Sworn translators

Some administrative steps require documents written in foreign languages to be translated into French by sworn or certified translators. Whether you are in France or abroad, you will find on this page how to proceed. The deadlines and costs will be given by the translator.

If you are in France

Certified or sworn translators are approved by the French courts, and registered on a list of legal experts.
These lists of legal experts are available online, on the French Court of cassation website. 

Whether you are in Grenoble or Valence, you can start by consulting the list of experts ("experts judiciaires") approved by the Cour d'appel de Grenoble.
List of legal experts and certified translators of the Cour d'Appel de Grenoble

If you cannot find a translator for the language you are looking for in this list, you can broaden your search by consulting the lists of experts from other courts of appeal on the Court of Cassation’s website.
Lists of legal experts ("experts judiciaires") and certified translators on the French Court of cassation website
 
How to find a translator in these lists?
These lists include all court-appointed experts in various fields, not just translators.
Translators appear in the "H. Interprétariat – Traduction" section of the list of legal experts ("experts judiciaires"), in PDF format.
Then in the "H02. Traduction (écrit)" sub-section.
Translators are then grouped by language family, then by language, and finally by city.
Example:
To find translators who can translate from Mandarin/Chinese into French in writing, go to the section ‘H-02.04.05 Chinois’.

If you are abroad

The list of sworn translators is available from the French consulates in your country.
If the list is not available on their website, please contact the consulate directly.
List of French embassies and consulates on the website of the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs
 
Important
The translator’s signature must be legalized by the French Consulate in order for the translation to be valid.
Updated on  September 29, 2026