ACRO Police Certificate and Apostille for French Citizenship

ACRO police certificate requests reach me almost every week from people applying for French citizenship. Most of these applicants have lived in the United Kingdom during the last ten years. Therefore, the prefecture asks them for a UK criminal record extract, authenticated and translated into French.However, the three steps must follow a precise order, or the document may be refused. In this guide, I explain how to order the certificate, obtain the apostille and add a sworn translation. I have translated official documents since 1989.In addition, I have been a sworn translator registered with the Caen Court of Appeal since 2014, renewed in 2022. The fees and delays below come from official sources that I checked in October 2026.

In short: order your ACRO police certificate on paper, send the original to the FCDO for a paper apostille, then have it translated by a sworn translator registered in France. Keep the original for your prefecture appointment.

What is an ACRO police certificate and why does France ask for it?

ACRO is a national police unit in the United Kingdom. It issues police certificates to people who need proof of their UK record abroad. In practice, an ACRO police certificate lists convictions, cautions, warnings and reprimands held on UK police systems.If nothing is recorded, the certificate says so. Importantly, it differs from a DBS certificate, which UK employers request for jobs. On the French side, naturalisation follows the Civil Code and decree no. 93-1362 of 30 December 1993.In particular, the decree requires a criminal record extract, or an equivalent, from each country of residence over ten years. Concretely, prefecture checklists ask for one extract per country where you lived at least six months in that period. Moreover, some checklists only require it if you have lived in France for less than ten years.Therefore, always read the checklist of your own prefecture before you order anything.

📌 For the legal texts, see Légifrance. For the official list of documents, use the simulator on service-public.fr.

Which UK document is the right ACRO police certificate for naturalisation?

For most UK applicants, the ACRO police certificate is the right document. However, several UK documents look similar, so the choice deserves care.The GOV.UK apostille guidance mentions ACRO police certificates for England and Wales. If you also lived in Scotland or Northern Ireland, ask your prefecture which certificate it accepts. Finally, remember that a UK certificate never replaces the extracts from other countries.For example, if you lived in Spain and the United Kingdom, you need a record from each country.

Step 1: order your ACRO police certificate

First, apply online on the official ACRO website. You need your passport details, your address history and a passport-style photo. Declare every name you have used, such as a maiden name.Otherwise, the certificate may not match your French civil status documents. Next, choose the service level. At the time of writing, recent guides list about £68 for the standard service.The premium service is listed at about £121. Meanwhile, standard processing can take up to 20 working days, and peak periods are slower. ACRO may also suspend the premium option when demand is very high.Therefore, check the current fees and options on the ACRO website before you pay. ACRO issues the certificate on paper only, and it arrives by post. Because the apostille goes on the original, never scan the certificate and throw the paper away.Finally, order it when you are ready to file, since prefectures expect a recent document.

Step 2: get the apostille on your ACRO police certificate

An apostille is an official certificate that authenticates a public document for use abroad. Both the United Kingdom and France apply the Hague Apostille Convention. As a result, one apostille replaces the old multi-step legalisation chain.In the United Kingdom, the FCDO Legalisation Office issues apostilles. An official signs the ACRO certificate, so the FCDO can usually apostille the original directly. You apply online on the GOV.UK legalisation service, then post the document.However, GOV.UK excludes ACRO police certificates for England and Wales from the e-Apostille service. Consequently, you must choose the paper-based apostille.

Service	Fee per document	Timing
Standard (paper-based)	£45, plus courier or postage	Usually up to 25 working days
Next-Day (registered businesses only)	£40	Next working day
e-Apostille	£35	Not available for ACRO certificates

Return costs come on top, since GOV.UK lists £6 per 1.5 kg to a UK address. To most European countries, it lists £32 per 1.5 kg for courier return. Alternatively, a registered provider can offer a faster service, but it charges handling fees.Importantly, an apostille only authenticates the signature and the seal. It does not translate the certificate, and it does not comment on its content.

