Titre de Séjour in France for Ukrainians: Full Document Guide

The prefecture rejected the entire application because the birth certificate translation was done by a “regular translator” instead of a traducteur assermenté - a sworn translator registered with the French Court of Appeal. Two more weeks of waiting, another 50 euros for a new translation, and re-booking a slot months out. If you don’t want to end up in the same situation, let’s break down exactly which documents you need for a titre de séjour in France, what needs to be translated, and how to get it right on the first try.

Types of titre de séjour available to Ukrainians¶

A titre de séjour (residence permit) is the official document that confirms your right to legally live in France. For Ukrainians, there are several options right now - and the type of permit determines which documents you’ll need and what requires translation.

APS - temporary protection (Autorisation Provisoire de Séjour)¶

The most common option for Ukrainians who arrived after February 24, 2022. The APS is issued for 6 months with the mention “bénéficiaire de la protection temporaire” and can be renewed for up to 3 years from the first request. As of 2026, temporary protection has been extended until March 4, 2027.

What APS gives you:

• The right to work without a separate work permit (both CDI and CDD contracts)
• Access to the Ameli health insurance system
• ADA social assistance (Allocation pour Demandeur d’Asile)
• Housing support through CAF

Carte de séjour “salari锶

If you’re working on a permanent contract (CDI), you can apply for a carte de séjour salarié. It’s a full residence permit valid for 1 year with renewal. For fixed-term contracts (CDD), you get a carte “travailleur temporaire” for the duration of your contract.

Carte de séjour “vie privée et familiale”¶

For those with family ties in France - marriage to a French citizen, children attending French school (if you’ve lived in the country for over 3 years), or other personal grounds.

Passeport talent¶

For qualified professionals with higher education, entrepreneurs, investors, and researchers. Issued for 4 years right away - the best deal if you meet the criteria.

Temporary protection (APS): documents for getting and renewing it¶

Most Ukrainians in France are on APS. The process is fairly straightforward - but there are translation pitfalls.

First-time APS application¶

You go to the prefecture of your department. Bring with you:

At the first application stage, translation of Ukrainian documents is usually not required - the prefecture understands the emergency situation. But this only applies to the initial request.

Renewing your APS¶

Since September 2025, APS renewal is done online through the “Démarches simplifiées” platform. You must submit your renewal request no earlier than 3 weeks and no later than 3 days before your APS expires. Submit too early and they won’t process it. Too late and you risk a gap in your ADA benefits and social rights.

That last item is the key one. If you’ve found a job, gotten married, or had a child while living in France - the documents proving these changes need to be translated into French by a sworn translator.

Transitioning from APS to a full titre de séjour¶

France is gradually pushing Ukrainians from temporary protection toward the regular immigration system. This means more documents, more translations, and stricter requirements.

What changed in 2026¶

Starting January 2026, switching from APS to any titre de séjour requires passing the examen civique - a civic exam. It tests basic knowledge of French society, Republican values, and language fundamentals. The exam certificate must be included in your application package.

This exam is not required for simple APS renewals - only when changing your status.

Documents for carte de séjour “salari锶

If you’re on a CDI and want to switch to a work-based residence permit:

Documents for carte de séjour “vie privée et familiale”¶

Here the focus is on family documents:

Documents for passeport talent¶

Longer list here - you need to prove your qualifications:

Sworn translation in France: how it works and what it costs¶

In France, official translations can only be done by a traducteur assermenté - and this system is different from both Ukraine and Germany.

What is a traducteur assermenté¶

A traducteur assermenté (or traducteur expert) is a translator who has taken an oath before a Court of Appeal (Cour d’appel) and is registered in an official directory. Their stamp, signature, and registration number on a document carry full legal weight. Think of it as the French equivalent of a sworn translator in Germany, except the registration goes through the court system rather than a state justice department.

There are currently about 187 sworn translators for the Ukrainian language in France, spread across 36 Courts of Appeal. That’s not a lot - in some regions, you might be looking at weeks of waiting.

