ChatGPT сказал: Since September, France has implemented a new procedure for consular legalization. This change is part of a large-scale reform of document authentication for use abroad, following the modification of the apostille process. Detailed information is available on the official portal of the French government administration.
Reform of the Apostille in France
As previously reported by Schmidt & Schmidt, documents in France used to be apostilled by regional Courts of Appeal. Each court authenticated only the documents issued within its respective region, while documents issued by national authorities were legalized by the Paris Court of Appeal.
In 2020, France launched a gradual reform of the apostille system. A key decision was made to transfer the authority for apostille legalization to the notarial system in order to simplify the procedure. The final transfer of responsibilities was initially scheduled for 2023; however, the authorities were unable to prepare the necessary technical infrastructure in time, leading to a postponement. The reform was then set to take effect on January 1, 2025. Yet, on December 23, 2024, the implementation was postponed once again — this time to May 1, 2025, which was declared as the final date.
The reform was overseen by the Minister of Justice and Keeper of the Seals of France, the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, and the Minister of Overseas Territories. The implementation was carried out in several stages. On March 15, 2025, French municipalities appointed official representatives to liaise with the High Council of Notaries. The contact person could be a municipal officer or a member of the municipal council, and any mayor could also choose to act as the contact person personally.
Subsequently, municipalities with populations over 3,500 were required to submit a special database of signatures and seals to the High Council of Notaries by May 1.
On March 25, 2025, the French Ministry of Justice issued an order establishing a personal data processing system called the “National Database of Public Signatures.”
In addition, the Ministry of Justice established new fees for apostille certification. For individuals submitting between one and three documents, the fee is set at €10 per document; for the fourth and subsequent documents, €5 each. Legal entities, under standard processing times, pay €20 for each of the first three documents and €10 for each additional one. In cases of expedited processing, the fee is doubled.
Starting from May 1, 2025, the authority to issue apostilles in France was officially transferred to the notarial system. The responsibility for document authentication was assigned to 15 regional notarial councils and chambers.
As part of the reform, the French government announced a “digital transition.” A number of procedures related to apostille certification were moved online.
The High Council of Notaries created a national digital registry of signatures, though not all municipalities have yet uploaded their data. The government has not set a final deadline for smaller municipalities to complete this process.
Before having a document apostilled in France, applicants must verify whether the relevant municipality has already submitted its officials’ signatures to the national registry. If it has, the applicant can either: request an apostille online and then mail the documents to the Apostille and Legalization Center, or apply directly in person at the center.
Some experts, however, expressed skepticism about the reform’s progress. The French authorities were criticized for failing to provide a clear description of the document verification procedure, as well as for not publishing a registry of municipalities that have yet to submit their signature and seal samples.
There were also technical concerns. The digital service for submitting apostille requests was not launched on time, and as a result, notarial councils advised applicants to contact apostille centers directly.
Reform of consular legalization in France
The apostille procedure applies only to countries that are parties to the 1961 Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents (the Apostille Convention). For using French documents in countries that are not parties to the convention, it is necessary to undergo consular legalization, a longer and more costly process.
Previously, after documents were certified at the municipal office and translated by a sworn translator of the Court of Appeal, they were submitted to the Legalization Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). Once the MFA had endorsed the documents, they were sent to a consulate or the consular section of an embassy to complete the legalization process.
As part of the reform, starting September 1, 2025, the procedure for consular legalization has changed.
The responsibilities of the MFA Legalization Department were transferred, as in the case of the apostille, to the notarial system, specifically to 15 regional notarial councils and chambers.
The French Government Administration portal provides the following legalization algorithm:
- Determine whether the applicant needs an apostille or consular legalization;
- Check whether the document is eligible for apostille or legalization. It must be a public act, but not commercial, customs, diplomatic, or consular;
- Verify whether there is a bilateral or multilateral agreement with the destination country that allows recognition of documents without additional legalization;
- Confirm the exact fee and make the payment;
- Submit the application, either electronically or in person;
- Undergo the consular legalization procedure at the authorized notarial body (the exact body can be identified using the list on the official government portal);
- Receive a link to the digital legalization certificate with an electronic signature via email. If required by the foreign authority, it can be printed along with the seal and signature.
For electronic operations, an officially digitized copy of the document is required. A scan of a physical document is not acceptable.
It should also be noted that the new procedure does not apply to the following administrative territories, where the previous legalization process remains in effect:
- New Caledonia;
- French Polynesia;
- Wallis and Futuna Islands;
- French Southern and Antarctic Territories.
The official processing time for consular legalization at authorized notarial bodies is three business days. However, due to high demand, this period may be extended.
What is consular legalization?
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