UK company documents for France
For France, start with official Companies House certificates — often a Certificate of Good Standing — then an FCDO apostille if the recipient asks for legalisation. France has been a Hague Apostille Convention party since 1965, so embassy legalisation is not usually required. Confirm paper versus e-Apostille with the named recipient. CH documents are buy-now; apostille stays quote-only.
How a typical France document job runs
Working-day steps — confirm the recipient’s written list first.
Confirm the recipient checklist
Get the French bank, notary, counsel or registry list in writing: exact documents, age window, paper vs e-Apostille, and whether a sworn French translation is required.
Order Companies House originals (buy-now)
Order COGS, certified incorporation, articles or the pack. Standard CH aims ~10 working days; we then scan and send, typically within 1–3 working days of receipt.
Request an apostille quote if needed
If the checklist needs legalisation, submit a quote. We confirm fulfilment before taking apostille money. Official FCDO fees: paper £45 · e-Apostille £35 (GOV.UK).
Hague Apostille — France is a party
The HCCH Apostille Convention status table (last update 30 June 2026) lists France as a Contracting Party: signature 9 October 1961, ratification 25 November 1964, entry into force 24 January 1965. France’s official service-public.fr guide on foreign public documents notes that an apostille can replace full legalisation under international agreements; embassy double-légalisation is the non-Hague path.
GOV.UK Get your document legalised is the UK FCDO apostille service (including Companies House certificates). For Hague destinations the apostille is normally the UK legalisation step; GOV.UK’s embassy-then-ministry chain is for non-Hague countries. We will not invent extra embassy steps.
Confirm with the receiving authority
- Ask for paper vs e-Apostille, language, age window and the exact Companies House products.
- Banks, notaries and registries can differ — one French recipient is not a national rule.
- Private-agent document notes only — not legal, visa, immigration or bank-account-opening advice.
Paper versus e-Apostille
GOV.UK offers paper apostille and e-Apostille and tells you to check what the person asking actually wants. Official fees: paper £45 (+ courier/postage); e-Apostille £35. Standard paper is usually up to 25 working days; e-Apostille up to 2 working days — always recheck live GOV.UK. e-Apostille is not universally accepted. Apostille stays quote-only — no buy-now apostille button.
Typical company-document list (examples only)
Common checklist items include a Certificate of Good Standing, certified incorporation and certified articles — sometimes further filings. These are examples, not bank-account, visa or branch advice. Map the written list before you pay. Guide: UK company branch documents for France. Ambiguous wording? Use Which document?.
Buy-now Companies House prices (ex VAT)
- COGS — £79 std (CH £22) · £129 express (CH £65)
- Certified incorporation — £49 (CH £22)
- Documents pack — £249–£299 (typical £279; CH £66 on the standard three-doc set)
CH standard aims ~10 working days; we typically scan and send within 1–3 working days of receipt. Express COGS follows the before-11am CH rule where offered.
Freshness and translation
Companies House prints no legal expiry. French recipients often want documents within about 90 days — recipient practice, not UK law. Check age with the freshness helper. service-public.fr notes that a foreign-language public act for use in France needs a French translation by an authorised translator — quote-only; confirm sequence in writing.
Related pages
Who we are
PASECOM GROUP LTD / Pasecom Group Ltd · 17139327 · 82a James Carter Road, Mildenhall, IP28 7DE · ICO ZC117546 · pete@pasecom.co.uk. Trading as UKCOGS. Private agent — not Companies House, not the FCDO, not GOV.UK.
Sources checked the week of publish: HCCH status table (cid=41, 30 June 2026 — France EIF 24 Jan 1965); service-public.fr F1402; GOV.UK legalisation. Page last updated 16 September 2026.
FAQ — UK documents for France
Confirm every answer against the recipient’s written checklist. Last updated 16 September 2026.
Is France in the Hague Apostille Convention?
Yes. The HCCH status table for the 1961 Apostille Convention (last update 30 June 2026) lists France as a Contracting Party: signed 9 October 1961, ratified 25 November 1964, in force 24 January 1965. An FCDO apostille is the usual UK legalisation step. Confirm the named recipient still wants it.
Do I still need French embassy legalisation?
Usually no for Hague-covered public documents. France’s service-public.fr guidance on foreign public documents notes that an apostille can suffice under international agreements, while full double legalisation via a French embassy is the non-Hague route. If a checklist still names embassy attestation, ask in writing first.
What Companies House documents are commonly listed?
Examples: Certificate of Good Standing (company certificate with summary statement where eligible), certified Certificate of Incorporation, certified articles. Some French banks, notaries or counsel packs add further filings. Examples only — match the written list. Not legal, visa, immigration or bank-account advice.
What are UKCOGS prices for the Companies House stage?
Buy-now ex VAT: COGS £79 standard / £129 express (official CH £22 / £65), certified incorporation £49 (CH £22), pack £249–£299 (typical £279; standard three-document CH fees £66). Confirm official fees on GOV.UK.
Will a French recipient accept an e-Apostille?
Not universally. GOV.UK says ask whether the person wants paper or e-Apostille, and some document types are not eligible for e-Apostille. French banks, notaries and registries can still prefer paper. Ask in writing. Apostille remains quote-only with UKCOGS.
How fresh should the certificate be?
Companies House does not print a legal expiry. Recipients commonly ask for documents within about 90 days — sometimes 30 or 60. That is recipient practice, not UK statute. Use the document freshness helper and confirm the written window.
Do I need a French translation?
Often yes. service-public.fr says a foreign-language public act for use in France must be accompanied by a French translation by an authorised translator. Sequence (before or after apostille) is recipient-specific. Translations are quote-only.
How long does this take in working days?
CH standard aims ~10 working days; we typically scan and send within 1–3 working days of receipt. Express COGS follows the before-11am CH rule where offered. GOV.UK lists standard paper apostille usually up to 25 working days and e-Apostille up to 2 working days — quoted case by case, not guaranteed.
Ready for a France document route?
Order Companies House originals now. Request a quote for FCDO apostille — quote-only, no apostille buy button.