Embassy of the United States Paris, France

Notarial services (legalization of documents) are currently available (by scheduling an online appointment) to all U.S. passport holders.  Foreign nationals with documents destined for use in the United States may also use this service. 

Notarial services are provided for powers of attorney, affidavits of support, sworn statements, acknowledgements etc., for use in the United States and abroad, and documentation for marriage or PACS in France (certificat de coutume, certificat de celibat), and other documents. 

ATTENTION:  Due to high demand, most notarial appointments book quickly and there is often a wait of a few days until the next available appointment.  If you are expecting a document to be notarized quickly, it is important that you schedule your appointment in advance, so it will be booked by the time you receive the document from the U.S. or elsewhere.  Suggest to the sender that you need to receive it in time for your scheduled appointment.  Do not forget to note down your appointment UID and password for rescheduling purposes, but you do not have to show your printed appointment details at the time of your visit since your name will be on the entry listing.

Prior to scheduling your online appointment, please check the following:

• Examples of Notarial Acts Provided by the Embassy
• Documents to be notarized for use in France:  marriage, PACS, change of residence etc.

All Notarial Services in Paris require a personal appearance and an appointment which must be scheduled online.  If two persons need to sign the same document(s), each person should schedule a separate appointment.  Several appointments are available for each time slot. 

Please do not sign your documents in advance.  You must only sign the document(s) to be notarized in the presence of a Consular Officer.

If you do not live in Paris of vicinity, you may also schedule an appointment at our Consular Offices located throughout France for all U.S. notarial services.

1. Scheduling your appointment in Paris

Notarial services are currently provided at the Consular Section of the Embassy in Paris on: 

Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 1:30 p.m. and 2:00 p.m.

Limited notarial services may be available on Friday afternoons at 1:30 p.m. and 2:00 p.m.

To schedule all appointments, please check the online calendar carefully for available dates and time slots. Appointment dates are posted on the appointment calendar using the following color codes:




When you enter your appointment information please remember that:

• Surname  =  Last Name, or Family Name
  and Given Name  =  First Name
• Appointment confirmation:  when you schedule your appointment, if you are not able to print the appointment details just keep the appointment UID and password for use in case of cancellation or modification of your date.  If you need to cancel or modify your appointment, but are having difficulties you may contact us.

2. Please schedule your appointment here

3. At the time of your appointment, please bring:

• Identification:  each person must bring a valid passport or form of identity issued by a government agency — a U.S. driver's license is acceptable (we do not accept student ID or a French drivers' licenses);
• Document to be notarized;
• Fees for notarial and authentication services are $50 for the first consular seal/signature. For each additional consular seal/signature a supplementary fee of $50 will apply.
• Payment accepted for the services rendered:  credit cards issued by American Express, Visa, Mastercard, or Discover, or cash in Euros or Dollars.  We do not accept any personal or bank checks. See current consular exchange rates.

Witnesses

• Consular Officers and staff may NOT be witnesses for notarial purposes.
• If your document requires the presence of a witness, or witnesses, you must bring a person or persons with you depending on the specific requirements of the document(s) to be signed.  For example, if the document says “witness,” you may bring in one witness;  if the document has three separate “witness” signature lines, then you can bring in a maximum of three witnesses.  In this case, the witnesses do not need a separate appointment.  You do not have to bring a witness if the document to be signed does not call for signatures other than the applicant’s.
• All persons, and/or witnesses accompanying the person(s) signing the document, must bring a valid, signed form of photo identity issued by a government agency such as a U.S. or foreign passport.  A U.S. driver's license is acceptable (we do not accept student ID or French drivers' licenses.)  Persons who do not provide valid identification will be denied access to the embassy.  You do not have to bring a witness if the document to be signed does not call for signatures other than the applicant’s. 
  

Entering the Consular Section

We recommend that you arrive 15 minutes before your appointment so that you may clear security and be ready on time.

On the day of your visit, you should queue outside the Consular Section entrance at 4, avenue Gabriel, 75008 Paris.  The Embassy guards and local police will guide you through a series of security checks.  When you arrive in the Consular waiting room, you will have to take a number for notarials at a kiosk (the ticket will show the letter D followed by a number).  You should then sit in the waiting room until the number is called.  You should plan to spend about an hour at the Embassy once you are admitted.


Security at the Embassy

Please do not bring any electronic devices, such as laptop computers, or any other type of computers, Blackberries, iPods, or large bags, such as backpacks, suitcases or packages to the Consular Section as there are no storage facilities on Embassy grounds.  Security guards may hold small tourist cameras and cell phones until your departure, but there is no storage available for any other large items or electronic devices please do not bring them at the time of your appointment.

For more information, go to the State Department website pages on notarial services.