Where to find a sworn translator¶

• Official directory: annuaire-traducteur-assermente.fr - all registered translators by region
• Ukrainian community resource: paris-ua.com - filtered by language
• Embassy of Ukraine: france.mfa.gov.ua - translator list by region

Sworn translation prices in 2026¶

Prices depend on the language pair (Ukrainian-French isn’t the cheapest since there are relatively few translators), document complexity, and urgency. When ordering multiple documents at once, many translators offer a discount.

On a forum for Ukrainians in Paris, one person shared: “I paid 120 euros for the translation of my birth certificate, marriage certificate, and diploma - the translator gave a discount for three documents. Got everything back in 4 days.” If you’re ordering several documents - always ask about a package deal.

For comparison: sworn translation from Ukrainian to German costs roughly the same - 30-60 euros per page.

Will a translation done in Ukraine work?¶

No. A notarized translation from Ukraine, even with an apostille, won’t be accepted by a French prefecture. They only recognize translations made by translators registered with a French Court of Appeal. Each country recognizes its own official translators - France is no exception here.

ChatsControl can help with a preliminary translation of your documents - to understand the content before visiting a sworn translator, or to prepare a draft that speeds up their work.

Apostille: when you need it and how to get it¶

An apostille is a stamp that certifies a document’s authenticity for use abroad. Ukraine and France are both parties to the Hague Convention, so apostilles work between the two countries.

Documents that need an apostille:

• Birth certificate
• Marriage or divorce certificate
• Education diploma
• Criminal record certificate
• Court decisions

In Ukraine, apostilles are issued by: the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (education documents), Ministry of Justice (civil status documents, court decisions), or Ministry of Education. 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.

Common mistakes that delay the process¶

Translation not by a sworn translator. The most frequent mistake. Even a high-quality translation without the traducteur assermenté stamp will be rejected by the prefecture.

Missing apostille. Forgot to get an apostille on your birth certificate in Ukraine? Now you’re waiting for someone to do it for you back home and mail it over. That’s weeks.

Expired proof of address. Your justificatif de domicile must be under 3-6 months old (depends on the prefecture). Last year’s electricity bill won’t cut it.

Wrong photo format. French requirements: 3.5×4.5 cm, biometric, white or light gray background. A photo from your Ukrainian passport won’t work.

Filing outside the window. For APS renewal - strictly 3 weeks to 3 days before expiry. Earlier and they won’t accept it. Later and you risk losing your benefit rights.

FAQ¶

How much does a titre de séjour cost in France for Ukrainians?¶

APS under temporary protection is free. Carte de séjour salarié costs 225 euros (75 euro stamp duty plus 150 euros for card production). Passeport talent is also 225 euros. On top of that, add document translation costs - roughly 100-300 euros depending on how many documents you need translated.

Can I work in France with a temporary protection APS?¶

Yes. An APS marked “bénéficiaire de la protection temporaire” gives you the right to work without a separate work permit - both CDI and CDD contracts. No separate autorisation de travail is needed.

How long is the wait for a titre de séjour after submitting documents?¶

For APS - usually 2-4 weeks. For carte de séjour salarié or vie privée et familiale - 2 to 4 months, depending on the prefecture. In bigger cities (Paris, Lyon, Marseille) the queues are longer. After submission, you’ll receive a récépissé - a temporary document confirming your legal status while you wait for the card.

Do I need to pass the examen civique to renew my APS?¶

No. The civic exam (examen civique) is only required when transitioning from APS to a full titre de séjour - salarié, vie privée et familiale, passeport talent. Simple APS renewal doesn’t require the exam.

Where can I order a translation of Ukrainian documents for a French prefecture?¶

Only from a traducteur assermenté - a sworn translator registered with a French Court of Appeal. Find one by region at annuaire-traducteur-assermente.fr or paris-ua.com. Translations done in Ukraine are not recognized in France - only those from locally registered translators.