic · literary Arabic or fusha (الفصحى). The written, official form of Arabic, used in the media, education and all administrative documents across the 22 Arab League countries. Distinct from vernacular dialects (darija, chami, khaliji, etc.). Certified Arabic–French translation is always carried out from MSA.
N
Naturalisation Procedure
The procedure for acquiring French nationality as a foreign national. Two main routes: by decree (Article 21-15 of the French Civil Code, after 5 years of residence) and by marriage (Article 21-2 of the French Civil Code, after 4 years of marriage and cohabitation). Requires a complete file including certified translations of the birth certificate, marriage certificate, criminal record and diplomas.
O
Official (translation) Status
A synonym for sworn / certified translation. Refers to any translation produced by a translator listed with a French Court of Appeal and having legal value that is binding on administrations.
OFII Institution
Office Français de l'Immigration et de l'Intégration (French Office for Immigration and Integration). A public body responsible for welcoming foreign nationals in France: medical check-ups, the Republican integration contract, and monitoring of residence permits. Sometimes requires certified translations to be produced.
OFPRA Institution
Office Français de Protection des Réfugiés et Apatrides (French Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons). A public body examining applications for asylum, subsidiary protection and stateless status. Documents submitted are handled with strict confidentiality. See also CNDA (National Court of Asylum), the appeals body.
P
Initials (paraphe) Procedure
An abbreviated signature affixed to every page of a certified translation (as well as to the copy of the source document bound to it). Confirms that all the pages belong to the same certified translation. Accompanies the full signature affixed to the last page.
Talent Passport (Passeport Talent) Procedure
A multi-year residence permit (4 years) for international talent: researchers, skilled employees, investors, business founders, artists, and elite athletes. Requires certified translation of diplomas, contracts and financial supporting documents.
Prefecture / Sub-prefecture Institution
A decentralised administration of the State at departmental level, headed by a préfet. Handles residence permits, long-stay visas, naturalisation applications, name changes, and many other administrative procedures. Since 2023, most procedures have been digitised via ANEF.
R
EU Regulation 2016/1191 International
An EU regulation that came into force on
16 February 2019. Removes the
apostille and
translation requirements for certain public documents (birth, marriage, death, parentage, criminal record) issued in an EU Member State when accompanied by a
multilingual standard form. Significantly simplifies intra-EU procedures.
Binding (physical) Procedure
The process of physically binding the certified translation to a copy of the source document, typically with a staple, ribbon or stitching sealed with a stamp. Ensures the translation cannot be separated from the source. A formal requirement of many administrations.
Family reunification Procedure
A procedure allowing a foreign national lawfully residing in France for at least 18 months to bring over their spouse and minor children. Processed by the OFII. Requires certified translation of civil status certificates and proof of financial resources.
S
SCEC (Nantes) Institution
Service Central d'État Civil de Nantes (Central Civil Status Office of Nantes), attached to the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. Holds the civil status certificates of French nationals born or married abroad, or whose civil status event has been transcribed in France. Responsible for the transcription of marriages and births that took place abroad.
Oath (translator) Procedure
A solemn undertaking made by the translator before the Court of Appeal when being added to the list of judicial experts. Standard wording: "I swear to assist the courts, to fulfil my duty, to submit my report, and to give my opinion on my honour and in good conscience." Breach of this oath is punishable under criminal law (Article 434-13 of the French Criminal Code, on forgery of a public document).
Private deed (sous seing privé) Legal
A written instrument drafted and signed by the parties themselves, without the involvement of a public officer (notary). As opposed to a notarial deed (acte authentique). Private contracts or agreements may require a certified translation to be submitted to a French administration.
T
Stamp (wet-ink) Procedure
The sworn translator's official seal, applied in ink on the last page of the translation and on every initialled page. Bears the translator's name, language specialty, registration number and the Court of Appeal they are registered with. An essential element of certification.
TJ (Tribunal judiciaire) Institution
The general first-instance civil court, created by the 2020 merger of the former tribunaux d'instance and tribunaux de grande instance. Has jurisdiction over civil disputes, international successions, exequatur and nationality matters. Every French department has at least one.
Transcription (foreign certificate) Procedure
The process of recording a
foreign civil status certificate (marriage, birth, acknowledgement of a child) on the
French civil status registers, so that it is legally binding in France. Handled by the French consulate in the country where the event took place, or by the
SCEC in Nantes. Requires a certified translation of the source certificate.
V
VLS-TS Procedure
Visa de Long Séjour valant Titre de Séjour (Long-Stay Visa Equivalent to a Residence Permit). A visa allowing its holder to reside in France for a period of 4 to 12 months. Exempts the holder from applying for a residence permit on arrival, subject to validation with the OFII within 3 months. Applies notably to students and spouses of French nationals.