Published on: September 11, 2024 | By: @rprasanth_kumar
In France, a Police Clearance Certificate is known as an Extrait de Casier Judiciaire or Bulletin No. 3. This certificate provides a record of an individual’s criminal history, if any, and is often required for employment, immigration, citizenship, or other legal purposes.
To obtain a Police Clearance Certificate (Extrait de Casier Judiciaire) in France, you can follow these simple steps.
Who Can Apply?
- Residents of France: French citizens and residents in France..
- Non-Residents: Foreigners who previously lived in France.
How to apply?
a. Online Application
You can apply online through the official website: casier-judiciaire.justice.gouv.fr
Steps to follow:
- Visit the above website.
- Select your category (French citizen, resident, or non-resident).
- Enter your personal information (name, birth date, place of birth, etc.).
- Submit the online application.
- The police clearance certificate will be sent to you by email or post within a few days.
b. Postal Application
- If you prefer, you can apply by post.
- In this case, you should send your application form Cerfa n° 10071*16 along with a copy of your identity proof and your full name, date of birth, place of birth, and current address to,
- Address: Casier Judiciaire National, 107 rue du Landreau, 44317 Nantes Cedex 3, France.
c. In-Person Application
- French citizens living abroad can apply at their local French Embassy or Consulate.
- The consulate will forward your request to the relevant authorities in France.
Processing Time
The time taken to receive a criminal record extract (bulletin no. 3) varies depending on the method of application.
- Online using FranceConnect: From one hour to 24 hours.
- Online without FranceConnect: Around 2 working days.
- Postal Applications: Around 2 weeks if sent by post. This may take longer, especially for non-residents.
Cost of Application
- Obtaining a Police Clearance Certificate in France is free of charge.
Example of Extrait de casier judiciaire
Important Notes
- The certificate (Bulletin No. 3) only shows serious criminal convictions.
- It is only issued to the individual requesting it or a legal representative (a minor or an adult under guardianship).
- It may never be issued to a third party and people not respecting it can face a fine of 7,500 euros (Articles R. 82, 777, and 781 of the Code of Criminal Procedure).
