Two countries
Apostille from France to Australia
At a glance
Can a document from France be used in Australia?
| Result | Apostille applies. |
|---|---|
| France | Uses apostilles member since 1 |
| Australia | Uses apostilles member since 1 |
| Apostille issued by | Regional councils and interdepartmental chambers of notaries (conseils régionaux et chambres interdépartementales de notaires)2 Public prosecutor at the Court of Appeal of Nouméa (procureur général près la cour d'appel de Nouméa)3 |
| Fee in France | €10 (per document for individuals, request of up to three documents, excluding tax)2 €20 (per document for individuals, request of up to three documents, apostille within 24 hours on request, excluding tax)2 €5 (per document for individuals, from the fourth document, excluding tax)2 |
| Processing time in France | The decree says the apostille is issued within three working days from the day the information needed is available in the database of public signatures4 |
| Last checked |
Step by step
How to get a document from France ready for Australia
- Before starting, check on notaires.fr the list of documents to provide, and the map of town halls that have added their signatures to the national database of public signatures.5
- If the document is a private deed, first have a formal declaration added to it, such as a certification of the signature, so that it becomes a public act.6
- Create the request online on the apostille.notaires.fr portal.7
- Pay the fee per document, which depends on the number of documents, on whether you are a person or a company, and on whether you ask for delivery within 24 hours.2
- The notaries deliver the apostille only in electronic form.8
- Give the document, with its apostille or legalisation, to the office in Australia that asked for it.
Situations
When the answer changes
- Private documents.A private document, such as a power of attorney or a contract, is first signed in front of a notary public, and the apostille then goes on the notary’s certificate. A copy of a public document from another country is first certified by a notary public, then apostilled.
- The other direction. For a document from Australia used in France, the apostille or legalisation starts in Australia. Check Australia to France
Note: What the apostille confirms
An apostille only confirms the signature, the role of the person who signed and any seal or stamp on the document. It does not confirm what the document says. The office that receives the document decides what it accepts.
Questions
Questions about documents from France for Australia
Is an apostille from France accepted in Australia?
Yes. An apostille from France is enough for Australia: both are members of the Apostille Convention (France since 24 January 1965, Australia since 16 March 1995). The apostille is issued in France by Regional councils and interdepartmental chambers of notaries and 1 other office. The published fee in France is €10. The office in Australia that receives the document decides what else it needs. Last checked 18 October 2026 against the HCCH status table.
Who issues the apostille for a document from France?
Regional councils and interdepartmental chambers of notaries (conseils régionaux et chambres interdépartementales de notaires) and Public prosecutor at the Court of Appeal of Nouméa (procureur général près la cour d'appel de Nouméa). The apostille is always issued in the country the document comes from, not in Australia.
How much does the apostille cost in France?
The published fee in France is €10. Fees can change, so check the office's own page before you apply.
Do I need to notarise a private document first?
Yes. A private document, such as a power of attorney or a contract, is first signed in front of a notary public in France. The apostille then goes on the notary's certificate.
Does Australia also need a translation?
The office in Australia that receives the document decides. Ask it before you start whether it needs a translation, and whether the translation needs its own certification.
Sources and verification
Sources
- HCCH status table: Apostille Convention (1961)
- France - Competent Authority (Art. 6)
- Modification de la liste des autorités compétentes pour délivrer des apostilles en France
- Décret n° 2021-1205 du 17 septembre 2021 relatif à la légalisation et à l'apostille des actes publics établis par les autorités françaises
- Accueil - Portail Grand Public
- Legalization or apostille of a public act drawn up by a French authority
- Centre de Légalisation et de l'Apostille de Paris (CLAP)
- Apostille et légalisation - Chambre des Notaires de l'Essonne
- Notarial services in Australia
- How to get your documents legalised
- Status
- Last verified: (18 October 2026)
- How it was checked
- Checked by our team against the sources above
- Next review
Every fact on this page links to the source it was taken from. Read how we check facts.
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