Apostille for France
ApostilleUsing US documents in France · Europe
France is a Hague Apostille Convention member, so US documents only need an apostille — no embassy legalization. State-issued documents (birth certificates, diplomas, notarized papers) are apostilled by the issuing state; federal documents (FBI checks, IRS letters) by the U.S. Department of State — Office of Authentications. Fees run $1–$40 by state, $20 federally.
| Hague status | Member since January 24, 1965 |
|---|---|
| Embassy legalization needed? | No — apostille only |
| State documents go to | The issuing state's competent authority |
| Federal documents go to | U.S. Department of State — Office of Authentications ($20/doc) |
Your exact steps for France
Prefilled for this page. Open the full Pathway Checker →
Which documents does France usually ask for
- Birth certificate (state example: California)
- Marriage certificate (state example: California)
- Single status affidavit (state example: California)
- Diploma / degree certificate (state example: California)
- FBI background check (Identity History Summary) (federal)
State documents vs federal documents
The routing never depends on France — it depends on who issued your document. A birth certificate, diploma, or notarized paper is a state document, apostilled or certified by the issuing state. An FBI background check, IRS letter, or naturalization certificate is federal and goes only to the U.S. Department of State — Office of Authentications.
Special notes for France
French authorities commonly require a certified translation into French by a sworn translator (traducteur assermenté).
Frequently asked questions
＋Does France accept an apostille?
Yes. France is a Hague Apostille Convention member (in force since January 24, 1965), so a US document needs only an apostille — no embassy legalization. State documents are apostilled by the issuing state; federal documents by the US Department of State.
＋Do I still need to legalize documents at the France embassy?
No. Because France accepts apostilles, the embassy legalization step is skipped entirely. That is the whole point of the Convention — one certificate replaces the old multi-step chain.
＋Does France require a translation?
French authorities commonly require a certified translation into French by a sworn translator (traducteur assermenté).
＋Which US office issues the apostille for France?
It depends on the document, not on France. State documents (birth certificates, diplomas, notarized papers) go to the issuing state's authority. Federal documents (FBI checks, IRS letters) go to the US Department of State.
More country requirements
Sources
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor
Last verified: July 13, 2026 against the HCCH status table(official page). See how we verify and how often on ourmethodology page.
This is informational, not legal advice. The receiving authority sets the final requirements — confirm with them and the office named above before you send anything.