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).
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Just wanted to say thanks for all the great info on this. I was able to follow the embedded link and your instructions to apply for my Bulletin No. 3 in less than 5 minutes! You are a lifesaver
You are welcome. Please leave your feedback on https://uk.trustpilot.com/evaluate/prasanthragupathy.com
Hey,
You are doing an amazing job, thanks a lot for all the help.
1. I have a question regarding PCC issued in India which I got from Passport Office. It says that the document is from the ‘Government of India, Ministry of External Affairs, Regional Passport Office’
There is a stamp from the ‘Ministry of Extrernal Affairs’ at the bottom as well.
I’m just wondering if I need to apostille this as well, or just a translation is enough?
I tried searching for keywords on your website but couldn’t find an answer. If this question has already been solved, please kindly direct me to the forum. Thank you in advance.
Hello Malhar,
If the PCC for India was obtained directly in India, it must be apostilled as explained it https://prasanthragupathy.com/2024/09/apostille-process-of-indian-birth-and-marriage-certificates/ and then translated too https://prasanthragupathy.com/2024/09/traducteur-assermente-list-of-official-translators-in-france/
If the PCC for India was obtained from Indian Embassy in Paris or Consulate in Marseille, it does not have to be apostilled. But French translation is required.
Cheers,
Prasanth
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Hi Prasanth, do we need this doc for nationality?
Hey
Yes, you do.
Hi Prasanth,
I was wondering if a police clearance certificate that a local police station has provided is valid if it is Apostilled.
Thank you for all your help!
Hello Caroline,
For which country and purpose?
Cheers,
Prasanth
PS: If my articles and answers are helpful, please leave your feedback on Trustpilot
Hello,
I got the PCC from France for citizenship. Do I also need to get one from India also? I have been living in France for less than 10 years.
Thanks
Hello Ak,
Detailed answers in https://prasanthragupathy.com/2025/01/complete-guide-to-documents-required-for-french-nationality-application-naturalisation-francaise-par-decret/
Cheers,
Prasanth
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