Professional French Translation Services UK

French is one of the most requested languages for translation in the UK, driven by strong business ties with France, historic connections with francophone Africa, and significant French expatriate communities across Britain. From Channel Tunnel commuters to international corporations, the demand for professional French-English translation spans every sector.

French documents follow distinct administrative conventions that require specialist knowledge. The French notarial system, civil registry procedures, and legal terminology differ significantly from UK equivalents. Our French translators are native speakers with expertise in both French and UK administrative systems, ensuring your documents are not just linguistically accurate but properly formatted for UK official acceptance.

Whether you need birth certificates for settlement applications, business contracts for cross-border trade, or academic credentials for professional recognition, our certified French translations are accepted by the Home Office, UKVI, UK universities, HMCTS, and all regulatory bodies.

We translate the full range of French official and personal documents:

• Civil registry documents — Acte de naissance (birth certificates), acte de mariage (marriage certificates), acte de décès (death certificates), livret de famille
• Identity documents — Carte nationale d'identité, passeports français, permis de conduire (driving licences)
• Academic credentials — Diplômes, relevés de notes, attestations de réussite from French universities and grandes écoles
• Legal documents — Actes authentiques, jugements de divorce, procurations (powers of attorney), actes notariés
• Business documents — Extrait Kbis (company registration), statuts de société, contrats commerciaux, bilans comptables
• Administrative documents — Casier judiciaire (criminal record), attestations diverses, documents fiscaux

We also translate documents from Belgium, Switzerland, Canada (Quebec), and francophone African nations.

French legal documents require particular expertise due to fundamental differences between French civil law and UK common law:

• Notarial system — French notaires (notaries) have broader powers than UK equivalents. Documents like "acte authentique" carry specific legal weight that must be accurately conveyed
• Civil registry — French civil status documents follow standardised formats issued by mairies (town halls). We understand annotations, mentions marginales, and apostille requirements
• Court documents — French court judgments (jugements, arrêts) use specific legal terminology. Our legal translators ensure accurate translation of dispositif, motifs, and procedural elements
• Property documents — French property transactions involve specific documents (compromis de vente, acte de vente) with no direct UK equivalent

Our French legal translators include former lawyers and legal professionals who understand both jurisdictions.