Criminal Record Certificate Translation for France

Which application, and who receives it

In France the criminal record certificate is most often requested for work permits, professional registration and certain administrative procedures, and the French official reads it as the counterpart of a bulletin n° 3 (the summary drawn from the casier judiciaire). The Turkish document is not that French document, however: the translation carries it across with its identity as a Turkish criminal record certificate and does not describe it as a bulletin. It is submitted alongside the other employment papers, and the spelling of the name must be the same on every document and in the passport.

An inconsistent transliteration slows the identity check at the préfecture or with the employer. The translation therefore carries names and identity data across in a way that is consistent with the official documents, without interpretation.

Barcode, verification and record lines

The barcode, QR code and verification reference on the e-Devlet printout show that the document can be checked; the translation notes that these are present with a [barcode] and [QR code] marker and does not decode what they contain. Where the document shows an entry, every line is translated exactly as it stands, including the nature of the offence, the decision and the date; a selective or summarised rendering damages the assurance the document offers. Since the French office may expect a recently dated document, having the translation done while the document is fresh avoids the problem of an out-of-date copy.

Appointment timing and how fresh the document is

In French administrative procedures documents are usually handed over at a préfecture appointment or at the moment an application file is submitted, and the criminal record certificate may be expected to have been issued close to that date. Obtaining it far too early and letting it sit can mean it is treated as out of date by the time it is handed in. Having the translation done while the document is fresh therefore keeps both the original and its translation current. Rather than fixing on a particular number of days, it is safer to plan your application calendar around the date the document is issued; where the appointment date is already known, obtaining the document shortly beforehand is the most practical route. Because the document’s current date appears in the translation exactly as it stands, the préfecture or the employer can read that freshness directly, which reduces the likelihood of further documents being requested.

The outcome is stated as plainly as “néant”

Where a French casier judiciaire shows nothing, it carries the word “néant” (no record). The outcome on the Turkish document, that there is no criminal record, must be carried across with the same clarity in its French counterpart; a vague translation weakens the assurance the document gives in the eyes of the French office. Where there is an entry, every line is translated exactly. The name of the document is likewise drawn with the right distinction, along the lines of the casier judiciaire yet keeping the identity of the Turkish document, because a criminal record certificate and an archive record cover different ground.

The issuing authority and terminology

The document is headed by the Ministry of Justice, Directorate General of Criminal Records and Statistics; this institution name is given with a descriptive rendering, but it is not equated with a French body. Rather than labelling the Turkish document a “casier judiciaire” outright, the sounder course is to carry it across as a Turkish criminal record certificate and add an explanation in brackets. The French side can then read the source and the nature of the document without confusing the two.

The court of appeal (Cour d’appel) list requirement

A translation submitted to an official body in France must be produced by a sworn translator (traducteur assermenté) who appears on the list of a court of appeal, and this condition applies to criminal records as well. Where the translation is produced in Türkiye, a sworn translator signs it, it goes through notarisation and an apostille is added. Confirming which route is required with the body you will submit to, the préfecture or the employer, is the safest step.

Currency, apostille and common mistakes

A criminal record certificate shows a particular date, and French institutions usually expect a recently issued copy. The translation carries the date of issue across exactly; it cannot make an old document current. Work to the “recently dated” test rather than to a specific number of days. Common mistakes:

• Translating the outcome vaguely and losing the clarity of “néant”.
• Working with a translator who is not on the list.
• Obtaining the apostille after the translation.

France is a party to the Hague Apostille Convention; confirm the current position on the official HCCH list. You can see the level of certification required for other documents on our document types page, review the cost on our pricing page, and upload your document for a quote. Details vary from one procedure to another; check with the institution before you apply.