Translating documents for France comes up in a long-stay visa, a Campus France application, a residence permit, family reunification or citizenship. French authorities usually want documents from Türkiye translated into French by a sworn translator. Some applications also accept English, and the type of application decides which language is used.
This guide maps out the whole picture. It covers which documents are translated for which application, what Campus France expects from a translation, and where notary approval or the apostille goes. It also explains how Languvi prepares a translation by a sworn translator in France (traducteur assermenté) when an office there asks for one.
Where translating documents for France comes in
Applications for France go to the French missions in Türkiye, to Campus France Türkiye or to offices in France. Each has its own document list, but all of them ask for documents from Türkiye to be translated.
Long-stay visas
Long-stay visas for study, work or family often ask for civil registry documents, bank statements and proof of income. Visa applications go through the visa centres authorised by the French missions in Türkiye. A sworn French translation of each document goes into the file.
Campus France and university admission
Students who want to study for a bachelor's or master's degree in France apply through the Études en France platform, via Campus France Türkiye. According to Campus France Türkiye's application guides, applicants to French-taught programmes submit documents in French, and applicants to English-taught programmes submit them in English. The guides ask for translations by a sworn translator and state that these translations need no notary approval.
The translations are uploaded to the online file together with the originals. Diplomas and transcripts must be official documents. The guides accept ones that are signed and stamped, e-signed or carry a QR code. Documents from e-Devlet can also be submitted, together with their sworn translations.
Residence permits (préfecture)
After moving to France, residence permit procedures run through the préfecture. Civil documents and proof of income may be requested again at this stage. Preparing your documents before you leave Türkiye saves you from going back to Turkish offices later for an apostille.
Family reunification
People joining family in France provide documents such as the marriage certificate and the children's birth certificates. Sworn French translations of these documents, together with apostilles, form the core of the file.
Citizenship, marriage and civil status
Citizenship applications, marriages or registering a civil status event in France often ask for a birth certificate, the civil registry record and a single status certificate. These procedures are handled by offices in France and often need a translation by a sworn translator in France.
Application | Documents often requested | Translation |
|---|---|---|
Long-stay visa | Civil documents, bank statements, proof of income | Sworn French translation |
Campus France | Diploma, transcript, student certificate | French or English, by programme language |
Residence permit | Civil documents, proof of income | Sworn French translation |
Family reunification | Marriage certificate, birth certificates | Sworn French translation with an apostille |
Citizenship and marriage | Birth certificate, single status certificate | A translation sworn in France if needed |
Traducteur assermenté: the sworn translator in France
In France, an official translation usually means a translation by a sworn translator on a French court's list (traducteur assermenté). Some offices inside France, especially for civil status and citizenship, ask for a translation by one of these translators.
Languvi covers both cases. For French missions in Türkiye and for Campus France, it prepares the translation through its sworn translators in Türkiye. Where a translation by a sworn translator in France is needed, Languvi prepares that too through its authorised translators; just write to us through the contact form.
In which order is the apostille done?
Türkiye and France are both parties to the Apostille Convention. Official documents issued in Türkiye are therefore used in France with an apostille.
- 1
Apostille on the original: the district governor's office, the governor's office or the court apostilles the original.
- 2
Sworn French translation: a sworn translator translates the document, including its apostille.
- 3
Notary approval: if the application asks for it, a notary approves the sworn translator's signature.
- 4
Apostille on the translation: if the application asks for it, the notarised translation is apostilled as well.
For Campus France applications, the guides say no notary approval is needed. Visa or family reunification applications, on the other hand, often ask for notary approval and an apostille. An order opened from Languvi's France page comes with both added; if your application does not need them, you can remove them in the form.
Preparing the documents step by step
Preparing documents for a French application usually runs in this order:
- 1
Decide where the application goes: the visa centre, Campus France or an office in France.
- 2
Get the document list and a recent copy of each document.
- 3
If your application needs it, have the originals of official documents apostilled by the district governor's office, the governor's office or the court.
- 4
Upload the documents to Languvi and choose French or English as the translation language.
- 5
For a visa or family reunification, add notary approval and an apostille to the order; for Campus France, remove these steps.
- 6
Add the translations to your file together with the originals, or upload them to the online system.
This order saves you from getting the same document twice. Getting time-limited documents such as criminal records just before the apostille and translation keeps them current on the day you apply.
Checks before you apply
French applications are most often delayed by the wrong language or a missing approval. Keep these points in mind:
For Campus France, settle the programme's language first; the translation language follows it.
Make sure your transcript is signed and stamped, e-signed or carries a QR code.
For visa and family reunification applications, add the apostille and notary approval to your order.
Keep the spelling of your name identical to your passport, so every translation uses it.
Keep the originals together with their translations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do translations for France need an apostille?
Many applications do. The sworn French translation is notarised and then apostilled. For Campus France applications, the guides say no notary approval is needed, so you can remove these steps in the order form.
How is a translation prepared for Campus France?
Campus France Türkiye asks for sworn translations of documents in Turkish. For French-taught programmes, documents are translated into French; for English-taught programmes, into English. We translate your diploma, transcript and student certificate in one order.
Which documents are translated for a long-stay visa?
The civil registry record, bank statements and proof of income are translated most often. If the list names another document, it needs translating too; you can add it to the same order.
Do you also prepare translations by a traducteur assermenté?
Yes. If an office in France asks for a translation by a sworn translator in France, Languvi prepares it through its authorised translators. Just write to us through the contact form.
Can documents from France be translated into Turkish?
Yes. Documents issued in France can be translated into Turkish for use in Türkiye. A notary approval can be added to these translations when it is needed.
Conclusion: Translating documents for France depends on which door the document goes through: the consulate, Campus France or an office in France. For Campus France a sworn translation without notary approval is enough. Visas or family reunification often need notary approval with an apostille. On Languvi you upload your document, then complete a sworn French or English translation in one order, with notary approval and an apostille when needed. See our page on French translation with apostille for France, or upload your document now on the order page.