Global Apostille Canada / Destinations / France
France: apostille and legalization from Canada
Apostille only · no embassy stage
France is a party to the Apostille Convention, so the Canadian apostille finishes the file. The Quebec–France traffic is heavy in both directions: successions, dual-nationality files, credential recognition, and notarial deeds that have to be usable before a French notaire.
The route your document takes
The Hague Apostille Convention applies to this destination (France). A single apostille from the Canadian competent authority is enough, with no embassy stage.
- TranslationCertified translation into the language your destination requires. Depends on your document
- NotarizationA notary or commissioner certifies the copy, the signature or the translator's affidavit. Depends on your document
- ApostilleThe competent Canadian authority issues the apostille certificate. Always
- LegalizationEmbassy or consular stamp, for destinations outside the Hague Convention. Not required
This is a preliminary route, not a legal opinion. Convention membership and embassy requirements change; we confirm the exact chain for your file in writing before any work starts.
What people usually send
The documents we most often prepare for this destination. If yours is not here, it is almost certainly still something we handle.
- Birth, marriage and death certificates
- University degrees and transcripts
- Powers of attorney and notarial deeds
- Court judgments and succession documents
- Corporate documents
Worth knowing
Documents from Quebec are already in French, so translation rarely arises. What does arise is form: a French notaire may want a particular attestation attached, and it is cheaper to add it before the apostille than after.
Where is your document from?
The authority that issues the apostille depends on the province the document was issued in, not on where you live.
- Own apostille office
- Quebec, Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan
- Every other province and territory
- Global Affairs Canada, Ottawa