Showing UK criminal record to French authorities

Under the current agreement, France would have the right to ask British residents to apply for a residence card proving their right to stay in the country under the Brexit treaty. As part of this, the draft wording says France would be entitled to ask to see if the person has a criminal record and for checks, including in the country of origin, if it deems necessary. The inclusion of this was at the request of the UK.

The draft agreement says people who have already obtained a ‘permanent stay’ carte de séjour will not have to supply most of the paperwork that those without one will have to, such as utility bills and tax statements, work contracts, healthcare information etc. proving ‘legal and stable’ residence in France over a sustained period (because these are already required to obtain a ‘permanent stay’ card). However the agreement states that the criminal record aspect may also apply to this group.

Campaigners for expats have objected to this as such cardholders have already essentially acquired a permanent residence right – and which the French Interior Ministry has said they intend to respect.

We will have to wait, at least until the agreement is finalised, and probably well into the expected transition period after Brexit, before all the practical details of formalities for Britons in France will be clear.

However if it should become necessary for Britons in France to supply criminal record casier judiciaire details as part of an application then this is likely to be what is referred to as a ‘Bulletin 3’, which shows the most serious offences. You can obtain an ‘extract’ of this free of charge, online here

You will need a scan of an identity document (such as passport or carte de séjour) and the ‘extract’ document will be sent to you in the post.

Requesting the British equivalent (a police certificate) can be done online here for £45 from ACRO Criminal Records Office.

You need scans of two forms of ID which between them show name, date of birth, current postal address and signature; for example passport plus a rental contract or utility bill.

The EU and UK have said residence would only be refused to people deemed a ‘genuine, present and sufficiently serious threat’.