French criminal record extract request — Bulletin No. 3 (B3)
Request Bulletin No. 3 of the French criminal record (B3, Cerfa 10071), issued only to the person concerned — for a job, a visa or an administrative file.
Who can request a B3 criminal record extract?
Only the person named in the record can obtain their own B3. A parent or legal guardian may apply on behalf of a minor in their care. Crucially, no employer, third-party organisation or private individual can request someone else's B3: administrations and regulated professions access criminal-record data through the separate B2 procedure, which is restricted to authorised bodies. The system covers anyone who has been subject to French jurisdiction, regardless of nationality.
Source: Service-public.fr — Criminal record: obtaining Bulletin n°3 (B3) · updated 2026
About this form
The Bulletin n°3 (B3) of the casier judiciaire is the extract that any adult may obtain about themselves from France's criminal record system, free of charge and without providing a reason. It lists the most serious convictions handed down by French courts: felonies (crimes), misdemeanours (délits) carrying an unsuspended custodial sentence exceeding two years, certain personal bankruptcy orders, and compulsory liquidation measures, as defined in Articles 768 to 781 of the Code de procédure pénale (French Code of Criminal Procedure). The quickest route is the official portal casier.justice.gouv.fr, which issues a digitally-signed PDF in real time — typically within a few minutes of entering your civil-status details. Alternatively, postal requests use CERFA form n°10071, sent to the Casier judiciaire national in Nantes, with a two-to-three-week turnaround. No fees apply by either method.
Worked example
Thomas L., 29, a network technician, is applying for a security-cleared role at a French telecoms operator. HR requests a clean B3. On 24 June 2026 at 9:02 am, Thomas visits casier.justice.gouv.fr, enters his civil-status details (born in Bordeaux on 3 May 1997), and submits. A digitally-signed PDF is available to download by 9:06 am. Cost: €0. Effective processing time: 4 minutes. He emails the PDF directly to HR, who accepts it without requiring a printed copy or apostille. No travel, no post, no queuing.
How to fill out the form
- Choose your method: visit casier.justice.gouv.fr for an instant digital PDF (delivered within the same session), or download CERFA form n°10071 from service-public.fr if you prefer to apply by post or are requesting on behalf of a minor.
- Enter your complete civil-status details exactly as they appear on your birth certificate: your birth surname (nom de naissance, not a married name), all given names in official order, date of birth in DD/MM/YYYY format, and the commune and département — or country — of birth.
- For postal applications, provide a full postal delivery address for the returned document. For online applications, have a valid email address ready to receive the notification that your PDF is available for download.
- Postal applications only: enclose a legible front-and-back photocopy of a valid government-issued photo ID (national identity card, passport, or French residence permit — titre de séjour). No notarised certification or apostille is required.
- Post the completed CERFA n°10071 to: Casier judiciaire national — 107 rue du Landreau — 44317 Nantes Cedex 3 (standard post is sufficient; registered mail is not required). For online applications, download your PDF immediately and save it securely — the download link expires after 48 hours and cannot be regenerated.
Good to know
- The PDF from casier.justice.gouv.fr carries a digital signature and is accepted by most French professional bodies, administrations and regulated employers. Check in advance whether your recipient requires a paper original with a wet stamp — some foreign bodies or notarial offices still insist on this formality.
- A private employer not subject to specific regulation has no legal right to demand your B3. Only employers authorised to access the B2 (childcare, security sectors, etc.) have a supervised right to criminal-record data. You may lawfully decline such a request without it constituting professional misconduct.
- If entries you believe have been erased — by legal rehabilitation (réhabilitation légale), amnesty, or expiry of the statutory retention period — still appear on your B3, write by registered post to the procureur de la République at the tribunal judiciaire of your place of birth with supporting evidence. Correction is a right and typically takes 2 to 6 months.
Frequently asked questions
Who can request a B3 criminal record extract?
Only the person named in the record can obtain their own B3. A parent or legal guardian may apply on behalf of a minor in their care. Crucially, no employer, third-party organisation or private individual can request someone else's B3: administrations and regulated professions access criminal-record data through the separate B2 procedure, which is restricted to authorised bodies. The system covers anyone who has been subject to French jurisdiction, regardless of nationality.
How do I request my B3 online?
Visit casier.justice.gouv.fr, select the 'Particuliers' (private individuals) section, and enter your full civil-status details — your birth surname (nom de naissance, not a married name), all given names in official order, date of birth, and commune of birth. No account registration, supporting documents or payment is required. The signed PDF is generated automatically and available to download immediately in the same browsing session.
How long does it take to receive the B3?
Online requests via casier.justice.gouv.fr are processed automatically for the vast majority of cases: the PDF is available within the same session, usually within a few seconds to a few minutes. Rare cases requiring manual verification may take one to three business days. Postal requests using CERFA form n°10071 take two to three weeks depending on the Casier judiciaire national's workload. For any urgent professional or administrative deadline, the online route is the only practical option.
Is the B3 free of charge?
Yes — the B3 is entirely free whether you apply online or by post. No fiscal stamp (timbre fiscal), no court fee and no filing charge applies. Be wary of third-party websites that appear in paid Google search results and charge between €5 and €30 for this service by impersonating the official portal. The only legitimate platform is casier.justice.gouv.fr.
What does — and does not — appear on a B3?
The B3 lists: convictions for felonies (crimes); convictions for misdemeanours (délits) with an unsuspended custodial sentence exceeding two years; bans on activities involving regular contact with minors; and certain personal bankruptcy orders. It does not show convictions erased by legal or judicial rehabilitation (réhabilitation), amnesty, or fully suspended sentences. A clean B3 therefore does not guarantee a completely clear judicial history.
Can I request a B3 for a minor or a deceased person?
A legal representative (parent or guardian) may request a B3 for a minor in their care, but only by post using CERFA form n°10071, accompanied by a copy of the representative's photo ID and proof of legal guardianship (livret de famille or court order). The online portal does not handle this case as of 2026. A B3 cannot be issued post-mortem under any circumstances.
Official sources
Updated on 2026-06-26
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