Step 3: translate your ACRO police certificate into French

Your certificate is in English, so the prefecture requires a French translation. Prefecture checklists ask for an original translation by a translator approved by a French authority. In practice, this means a sworn translator registered with a French court of appeal.A translation by a UK certified translator usually does not meet that requirement. I translate the complete certificate, including the stamps, the signatures and the text of the apostille. For this reason, I recommend translating after the apostille is attached.I indicate stamps, seals and signatures in square brackets, as sworn translation practice requires. My translation carries my signature and my official stamp. Standard delivery takes 3 to 5 working days, and express delivery takes 24 to 48 hours.Prices depend on the document, so I quote each file individually. Meanwhile, you keep the original apostilled certificate, because the prefecture asks for originals.

📌 To understand how sworn translation works in France, read my guide to certified translation in France. You can also learn how to verify a sworn translator in France.

The ACRO police certificate in four steps

Timeline and budget for your ACRO police certificate

Together, the three steps usually take ten to twelve weeks. However, you can shorten the delay with a faster ACRO option, if available, and a next-day apostille provider.

Step	Who handles it	Indicative cost	Indicative time
1. ACRO certificate	ACRO	About £68 (standard)	Up to 20 working days, plus post
2. Apostille	FCDO Legalisation Office	£45, plus return courier	Up to 25 working days, plus courier
3. Sworn translation	Tradyx	On quote	3 to 5 working days (express 24 to 48 hours)

These figures are indicative, so confirm them on the official websites. Above all, start early, because the apostille is usually the slowest step.

Special cases with an ACRO police certificate

First, a change of name needs attention. If your name changed after marriage, declare both names on the ACRO police certificate application and keep the marriage certificate. Second, the certificate may list an entry.In that case, never alter or hide anything, because the prefecture assesses the record under French good-character rules. Third, you may be unable to obtain a document from a former country. Then, keep proof of every request, because the decree provides an exception when production is impossible.Finally, ask the prefecture a precise written question when your situation is unusual.

Seven ACRO police certificate mistakes that delay a naturalisation file

Each mistake costs weeks, because you must restart part of the chain. Therefore, check each step against your prefecture’s checklist.

Beyond the ACRO police certificate: the rest of your 2026 file

The ACRO police certificate is only one document in a larger file. Since 1 January 2026, applicants must also prove B2 French and pass a civic examination. The civic exam is a 40-question multiple-choice test with an 80% pass mark.Meanwhile, UK civil status documents, such as birth and marriage certificates, may also need an apostille and a sworn translation. To go further, see my pages on the certified translation of a birth certificate and the certified translation of a marriage certificate. For identity papers, read about the certified translation of identity documents.

What I guarantee when I translate your ACRO police certificate

ACRO police certificate: frequently asked questions

Do I need an apostille on my ACRO police certificate for French naturalisation?

Prefecture checklists ask for a legalisation or an apostille where applicable. Because the United Kingdom and France both apply the Apostille Convention, an apostille is the normal authentication. Therefore, I advise you to obtain it, unless your prefecture confirms in writing that it is not needed.Always ask before filing, since each prefecture applies its own checklist. In practice, a missing apostille is one of the most common reasons for a request for additional documents. The apostille does not prove that the content of the certificate is correct.Instead, it confirms that the signature and the seal on the certificate are genuine. As a result, the French officer can rely on the document without contacting the UK police. Finally, remember that the apostille must be attached to the original paper certificate, not to a copy.If you have only a scan, you will have to order a new certificate. That second order costs time and money, so plan the apostille from the start. If you hesitate, send me your prefecture’s checklist and I will tell you what it implies.

How long is an ACRO police certificate valid for French authorities?

The certificate shows its issue date, but French authorities decide how recent it must be. Prefectures expect a recent document, so ask which maximum age your prefecture accepts. Consequently, order the ACRO certificate only when your other documents are nearly ready.Otherwise, you may have to pay for a second certificate and a second apostille. In fact, the whole chain takes ten to twelve weeks, and the certificate ages during that time. Therefore, count the age of the document from the issue date, not from the apostille date.Some applicants also wait months for an appointment after they file their online application. In that case, keep a message from the prefecture that confirms the date of your filing. Moreover, a clear timeline helps you explain a delay if the prefecture questions the age of the document.If your certificate becomes too old, order a new one early rather than waiting for a refusal. Finally, ask the prefecture in writing, so that you keep a record of the answer.

Can I get an e-Apostille for an ACRO police certificate?

No, GOV.UK excludes ACRO certificates for England and Wales from the e-Apostille service. Instead, you must apply for the paper-based apostille and send the original document. In addition, the paper service costs £45 per document, plus return delivery.Standard processing takes up to 25 working days, unless you use a registered provider. Moreover, GOV.UK lists courier costs of £6 within the United Kingdom and £32 to most European countries. If you live in France, the courier option protects the original during the return journey.Alternatively, you can ask the FCDO to return the document to an address in the United Kingdom. A friend or relative can then forward it to you. However, that route adds postage time, so compare it with the courier option.The e-Apostille exists for other documents, such as notary-signed PDFs. It is faster and cheaper, but it does not apply to your ACRO certificate. Therefore, do not choose it by mistake when you fill in the GOV.UK form.

Can a UK translator translate my ACRO police certificate for the prefecture?

Usually not, because prefecture checklists ask for a translator approved by a French authority. This means a sworn translator listed by a French court of appeal. A UK certified translation is useful in the United Kingdom, but it does not meet this rule.Concretely, the sworn translator signs the translation and adds a personal stamp. The same translator then answers for the accuracy of the text in France. You can check any translator on the official directory of court experts.For example, the annuaire-traducteur-assermente.fr directory lists translators registered with French courts of appeal. Moreover, I explain the checks to run in my guide on how to verify a sworn translator in France. If you already have a translation from another provider, send it to me before you file.In that case, I tell you whether it meets the prefecture’s requirement. If you hesitate, ask your prefecture, or send me your checklist.

Is an ACRO police certificate enough if I lived in several countries?

No, you need a criminal record extract from each country covered by the residence rule. In practice, checklists mention six months of residence over the last ten years. Each foreign extract may need its own apostille or legalisation, and a sworn translation if it is not in French.Therefore, draw a ten-year residence timeline before ordering any document. For each period, note the country, the address and the dates of arrival and departure. Then, match every period with the authority that issues the criminal record extract.For example, the United Kingdom has separate systems for England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Consequently, an ACRO certificate may not cover a period spent in Scotland. In that case, ask the prefecture what it accepts for the other jurisdiction.Keep proof of every request you make, such as emails and receipts. Finally, translate all foreign documents with the same sworn translator, so the terminology stays consistent.

How long does the ACRO police certificate process take from start to finish?

Plan ten to twelve weeks in total. ACRO can take up to 20 working days, and the FCDO apostille up to 25 working days. Postage and courier time come on top of these delays.Then the sworn translation takes 3 to 5 working days, or 24 to 48 hours in express mode. However, peak periods, especially in spring, can slow ACRO down. Therefore, start as soon as you know that you will file.You can also save time with a faster ACRO option, when ACRO offers it. Likewise, a registered provider can obtain a next-day apostille for a fee. In that case, the whole chain can take a few weeks instead of three months.Moreover, send me the scan of the apostilled certificate as soon as you receive it. That way, I can start the translation while the original is still on its way to you.

How much does an ACRO police certificate with apostille and translation cost?

Recent guides list about £68 for the standard ACRO certificate. The FCDO charges £45 for the paper apostille, plus return courier. My sworn translation is priced on quote, so send me a scan for a free estimate.Finally, add any provider fees if you choose a faster service. In practice, the total depends on the delay you need and on the return method you choose. A provider that handles the whole chain usually costs more than the official fees.However, it can save you the postage and a lot of paperwork. For example, some providers quote around £99 for the apostille alone, including the FCDO fee. Therefore, compare the official route with a provider before you decide.Moreover, remember to include the fees for documents from other countries. These figures change, so confirm them on the ACRO and GOV.UK websites before you pay.

What if my ACRO police certificate shows a caution or a conviction?

Do not hide or change anything, because the prefecture assesses the record under French good-character rules. An entry does not automatically block your application. However, the administration looks at the nature, the date and the seriousness of the facts.Consequently, prepare the official documents that explain the entry, such as a court order. I can translate these documents into French as a sworn translator. For legal advice on the consequences, consult a French lawyer who handles nationality cases.In addition, remember that a British rule on spent convictions does not bind the French authorities. The French administration applies French nationality law. Therefore, an entry that is no longer visible to a British employer may still appear on the certificate.Above all, keep your explanations consistent across all your documents. If you need a sworn translation of court documents, send me a scan for a free quote.