Francophone countries compared
One table. Who issues the apostille, where the translation must be produced, and in what order — for Switzerland, Belgium, Luxembourg, France and Canada. The order never changes; everything else does.
Checked on 8 September 2026 Last updated 9 September 2026
In brief
- Certification level
- Apostille + Sworn translation (Türkiye) + Sworn translator (Belgium) + Certified translator (Québec)
- Estimated time
- Reference page — read before choosing a route
Accepted under conditions
Five jurisdictions, five administrative arrangements, one constant. This page is for orienting yourself before reading any of the country pages in detail.
The constant
The apostille is issued by the country that produced the document, and it comes before the translation. No jurisdiction here is an exception, and Türkiye cannot apostille a foreign document under any circumstances. Everything else below is variation on top of that.
The table
| Issuing country | Who issues the apostille | Translation for a Turkish authority |
|---|---|---|
| Switzerland | Chancellery of the issuing canton | In Türkiye |
| Belgium | A single federal authority | In Türkiye |
| Luxembourg | A single central authority | In Türkiye |
| France | Designated authority — changed recently, verify at source | In Türkiye |
| Canada / Québec | Federal or provincial, depending on the document | In Türkiye |
The other direction is where they differ
Send a Turkish document the other way and the last column inverts — and that is where these jurisdictions genuinely diverge:
- Belgium: some procedures ask for a translator on the national register.
- Switzerland: depending on the canton, a translator from its own list.
- Québec: a provincial file may ask for a member of the professional order.
- France, Luxembourg: requirements vary by receiving authority; verify case by case.
Practice is not uniform, and many files are accepted with a sworn translation prepared in Türkiye. Our work covers retrieval, the Turkish endorsement chain, the translation and shipping — and we tell you which condition applies before quoting rather than after.
Two things worth remembering
Switzerland is the only jurisdiction here where the apostille depends on a sub-national authority, so a file drawing on three cantons means three procedures. Canada is the most recent to join the apostille system — 11 January 2024 — which is why so much guidance about it still describes a longer legalisation chain that no longer applies.
What this table does not tell you
Your case. Which version of a record to request, how recent it must be, and what form of certification is expected are decided by the receiving office and are established in writing, not inferred from a table.
How to use this table
Read across your own row, then go to that country’s pages for the detail. The left column answers where to obtain the endorsement; the right column answers who translates. What the table cannot answer is which version of a record to request or how recent it must be — those depend on the specific office receiving your file and are established by asking it, in writing, before anything is ordered. Treat the table as a map, not as an instruction.
Frequently asked questions
Because the table describes documents going to Turkish authorities. Reverse the direction and the rule reverses with it.
Competence changed recently and outdated names circulate widely. We prefer to send you to the source rather than risk repeating a superseded one.
The constant applies — apostille in the issuing country, then translation. The competent authority must be checked for that country.
No, in no circumstances. If the issuing country is hard to reach, the route is a representative there or a remote request to its administration.