Translating Your Company's Articles of Association: Sworn Translation, Steps and Documents to Provide

By Keran Chaussard, administrator of the Directory of Sworn Translators of France — updated on 11 October 2026

The articles of association define the company's legal identity, its governance rules, the powers of its representatives and sometimes the financial rights of its shareholders. An error in the corporate purpose clause, a share class or a majority rule can delay a transaction or create legal ambiguity. Careful preparation avoids back-and-forth, especially when a registration, a signing or a bank account opening is subject to a deadline.

When do you need to translate your company's articles of association?

A translation of the articles of association is typically required in the following situations:

• setting up a subsidiary or opening a branch abroad
• registering with a foreign companies registry
• opening a bank account in another country
• raising funds or bringing in a foreign investor
• responding to an international call for tenders
• litigation, or a case handled by a foreign law firm

The articles rarely travel alone. Depending on the context, the recipient may also ask for a recent Kbis extract (the French certificate of incorporation), the minutes appointing the company's director, the extract from the register of beneficial owners, an identity document for the signatory, a power of attorney, the annual accounts or a tax certificate. If the transaction involves a foreign parent company, the equivalent documents for that entity may also be required.

Simple translation, sworn translation or apostille: what does the recipient require?

There are three levels, and they are not interchangeable:

• Simple translation: sufficient for negotiations or internal information, with no official value.
• Sworn translation (also called certified translation): produced by a court-appointed expert translator, it attests that the translation is faithful to the document presented. It bears the translator's signature, stamp and a certification statement.
• Apostille or legalisation: authenticates the signature or seal on a document. Depending on the country and the document, it may apply to the source document (for example the Kbis extract) or to the translator's signature. Since 1 May 2025, it has been issued in France by notaries.

The receiving authority will tell you which of these formalities it requires: ask it before ordering.

Which translator should you choose for an official translation of your articles?

In France, the term "sworn translator" (traducteur assermenté) refers to a translator-interpreter registered as a court-appointed expert on the list of a court of appeal. Their registration, working languages and area of expertise can be checked on the official lists. This status is often required for documents intended for a foreign authority, but the deciding factor is always whether the receiving body accepts the translation.

Articles of association require genuine expertise in company law: share capital, payment of contributions, share transfers, usufruct, voting rights, quorum, removal of directors or early dissolution cannot be translated approximately. Some French concepts have no exact equivalent in the law of the destination country. A SARL, a SAS or a commissaire aux comptes (statutory auditor) may therefore call for a carefully worded explanation rather than a risky equation with a foreign structure.

The translator is not, however, a legal adviser. They do not rewrite your articles or check that they comply with local law. If adaptation is needed, that is a matter for a lawyer or legal adviser qualified in the jurisdiction concerned. The translation itself remains faithful to the signed and registered document.

How to get your articles translated quickly: the information to provide

To receive a usable quote on the first attempt, send:

1. The complete, up-to-date articles as a legible PDF: a PDF generated from the original is better than photos taken with a phone. Check that all pages are included, along with annexes, signatures, initials and any handwritten notes.
2. The source language and the exact target language: "English" is not always enough. A recipient in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada or the United Arab Emirates may have different expectations. The same applies to Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic and Chinese.
3. The destination country and the name of the receiving organisation.
4. The intended use (registration, banking, litigation, etc.).
5. Your actual deadline: an urgent translation is often possible, but it depends on the volume, the language pair, the translator's availability and the required formatting.
6. Your billing details.
7. The full list of documents to be translated: entrusting all documents for the same authority in a single request ensures that company names, personal names, amounts and dates are consistent across documents.

What to check before sending the translation

• Full translation: foreign authorities often require the articles in full, particularly to verify the powers of the legal representative. A partial translation is only acceptable if the recipient has expressly authorised it.
• Consistency across documents: company name, legal form, registered office, registration number, share capital and the director's identity must match the Kbis extract and the minutes. After amending the articles, provide the updated version and, if necessary, the document recording the decision. Submitting old articles alongside a recent Kbis extract is a classic cause of requests for further information.
• Presentation and integrity: do not alter the certified translation after receiving it, and do not separate it from its annexes. If the receiving body requires a paper original, ask for one before the translation is finalised: a certified PDF and a printed copy do not always meet the same requirements.
• Confidentiality: articles of association contain information about shareholders, contributions and the distribution of capital. Use a secure transmission channel, limit the number of recipients, keep a copy of the file you sent and flag the confidential nature of the documents from the outset.

Finding a court-appointed translator, including for urgent requests

For a common language (English, German, Italian, Spanish), searching by language, specialisation and location will often quickly identify a suitable professional. For a less common language, highly specialised terminology or a tight deadline, run a nationwide search with no geographical filter: as the title of court-appointed expert is national, the translation has the same value whichever court of appeal the expert is attached to.

The Directory of Sworn Translators of France lists translators and interpreters registered as court-appointed experts with the courts of appeal, based on the official lists in force. If no profile meets your needs, the express file submission service lets you send all your documents in one place and find an available translator anywhere in France. This is particularly useful when the articles must be accompanied by a Kbis extract, minutes or several other documents in the same language.

Before confirming the order, check the delivery format, the number of copies, the stated turnaround time and any formalities to be completed after translation.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a sworn translator to translate articles of association?

Not always. A simple translation may be enough for information purposes. For a companies registry, a bank or a foreign authority, however, a sworn translation is generally required. The recipient sets the rule.

Can I translate only certain articles?

Only if the recipient expressly agrees. By default, a full translation is the safest option.

Does a sworn translation replace an apostille?

No. A sworn translation guarantees that the translated content is faithful to the original; an apostille or legalisation authenticates a signature or seal. Both may be required together.

How long does it take to translate articles of association?

The turnaround time depends on the number of pages, the language pair, the translator's availability and the formatting. State your deadline when requesting a quote so its feasibility can be checked.

Does the translator have to be registered with the court of appeal where my company is registered?

No. A court-appointed translator registered with any French court of appeal can translate your articles. Searching nationwide is often faster.

Sources

• French Commercial Code, Article L. 210-2 (mandatory content of the articles of association)
• 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
• Hague Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents