Getting Married in France as a Ukrainian: Documents for Mairie

The mairie sent back the entire document package because the birth certificate translation was done by a regular translator, not a traducteur assermenté. Another week for a new translation, another 40 euros, and the next available appointment is a month away. The wedding? Three weeks out. To save you from this exact mess, let’s break down step by step what documents you need for marriage in France, what needs sworn translation, how much it costs, and how to avoid the bureaucratic traps.

How marriage works in France: the basics¶

In France, marriage is registered exclusively at the mairie (town hall) - not at a registry office, not at an embassy, but specifically at the mairie of the city or commune where one of the spouses lives. The ceremony itself is free, conducted by the mayor or a deputy.

But before you get to the ceremony, there are several steps:

1. Collect documents and submit the dossier (dossier de mariage) to the mairie
2. Go through a preliminary interview (audition préalable) - mandatory for couples where at least one partner is a foreigner
3. Wait for the marriage banns to be published (publication des bans) - at least 10 days
4. Show up for the ceremony with two to four witnesses

The whole process from document submission to wedding day takes 1 to 3 months. But gathering documents from Ukraine is a separate story that can stretch things out considerably.

What documents are needed from the Ukrainian spouse¶

The list can vary slightly from one mairie to another (yes, in France each mairie has its own quirks), but the standard set looks like this:

Birth certificate - the main document¶

This is the most important document in the entire dossier. Copie intégrale d’acte de naissance is a full extract of your birth certificate with parents’ names. Here’s the first catch: for foreign nationals, the document must be issued no more than 6 months prior. If your certificate is older - you need to get a new one through the Ukrainian civil registry or through the consulate.

If the certificate was issued between 1991 and 2009 or it’s laminated - there may be issues with the apostille. In that case, you’ll need to get a new-format duplicate.

After obtaining it - mandatory apostille from the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine (for civil status documents). Cost: 610 UAH (since May 2025, the price increased for the first time in 20 years). Timeline: 2-5 business days.

Certificat de célibat - single status certificate¶

This document confirms you’re not currently married. For Ukrainians, it’s issued by the Embassy of Ukraine in France. You’ll need to book an appointment through france.mfa.gov.ua - and be patient, because appointment slots can be weeks out.

The certificate is bilingual (Ukrainian-French), so additional translation usually isn’t needed.

Certificat de coutume - the document they don’t issue anymore¶

Here’s where it gets interesting. The certificat de coutume is a certificate about your country’s marriage law. The embassy used to issue these, but the Embassy of Ukraine in France no longer issues personalized certificats de coutume. Instead, there’s an information notice available for download on the embassy website.

On the official French platform Services Publics+, one user described the situation: the mairie demanded a certificat de coutume, but the embassy says they don’t issue them anymore. Stuck. Eventually, the mairie accepted the downloaded document from the embassy website.

So before submitting your documents, check with your specific mairie about what exactly they want. Requirements can vary.

Sworn translation of documents for marriage¶

All documents in Ukrainian must be translated into French by a sworn translator (traducteur assermenté) - a translator who has taken an oath before a Court of Appeal (Cour d’appel) and has an official stamp with a registration number.

Why a translation from Ukraine won’t work¶

France only recognizes translations by translators registered with a French court. A notarized translation from Ukraine, even with an apostille, won’t be accepted by the mairie. No exceptions.

On one forum, a Ukrainian woman shared: “I brought a notarized translation of my birth certificate made in Kyiv. At the mairie they didn’t even look at it - said I need a traducteur assermenté, period.”

How much does sworn translation cost for marriage¶

On average, you’ll pay 120-250 euros for translating all marriage documents. If you’re ordering multiple documents at once - ask about a package deal, many translators offer discounts.

Standard turnaround: 3-7 business days. Some translators offer rush service in 24-48 hours, but at extra cost.

Where to find a sworn Ukrainian translator¶

• annuaire-traducteur-assermente.fr - official registry by region
• Ukrainian Embassy - translator list
• paris-ua.com - directory for Ukrainians

There are currently about 187 sworn Ukrainian translators across France. In some regions there are only a handful, so don’t leave it to the last minute.

