Family Reunification in France for Ukrainians: Documents and Translation

Six months of collecting documents, three visits to the prefecture, and on the fourth one they tell you: “The marriage certificate translation wasn’t done by a sworn translator - we can’t accept this.” Meanwhile, you’ve already moved your spouse to Paris and rented a bigger apartment. To make sure you don’t end up in the same spot, let’s break down how family reunification works in France for Ukrainians, which documents you need, and what absolutely must be translated.

Regroupement familial vs réunification familiale - two different procedures¶

Here’s the first thing you need to understand: France has two completely different family reunification procedures. Which one applies to you depends on your immigration status.

Regroupement familial - for titre de séjour holders¶

Regroupement familial (family reunification) is the procedure for foreigners who are legally living in France on any titre de séjour (residence permit). This includes holders of carte de séjour salarié, vie privée et familiale, APS temporary protection, and so on.

Key conditions:

• You’ve been legally living in France for at least 18 months
• You have a stable income at or above the SMIC (minimum wage) level
• You have housing that meets size and quality standards
• You apply through OFII (Office français de l’immigration et de l’intégration - the French Office for Immigration and Integration)

Who you can bring over: your spouse and minor children (under 18).

Réunification familiale - for refugees and protection holders¶

Réunification familiale (family reunification for protected persons) is a separate procedure for those who’ve been granted refugee status or subsidiary protection through OFPRA (Office français de protection des réfugiés et apatrides - the French Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons).

The conditions here are much softer:

• No income requirement
• No housing requirement
• No 18-month waiting period
• But family ties must predate your asylum application

For most Ukrainians in France, it’s the first procedure - regroupement familial - that applies. That’s because temporary protection (APS) isn’t refugee status. If you’re living on an APS and want to bring your family over, you need regroupement familial with all its conditions.

Regroupement familial: conditions and what you need to know¶

Income requirements¶

Your income over the past 12 months must be stable and at least equal to the SMIC. As of 2026, here are the minimum thresholds:

What counts: salary (CDI or CDD), self-employment income, pension, property income. Your spouse’s income counts too. What doesn’t count: social benefits - CAF, allocations familiales, APL, ADA.

One Ukrainian shared on a forum: “I’ve been on a CDI for a year now, income slightly above SMIC. Applied for regroupement, OFII checked my pay slips for 12 months - accepted. The main thing is no gaps in employment.”

Housing requirements¶

OFII inspects your housing before granting approval. Key criteria:

• Minimum area: 22 m² for a couple without children
• Plus 10 m² for each additional person
• The housing must be in proper condition (heating, running water, electricity)
• You need a rental agreement (bail) or proof of ownership

The housing inspection (enquête logement) is mandatory. A representative from the town hall or OFII comes and checks the apartment. If it doesn’t meet standards - your application gets rejected. You can reapply after improving conditions.

Timeline¶

After submitting a complete application to OFII:

• OFII reviews the documents and forwards the case to the prefecture
• The prefect has 6 months to make a decision
• Realistically, from submission to your family arriving - 8-12 months
• If there’s no response after 6 months - it’s considered a tacit refusal, which you can appeal

Full document list for regroupement familial¶

Applicant’s documents (person already in France)¶

Family members’ documents (those arriving)¶

For a typical family (couple with one child), you’ll need to translate at least 5-6 documents: two birth certificates, a marriage certificate, and the child’s birth certificate.

Sworn translation: who does it and how much it costs¶

All documents for regroupement familial must be translated by a traducteur assermenté - a sworn translator registered with a French Court of Appeal (Cour d’appel). This isn’t a recommendation - it’s mandatory. A translation without the sworn translator’s stamp won’t be accepted by OFII or the prefecture.

Translation prices in 2026¶

For a family with one child, translating the full package will cost roughly 150-250 euros. If you’re ordering multiple documents from one translator - always ask about a package discount. Many translators give 10-20% off when you order 3 or more documents at once.

Where to find a Ukrainian-French translator¶

• Official directory: annuaire-traducteur-assermente.fr - 187 registered Ukrainian language translators
• Ukrainian community resource: paris-ua.com
• Embassy of Ukraine: france.mfa.gov.ua

Keep in mind: there are only 187 sworn translators for Ukrainian across all of France. In some regions, you might be looking at weeks of waiting. Plan ahead.

Will a translation done in Ukraine work?¶

No. A notarized translation from Ukraine, even with an apostille on the translation itself, won’t be accepted by French authorities. They only recognize translations from translators registered with a French Court of Appeal.

ChatsControl can help you prepare a draft translation - to understand the content of your documents or speed up the sworn translator’s work.

Apostille on Ukrainian documents¶

Civil status documents (birth, marriage, and divorce certificates) need to be apostilled in Ukraine before translation. France and Ukraine are both parties to the Hague Convention, so apostilles work between the two countries.

Where to get an apostille:

• Ministry of Justice - civil status documents (birth, marriage, divorce certificates, court decisions)
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Ministry of Education - education documents (if needed)
• Cost: 68 UAH, timeline: 2-5 business days

If you’re already in France, you can arrange it through a trusted person in Ukraine or through the consulate.

Total cost of the procedure¶

For a family of 2 (couple), the minimum budget is roughly 550-650 euros for fees, visa, and translations. With children, add 99 euros for a visa per child plus 30-50 euros for translating additional birth certificates.

Common mistakes that delay the process¶

Applied before 18 months of residence. OFII checks the date your first titre de séjour or APS was issued. If 18 months haven’t passed - they won’t even accept the application.

Insufficient income. Social benefits (CAF, ADA, APL) don’t count. If your income without them is below SMIC - that’s a rejection. Solution: include your spouse’s income or proof of other legal income sources.

Translation not by a sworn translator. A classic mistake. Even a high-quality translation without the traducteur assermenté stamp won’t be accepted.

Forgot the apostille. Without an apostille on your Ukrainian certificates - the application gets sent back. If you’re already in France and your documents don’t have an apostille - you’re looking at weeks of waiting while someone handles it for you back in Ukraine.

Apartment failed the inspection. Before applying, make sure the area meets the requirements (22 m² + 10 m² per person) and the housing is in proper condition.

Documents older than 3 months. Some prefectures require proof of address and pay slips to be no older than 3 months. Collect your documents as close to the submission date as possible.

FAQ¶

How long does family reunification take in France?¶

From submitting a complete application to OFII to your family actually arriving, it typically takes 8-12 months. The prefect has 6 months to make a decision, then you still need to get the visa sorted and organize the move. In bigger cities (Paris, Lyon, Marseille) the process can take even longer.

Can I apply for regroupement familial with an APS temporary protection?¶

Yes, but you need to meet all the conditions: 18 months of legal residence, income at or above SMIC, housing that meets standards. APS is a legal basis for residence, and OFII accepts it. But if your APS expires during processing - make sure you renew it on time.

Which documents need to be translated for family reunification in France?¶

All civil status documents from Ukraine: birth certificates (for the applicant and each family member), marriage certificate, court custody order (if applicable). Translation must be done by a sworn translator - a traducteur assermenté registered with a French Court of Appeal.

How much does document translation cost for regroupement familial?¶

Roughly 150-250 euros for a full package for a typical family. A single certificate (birth or marriage) costs 30-50 euros. Many translators offer a discount when you order 3+ documents at once.

What’s the difference between regroupement and réunification familiale?¶

Regroupement familial is for holders of a regular titre de séjour or APS. You need to prove income, housing, and 18 months of residence. Réunification familiale is for refugees and subsidiary protection holders (through OFPRA). No need to prove income or housing, but family ties must predate your asylum application.