To practise in France with a European healthcare qualification, some documents in your file must be in French. People often speak of a sworn translation; the texts speak of a translator approved by the French courts, or authorised in another country of the European Union or the European Economic Area. Here is which documents to have translated, by whom, and how to find that translator.
Sworn, approved, authorised translator: what does it mean?
“Sworn” is the everyday word: in France, translators who are court experts take an oath before the court of appeal (Law No. 71-498 of 29 June 1971, Article 6). The texts on the recognition of healthcare qualifications speak of a translation made by a translator approved by the French courts or authorised to work for the judicial or administrative authorities of a Member State of the European Union or the European Economic Area, and also of Switzerland for authorisations to practise. None of these texts says “sworn”.
Do you live outside the European Union, the EEA and Switzerland? For authorisations to practise, the texts also provide for a translation certified by the French consular authorities.
Which documents need translating?
It depends on your procedure:
| Your procedure | What the texts require you to translate | What the Ordre asks for on top |
|---|---|---|
| Authorisation to practise: physiotherapist, healthcare assistant, occupational therapist, nurse with a non-compliant qualification | The documents in the file other than the form and the identity document: qualification, certificates, evidence of experience, certificate of no sanction | — |
| Registration with the Ordre: doctor, midwife, nurse | The copy of your qualifications, if it is not in French | Midwives: the Ordre asks for a certified translation of every document that is not in French |
| Registration with the Ordre des masseurs-kinésithérapeutes, after the authorisation | The text mentions no translation | — |
Before having anything translated, check the list of documents in the guide for your occupation: translating the whole file is not always necessary, but each document the texts require you to translate must be translated if it is not in French.
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Finding a translator, step by step
Step 1 — Check which documents must be translated
Go back to the table of documents in the guide for your occupation: physiotherapist, healthcare assistant, occupational therapist, nurse, midwife or doctor.
Step 2 — Look for an approved translator in France
Approved translators appear on the lists of the courts of appeal and on the national list. The Service-Public page “Traduction d'un document : comment trouver un traducteur agréé ?” (in French) points to the search tool of the Cour de cassation: searching is free, the translation is paid for. The texts do not require you to choose a translator registered with the court of appeal of your region.
Step 3 — Still in your country? Ask before having anything translated
The texts also accept a translator authorised to work for the judicial or administrative authorities of another EU or EEA Member State (or Switzerland, for authorisations to practise). But we have found no rule guaranteeing that a translator from your country will be accepted in every case: ask the authority that will receive your file (DREETS, committee or Ordre) before having anything translated. If you live outside the European Union, the EEA and Switzerland, the translation of the documents for an authorisation to practise may also be certified by the French consular authorities: ask the French consulate.
Step 4 — Ask for a quote and start the translations early
Ask for a quote before ordering, and start the translations as soon as you have your original documents: your file must be complete when you submit it, because the decision period only starts once the file is complete.
What the texts say. For authorisations to practise, the orders of 20 January 2010 and 24 March 2010 require the documents, except the form and the identity document, to be written in French or translated by a translator approved by the French courts or authorised to work for the judicial or administrative authorities of an EU or EEA Member State or Switzerland. For registration with the Ordres of doctors, midwives and nurses, Article R4112-1 of the French Public Health Code (and, for nurses, Article R4311-52) covers the translation of the copy of the qualifications, by a translator approved or authorised in an EU or EEA Member State. Article R4323-1, for the Ordre des masseurs-kinésithérapeutes, mentions no translation.
Frequently asked questions
Is a translation done by a bilingual relative accepted?
No, for the documents the texts require you to translate: the translation must be made by a translator approved by the French courts or authorised in another EU or EEA Member State (or Switzerland, for authorisations to practise).
Is a sworn translator from my country the same as a French “traducteur agréé”?
Not necessarily. In France, traducteurs agréés are court experts who take an oath before the court of appeal; the French texts on the recognition of qualifications speak of a “translator approved by the French courts” (traducteur agréé). For a translator sworn in your country, see the question on translators from your country.
Do I need to have all my documents translated?
Not necessarily. For an authorisation to practise, all documents except the form and the identity document; for registration with the Ordre, the law covers the copy of the qualifications, but the Ordre des sages-femmes asks for a certified translation of every document. Check the list in the guide for your occupation.
Is a translator from my country accepted?
The texts accept a translator authorised to work for the judicial or administrative authorities of another EU or EEA Member State (or Switzerland, for authorisations to practise), but we have found no rule guaranteeing it in every case. Ask the authority that will receive your file before having anything translated.
Do I have to choose a translator near where I live?
No. The texts do not limit the choice to the court of appeal of your region.
Can I submit my file before I have all the translations?
Better not: the decision period only starts once the file is complete. Start the translations as soon as you have your original documents.
Official sources
- Service-Public.fr — Traduction d'un document : comment trouver un traducteur agréé ? (in French)
- Cour de cassation — Trouver un expert agréé ou un traducteur agréé (in French)
- Order of 20 January 2010 — translation of documents (authorisation to practise)
- Order of 24 March 2010 — translation of documents (healthcare assistant)
- French Public Health Code, Article R4112-1 — translation of qualifications (Ordres)
- Law No. 71-498 of 29 June 1971, Article 6 — oath of court experts