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 4 October 2026.
FAQ — UK documents for France
Confirm every answer against the recipient’s written checklist. Last updated 4 October 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.