How much does a sworn translation cost?
By Keran Chaussard, administrator of the Directory of Sworn Translators of France — updated on
There is no regulated rate for sworn translations ordered by individuals or companies: prices are set freely by each expert. Only translations carried out at the request of a court follow an official scale, set nationally by ministerial order: €38.50 excluding VAT per page of 250 words of French text, court costs being paid exclusive of VAT. This scale does not apply to private orders, but it is a useful benchmark. It is lower than the prices charged to individuals because of volume: a court file usually runs to several dozen pages, whereas a private order most often concerns a one- or two-page document, for which the quote, certification, paper copy and postage account for a significant share of the work.
An offer well below this scale calls for a question, not an accusation. The Directory of Sworn Translators of France makes no judgement on its colleagues’ practices, but a large difference always has an explanation, and it is better to know what it is before ordering.
Three checks are enough to clear up any doubt: who will sign the translation, which court of appeal list that person is registered on, and exactly what the price includes — certification, paper copy, postage, additional copies. If any of the three answers remains vague, you know where the difference lies.
How much does a sworn translation cost: actual prices
The amounts below are the average prices recorded across the network of the Directory of Sworn Translators of France. They vary from one expert to another, as each sets their fees freely.
| Document | Common language | Rare language |
|---|---|---|
| Civil status document, one page (first copy) | €60 to €65 on average | — |
| Divorce judgment, per page | around €65 | from €120 |
| Complete file | from €65 to over €1,000 depending on the volume and legal complexity | |
Duplicate copies are charged on a case-by-case basis depending on the expert: request them at the same time as the first copy, which is always cheaper than a later order.
The difference between common and rare languages is not due to linguistic difficulty but to the scarcity of experts. For some language pairs, France has only a handful of sworn translators across all court of appeal jurisdictions.
Key point — allow €60 to €65 for a one-page civil status document in a common language, around €65 per page for a divorce judgment, and from €120 per page for a rare language. A complete file is priced case by case.
What makes the price of a sworn translation vary
The language pair. English, Spanish, Italian or Portuguese are the cheapest, simply because there are many sworn translators for them. Conversely, a language for which France has only a few experts costs more, whatever the volume.
The actual volume. Depending on the practitioner, billing is per standard page, per word or at a flat rate. A birth certificate fits on one page; a divorce judgment or a bachelor’s degree transcript may run to ten. Always ask whether the price quoted is per unit or for the whole job.
The complexity of the layout. A sworn translation reproduces the structure of the source document: tables, stamps, marginal notes, coats of arms, signatures. A transcript in table form requires more work than running text with the same number of words.
Urgency. A 24- or 48-hour turnaround comes at a cost, usually in the form of a surcharge.
The number of copies. Each paper copy is signed and stamped by hand. Additional copies ordered at the same time as the first cost little; ordered later, they mean reopening the file.
Key point — always ask whether the price is per page or for the whole job, and order all your copies at once.
Additional costs to plan for
The price of the translation is not always the total cost of the file. Registered post comes on top, as does the apostille if the document is intended for use abroad. The apostille has been issued by notaries since 1 May 2025 and incurs a separate fee. If the recipient country has not signed the Hague Convention, a legalisation is required, which has also been handled by notaries since 1 September 2025.
Some documents must also be apostilled in their country of origin before being translated. Having them translated before checking this point sometimes means having to start all over again.
How to get an accurate quote first time
Send a legible, complete photo or scan of the document, front and back. A quote based on a rough description is almost always revised upwards.
State the target language, the receiving authority, the number of copies and your deadline. These four items are enough to obtain a firm price.
Finally, be wary of very low prices displayed without any mention of sworn status: a non-sworn translation naturally costs less, but will be rejected by the authority.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a sworn translation of a birth certificate cost?
- €60 to €65 on average for one page in a common language, first copy, according to the prices recorded across the network of the Directory of Sworn Translators of France. A divorce judgment costs around €65 per page in a common language and from €120 per page in a rare language. A complete file ranges from €65 to over €1,000 depending on the volume and legal complexity. As fees are not regulated, these amounts are indicative and vary from one expert to another.
- Is there an official rate for a sworn translation?
- No. There is no regulated rate for sworn translations ordered by individuals or companies. Only translations carried out at the request of a court follow a scale set by ministerial order: €38.50 excluding VAT per page of 250 words, court costs being paid exclusive of VAT. This rate applies to files that usually run to several dozen pages.
- Does the price include postage of the paper copy?
- It depends on the provider. Postage, particularly by registered post, is often a separate line item. Ask explicitly when requesting the quote.
- Can the price be negotiated for a large volume?
- Yes, this is common for a file of several dozen pages. The price per page generally falls as the volume increases.
- How much does the apostille cost on top of the translation?
- The apostille incurs a fee separate from the price of the translation, charged by the notarial centre that issues it. Since 1 May 2025, the apostille has been handled by notaries rather than by the courts of appeal.
Sources
- Lists of court-appointed experts of the courts of appeal, centralised by the Court of Cassation
- Decree No. 2004-1463 of 23 December 2004 on court-appointed experts
- Decree No. 2021-1205 of 17 September 2021, amended by Decree No. 2024-1200 of 23 December 2024, on legalisation and the apostille
- Regulation (EU) 2016/1191 of 6 July 2016 on the circulation of certain public documents
