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France

The French Casier judiciaire national (French National Criminal Records Office) produces three different certificates, or extracts, of an individual’s criminal record. However, only one of these is available directly to the individual concerned (i.e. the subject of the criminal record). This is the extract to which the following application instructions relate.

Application Procedures

In every case, the individual whose criminal record is being sought must make the application. There are three different application routes. These are as follows (please note that the ‘online’ web-based application route is only available to people who were born in France):-

  • Online (applying directly over the internet or minitel)
  • The applicant applies in person at the French Criminal Records Office (Le Casier judiciaire national)
  • Using a pre-printed application form (only for those born outside France and in Overseas Territories)

Note: Individuals born in Overseas Territories or in a Territorial Unit should go to the Clerk’s Office at the Court of First Instance in the place where they were born.

Application Details

The Casier judiciaire national is based at:

Casier judiciaire national
107 rue du Landreau
F-44317 Nantes Cedex 3
FRANCE

The opening hours are:

  • Mon to Fri: 8:30 – 17:00
  • Sat: 9:30 – 12:15

Using the pre-printed Application Form

The application form can be obtained in any one of the following three ways:

1) Download from the following website:

www.justice.gouv.fr/cjn/demb3.htm (new window)

When this web page has been located, scroll down and locate the box entitled ‘Formulaire Administratif En Ligne (On-line Administrative Form)’ and then click on the link for ‘Demande d’extrait de casier judiciaire. (Requesting a Criminal Record Certificate) Bulletin no.3’ within the box. The application form (in French) will then appear in PDF format. The form can then be printed off

Or

2) Email the Casier judiciaire national (National Criminal Records Office)

requesting them to send a form to you in the post. The email address is: cjn@justice.gouv.fr

Or

3) Write to the Casier judiciaire national to request a form.

(This procedure is not recommended if the application is urgent as all electronic requests are given priority).

The form should then be completed and posted back to the Casier Judiciaire National at the address given earlier.

For those applicants who were not born in France (or one of its overseas dependent territories) it is mandatory to include a good quality photocopy of the applicant’s passport (or national ID card if relevant) along with the completed application form.

The completed form (and a photocopy of passport or ID card if the applicant was not born in France) should be either posted or in urgent cases, faxed to the Casier Judiciaire National (French Criminal Records Office). However, given that non-French born applicants must supply a good quality photocopy of their passport, it is possible that the Casier judiciaire national will refuse to process faxed applications where the quality of the faxed passport photocopy is poor. It is therefore advisable to use the postal application route.

Postal Address:

Le Casier judiciaire national
107 rue du Landreau
F-44317 Nantes Cedex 3
FRANCE

Fax Number: 00 33 2 51 89 89 18

Sending requests by post or fax is strictly reserved for those born in France.

Cost of certificates

There is no charge for these criminal record extracts.

Content of certificates

Certificate no. 3 (only issued to individuals) certifies prison sentences of more than two years which have not been suspended. Certain measures issued when the criminal has committed crimes against minors or of a sexual nature will remain on the National Criminal Records office certificate number 3 in addition to the sentence itself; however long the sentence in question.

However, other convictions may not feature on this extract in accordance with the following regulations:

  • Automatic rehabilitation (i.e. whereby convictions will not feature on the criminal record extract) is dependent upon the offender having not re-offended for a certain length of time after previously being convicted of a crime. The period varies from 3 years for a fine to 10 years for a custodial sentence after enforcing the sentence.
  • Sentences given to those who were minors when the crime was committed will only appear on National Criminal Record certificate no. 1.
  • For less serious offences there is the possibility that they can be erased by a Presidential Amnesty. There is a blanket amnesty after every presidential election for offenders who have received certain types of sanctions. The exceptions which may enjoy an amnesty are increasingly numerous (Article 14 of the Law of 6 August 2002). In some cases, this means that offenders do not serve a sentence at all, although it should be stipulated that the amnesty will not hinder the payment of damages suffered by victims.

Turnaround Times

Responses to requests made over the internet or minitel will leave the National Criminal records Office on the first working day following the day on which the request was made. Applicants should receive their extract by post approximately 2 weeks after submitting an application.

The CRB has taken all reasonable steps to ensure that the information contained herein is as accurate and comprehensive as possible. In order to maintain the accuracy of the information, the CRB will update the information periodically.

However, the CRB cannot be held responsible for the level of service provided by overseas authorities. As such, please do not contact the CRB regarding applications submitted to overseas authorities.

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