Published on: November 28, 2025 | Article No: 337 | By: @rprasanth_kumar
Legalisation and apostille are two official certifications used to confirm that a French public document can be recognised abroad. They do not apply to French documents intended for use within a French administration. Their role is simply verify the authenticity of the signature, the authority of the person who signed, and when relevant, the identity of the seal or stamp that appears on the document.
In practice, an apostille takes the form of an official stamp added to the document. Below is a practical guide to help you understand the timeline, fees, and the ways to submit a request for an apostille in France.
Title image credits: Notaires.fr
For all your questions, please feel free to use the comments section below.
What Are Legalisation and Apostille, and How Do They Differ?
Legalisation and apostille are procedures that confirm a document’s signature is genuine, that the person who signed it had the proper authority, and when needed, that the seal or stamp on the document is authentic. They do not validate the content of the document. Their purpose is simple: to allow French public documents to be recognised abroad.
In practice, both appear as an official stamp added to the document and are now issued only in electronic format by French notaries. The difference between the two lies in how they are used internationally.
- Legalisation is the standard procedure. It is required when a French document is sent to a country that is not part of the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961.
- An apostille is a simplified version of legalisation. It replaces legalisation for countries that are members of the Hague Convention. It verifies the same elements as legalisation but through a quicker, standardised process.
These procedures do not check or approve the content of the document. In simple terms, legalisation and apostille verify:
✅ The signature on the document is genuine.
✅ The signer’s identity and official role.
✅ The seal or stamp, when there is one.
How to submit a request for Apostille?
Since 1st May 2025, the Notaries of France, through 15 regional councils or interdepartmental chambers of competent notaries, are responsible for issuing apostilles in place of the Cours d’appel. The applicant can choose between two methods to submit the request for an apostille of the documents issued by French government.
✅ Option 1: Apply Online
You can request an apostille or a legalisation online through the official apostille.notaires.fr portal. Follow the steps below,
- Creation of the apostille request on apostille.notaires.fr. and upload the documents to be apostilled. During the online process, you should select an apostille and legalization center that will handle your request. In the absence of a choice, the center considered as closest to your home will process your request.
- Send the documents to be apostilled by post to the center selected above. The relevant postal address is available on Adresses des 15 Centres d’apostille et de légalisation
- Receipt of an email containing the detailed summary of your appliication.
- Online payment of apostille fees
- Downloading the authenticated document when it is available.
Note: Even if the apostille request is made online, the administration requires sending the documents by post, on which the apostille must be affixed. Only the documents which are obtained 100% online with a digital signature are exempt from this requirement.
✅ Option 2: Apply at a local Apostille Center
If you prefer in person service, you can visit one of the apostille and legalisation centers managed by the 15 Regional Councils or Interdepartmental Chambers of Notaries. These Centres d’apostille et de légalisation will accept paper documents and provide support throughout the apostille process.
Fees for Apostille and Legalisation Services
| Service Type | Fee (Individuals / Legal Entities) |
|---|---|
| Standard delivery (within 3 working days) | |
| Up to 3 documents | 10 € / 20 € (excl. tax) |
| From 4th document onwards | 5 € / 10 € (excl. tax) |
| Express delivery (within 24h) | |
| Up to 3 documents | 20 € / 40 € (excl. tax) |
| From 4th document onwards | 10 € / 20 € (excl. tax) |
Additional Information
- The official timeline starts once all information required to process the request is available in the national public signatures database.
- Express delivery is available upon request for both individuals and legal entities.
- The fee is paid only when the apostilled or legalised document is issued. If the certification is not granted, no fee is charged.
- If the applicant does not include a prepaid envelope, or if the postage supplied is insufficient, the relevant postage costs may be added. This additional cost is calculated based on the actual postage expenses incurred by the Regional Council or Interdepartmental Chamber of Notaries and are capped at 5 euros before tax.
Support and Contact Information
If you have a question about apostille or legalisation process,
✅ By email: you can write to apostille@notaires.fr
✅ By phone: you can call 0800 711 102. This toll free number is available Monday to Friday, from 8:30 to 18:00.
Sources: Légalisation ou apostille d’un acte public établi par une autorité française | Comment faire apostiller ou légaliser un document numérique?
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Attestation step is missing.
Attestation is required for all the documents issued by Mairie for example.
But attestation is not required fot CNF documents for example.