Document translation for a French student visa: what is expected in the Campus France process

Candidates who want to go to France to study usually pass through the Campus France pre-registration process and then prepare for a consulate appointment. At both of these stages, the point at which things most often stall is the requirement that documents drawn up in Turkish be translated into a language the receiving side can understand.

The accepted language may be French or English

For official documents such as diplomas, academic transcripts and birth records, a French translation is usually requested; some departments and programmes may also accept a document in English. Which language applies depends on the current guidance of the university you are applying to and of the relevant application centre. The safest course, therefore, is to confirm the language requirement stated in your letter of acceptance or on the application page before any translation begins.

A sworn stamp is required on most documents

In student applications, having documents such as transcripts and diplomas translated and stamped by a sworn translator is a frequently requested standard. A sworn translation is one in which the translator declares that they have kept faith with the original document and takes responsibility for it with their signature and stamp. In some cases notarisation or an apostille may also be asked for; since this requirement varies with the document and with the institution, it would be wrong to offer a single formula.

A practical suggestion: settle from the outset which documents are to be translated and what the certification chain will be. A translation that is missing, or in the wrong language, brings with it the risk of not being ready in time for your appointment date. At our office in Ankara Kızılay we assess student document sets as a whole and plan together which document needs to be prepared in which format.