Certificate of accommodation or hosting letter for a visa: does it need translating?
By Keran Chaussard, administrator of the Directory of Sworn Translators of France — updated on
For a short-stay visa for France, the host provides a certificate of accommodation (attestation d’accueil) validated by the town hall and written in French: the French consulate reads it without translation. There is therefore nothing to translate, apart from any foreign documents in the file, such as a parental authorisation for a minor.
A translation becomes necessary in two situations: a French hosting letter submitted to another country’s consulate, for example as proof of address for a visa to that country, and a foreign hosting letter presented to a French authority. The translation then covers the letter and its supporting documents (ID, utility bill, lease), and must be a sworn translation if the authority requires it.
Certificate of accommodation or hosting letter: two different documents
| Certificate of accommodation (attestation d’accueil) | Hosting letter (attestation d’hébergement) | |
|---|---|---|
| Nature | Official form (cerfa no. 10798) validated by the mayor | Plain letter, signed by the host |
| Use | Private or family visit of less than three months to France by a non-European national | Proof of address for the person hosted (residence permit, bank, enrolment, visa for another country, etc.) |
| Cost | €30 in tax stamps, non-refundable | Free |
| Attachments | Title deed or lease, proof of address, proof of income, visitor’s passport, etc. | Host’s ID and proof of address |
One cannot replace the other: if the French consulate asks for a certificate of accommodation, a plain hosting letter is not enough, however good its translation.
When is a translation really needed?
1. Visa for France: in principle, no
The certificate of accommodation is a French form intended for the French consulate: it is not translated. The visitor’s own documents that are not in French may, however, need translating, depending on the instructions of the consulate or visa service provider. This is the case in particular for the parental authorisation of a minor travelling without their parents, which the town hall requires before validating the certificate, and which must be legalised by the French authorities in the country of residence.
2. Visa for another country: often, yes
A student or young worker living with their parents who applies for a visa for a foreign country often has to prove that they live within the consulate’s district. They provide a hosting letter from their parents, with the parents’ ID and a recent utility bill. If the consulate requires documents in its own language or in English, these must be translated, sometimes by a sworn translator. Each consulate sets its own rules: check the list of documents and the translation requirements.
3. Foreign hosting letter presented in France: yes
A hosting letter drawn up abroad, for example to prove past or current residence outside France, must be translated into French for a préfecture, a French consulate or a French body. For a residence permit, foreign documents are translated by a court-appointed expert translator.
What the translation must include
- the full identity of the host and of the person hosted, with the exact spelling used in the passport
- the address of the accommodation and the hosting period
- the date, signature, handwritten notes and corrections, which must remain visible
- the attachments referred to in the letter, to be translated if the authority does not read their language
A sworn translation certifies that the translation is faithful to the document. It does not certify that the host’s statements are true: the consulate may ask for supporting documents or carry out checks.
Apostille or legalisation?
A hosting letter signed by a private individual is not a public document: it cannot be apostilled as it stands. If the foreign authority requires a formality, the host’s signature must first be certified at the town hall, and that certification can then be apostilled by a notary. If the translation must also be apostilled, the translator’s signature is certified in turn. Ask the authority what it expects before starting these steps.
Mistakes that delay a file
- Providing a hosting letter instead of the certificate of accommodation required by the French consulate.
- Translating the letter alone and forgetting the host’s ID and proof of address.
- Inconsistencies between the letter, the passport, the proof of address and the visa dates.
- Changing the letter after translation: any new version requires a new translation.
- Having a relative translate it when a sworn translation is required.
Finding a translator
The Directory of Sworn Translators of France lets you search for a court-appointed expert translator by language, département, region and court of appeal. Send the letter and its supporting documents as PDFs, the required language and the date of your consulate appointment. The express file submission service lets you hand the request over to the Directory if your appointment is close or the language is rare.
Frequently asked questions
- Does a certificate of accommodation need translating for a visa for France?
- No: it is a French form validated by the town hall and intended for the French consulate. Only foreign documents in the file may need translating.
- What is the difference between a certificate of accommodation and a hosting letter?
- The certificate of accommodation is an official, fee-paying form validated by the mayor and required for a private visit of less than three months to France. The hosting letter is a simple letter from the host, used as proof of address.
- Must a hosting letter be translated by a sworn translator?
- Only if the receiving authority requires it or the procedure provides for it, as for a residence permit in France. For a foreign visa, follow the consulate’s instructions.
- Can a hosting letter be apostilled?
- Not directly: the host’s signature must first be certified at the town hall; it is that certification that can then be apostilled.
- How much does a certificate of accommodation cost?
- €30 in tax stamps, non-refundable if the application is refused.
Sources
- Service-Public, “Attestation d’accueil” (in French)
- French Code on the Entry and Residence of Foreigners and the Right of Asylum (CESEDA), Articles L. 313-1 to L. 313-8 and R. 313-6 to R. 313-13 (certificate of accommodation)
- Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 of 13 July 2009 establishing a Community Code on Visas, Article 14 and Annex II (proof of accommodation)
- French circular of 23 November 2004 on the certificate of accommodation
