What Makes a French to English Translation Acceptable in New Zealand?
New Zealand does not appoint sworn translators, so a traduction assermentée is not what most New Zealand bodies ask for. Immigration New Zealand asks for a translation certified as correct by the translator, signed or stamped, submitted with the original, and not prepared by you, a family member or your adviser. Banks, universities and employers usually follow the same idea. The sections below cover the French documents we see most and the points that cause problems.
French Documents We Translate Most
- Civil records: acte de naissance, acte de mariage, livret de famille, jugement de divorce and acte de décès.
- Education records: relevé de notes, diplôme, attestation de réussite and baccalauréat certificates.
- Financial papers: relevés de compte (bank statements), avis d'imposition and payslips (bulletins de salaire).
- Legal and police papers: extrait de casier judiciaire, court decisions and powers of attorney.
From Our Recent French Files
French requests that reached us this year show a few clear patterns:
- Bank statements sent from France. Clients overseas have sent French bank statements for use in New Zealand. Every figure, date and running balance is carried across, and French number formatting is rendered so a New Zealand reader cannot confuse a decimal comma with a thousands separator.
- Name spelling instructions with transcripts. One client sent a university transcript with a note on exactly how their name should appear. We always follow the passport spelling and any instruction you give us, and we apply it consistently across every page.
- Price questions about GST. Clients outside New Zealand often ask if GST is included. Our quotes state the total, GST inclusive, so the price you approve is the price you pay.
French From the Pacific
New Zealand receives many documents from New Caledonia and French Polynesia. These records follow French civil registry formats but often include local place names and, in some cases, a second language. We keep local names exactly as printed and translate every French-language entry, including margin notes added after the original registration.
Belgian, Swiss, Canadian and African Records
A Belgian extrait d'acte, a Swiss cantonal record, a Québec certificate and a Senegalese or Cameroonian civil record all differ in layout and terms. Our translators work from the document in front of them rather than a single French template, and if a Swiss or Belgian record also contains German or Dutch, we tell you before quoting. For German-language records see our certified German translation service.
How Much Does French to English Translation Cost in New Zealand?
Certified French to English translation starts from $49 per document, GST inclusive. Academic transcripts start from $99. Multi-page bank statements are quoted by page count after we see them, and court-ready and notarised options are available.
How Fast Can You Deliver?
- Standard, included: 2–4 working days
- Express, +$20: within 24 hours
- Urgent, +$50: within 12 hours
- Same day by 6pm NZT for short documents, when a French translator is confirmed free in advance