If you are getting married in France using UK-issued documents, there are several important legalisation steps to complete before submitting paperwork to the local mairie. French authorities generally require foreign public documents to be apostilled by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and accompanied by a sworn French translation. France is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, so the apostille is the final UK-side authentication step - but the sworn translation requirement adds a stage that many couples underestimate.
Certificate of No Impediment
The French mairie usually requires a Certificate of No Impediment confirming both partners are legally free to marry. It is issued by a UK register office after a mandatory 28-day notice period, which cannot be shortened. Once issued, it must be apostilled by the FCDO. The FCDO authenticates the registrar's wet-ink signature, seal or stamp. It must then be sworn-translated into French by a traducteur assermenté - a court-registered sworn translator - before it will be accepted by the mairie. The CNI is typically valid for three months from the date of issue, so plan the timing carefully against the wedding date.
Birth certificate
A full UK birth certificate is also required. It must be an original or officially issued certified copy from the GRO, a local register office, the National Records of Scotland or GRONI. It goes directly to the FCDO for apostille - no solicitor certification needed. A sworn French translation is then required before submission to the mairie.
If you have been married before
Where a previous marriage ended in divorce, the Decree Absolute or Final Order must be apostilled and sworn-translated. The original must carry a wet-ink signature or wet-ink or embossed seal with a date from the issuing authority for direct FCDO submission. If it does not meet those conditions, it must first be certified by a UK solicitor or Notary Public. Where a previous spouse has died, a death certificate is required - original GRO-issued document, apostilled and sworn-translated.
The sworn translation requirement
Standard certified translations are not accepted by French authorities. Every apostilled UK document submitted to the mairie must be accompanied by a sworn translation produced by a traducteur assermenté registered with a French court. This is a legal requirement, not a preference. Translations produced by non-registered translators, or translations without the required sworn declaration, will be rejected. Commission the sworn translations after the apostilles have been issued - the translator translates both the original document and the apostille certificate.
Timeline
Allow a minimum of four to five months before the wedding date. The CNI alone takes 28 days to obtain, then needs apostilling and translating. Add birth certificate and any divorce documents, each following the same sequence, and the cumulative timeline extends quickly. If you require an expedited service, our team can assist with every step of the process - from document preparation and apostille submission to arranging sworn French translations - helping ensure your documents are completed as quickly and smoothly as possible. Call our team on +44 (0) 204 630 6700 to confirm the full document list and manage the apostille process.