Audition préalable - the mairie interview¶

If at least one spouse is a foreigner, the mairie is required to conduct a preliminary interview (audition préalable). This isn’t a formality - the purpose is to verify the marriage is genuine and not a “mariage blanc” (sham marriage).

What to expect¶

You may be questioned together and separately. Questions cover 5 areas:

• Personal details (who you are, where you work, where you live)
• How you met and how long you’ve been together
• Knowledge of each other’s families
• Wedding plans (witnesses, date, where you’ll live)
• Future plans (children, work, where you want to live)

Anywhere from 20 to 80 questions depending on the mairie. It’s not an interrogation, but they do check your answers for consistency.

If you don’t speak French¶

If the Ukrainian spouse doesn’t speak French well enough, the mairie requires an interpreter (interprète). The interpreter for the interview doesn’t have to be sworn, but can’t be a close family member.

Cost of an interpreter for the audition: from 250 euros. For the wedding ceremony itself: from 230 euros. This is a separate expense that many people forget about.

Publication des bans - marriage announcement¶

After document submission and the interview, the mairie publishes the marriage banns (publication des bans). This is an official notice posted on the mairie’s bulletin board for at least 10 days, including 2 Sundays.

The purpose is to give anyone the opportunity to contest the marriage (for example, if someone knows one of the parties is already married). In practice, objections are extremely rare.

After the 10-day period ends, the mairie sets the ceremony date. The marriage typically must be registered within 1 year of the publication des bans.

Full timeline and budget¶

Estimated timeline¶

Document and translation budget¶

Common mistakes that slow things down¶

Outdated birth certificate. For foreign nationals, it must be issued no more than 6 months ago. Brought a certificate you got 2 years back? Won’t be accepted, even with an apostille.

Translation not by a sworn translator. The most common mistake. Even a perfect translation without the traducteur assermenté stamp will be rejected by the mairie.

Forgotten apostille. A birth certificate without an apostille is just a piece of paper as far as the mairie is concerned. If you’re already in France, you’ll have to ask someone in Ukraine to get the apostille and mail it. That’s weeks of waiting.

Certificat de coutume confusion. Some mairies still request this document even though the embassy no longer issues it. Check with your mairie in advance and explain the situation.

Forgot about the ceremony interpreter. By law, both spouses must understand everything said during the ceremony. Don’t speak French? You need an interpreter, and that’s an extra 230+ euros.

Matrimonial property regime: something to think about before the wedding¶

For international couples, EU Regulation 2016/1103 allows you to choose which country’s law applies to property matters in the marriage. Without a marriage contract, the law of the spouses’ first habitual residence applies by default.

This means: if you live in France and haven’t signed a contract, the default French community property regime (communauté de biens réduite aux acquêts) applies. If you want something different - see a notary before the wedding.

FAQ¶

How much does it cost to get married in France?¶

The ceremony at the mairie is free. But for documents, translations, and an interpreter, budget 150 to 1,100 euros depending on your situation. The main expense is sworn document translation (120-250 euros) and an interpreter if you don’t speak French (from 250 euros for the audition + from 230 euros for the ceremony).

Which Ukrainian documents need translation for marriage in France?¶

You must get sworn translations of: your birth certificate with apostille, divorce certificate or court decision (if previously married). The certificat de célibat from the embassy is usually bilingual and doesn’t need additional translation.

Do I need an interpreter at the wedding ceremony in France?¶

Yes, if one spouse doesn’t speak French well enough. The mairie requires both partners to understand everything said during the ceremony. The interpreter doesn’t have to be sworn, but can’t be a close family member. Cost: from 230 euros.

How long does the marriage process take in France for foreigners?¶

From dossier submission to ceremony, it usually takes 1-3 months. But if you count gathering documents from Ukraine (new certificate, apostille, embassy appointment) - plan for 3-6 months total.

Is a marriage registered in France recognized in Ukraine?¶

Yes. A marriage registered in France is recognized in Ukraine after legalization. You’ll need to obtain a copie intégrale d’acte de mariage (French marriage certificate), translate it, and submit it to the consular section of the embassy or directly to the civil registry office in Ukraine.