Request for a Criminal Record Extract (Bulletin No. 3)

Verified 22 May 2026 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

Do you need your criminal record bulletin n°3 for an administrative procedure or a job search? You can get it for free. The procedures for obtaining this extract vary depending on your place of birth (or the place of birth of the person you are applying for). We present the information to know.

FYI  

Bulletin No. 3 of the criminal record can be issued to you regardless of your nationality.

The procedure for applying for Criminal Record Bulletin No. 3 varies depending on your place of birth.

In any case, this approach is free of charge.

Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement

You were born in metropolitan France

In general, the request must be made on the Internet. If you are unable to do this online, you can request the B3 of your criminal record by post.

Request on the internet

You must use the Department of Justice online service:

Online application for a criminal record extract (bulletin n°3)

Once your request has been registered, you will receive an email confirming that your request has been taken into account by the National Criminal Records Service.

Your request will be taken into account when you have clicked on the confirmation link present in this email.

If the bulletin n°3 does not contain any condemnation, you can find it directly on the online service of the Ministry of Justice, receive it by mail or by post.

If a conviction appears on the B3 of your criminal record, you will receive it by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt.

The time taken to receive an extract from the criminal record (bulletin n°3) varies according to the method of sending. It is:

  • From one hour to 24 hours in case of transmission via FranceConnect or by email
  • 2 weeks (including postal deadlines) if sent by post (or by LRAR).
Request by mail

You must complete the form cerfa no. 10071 and send it to the National Criminal Records Service.

You do not have to attach an envelope or stamp to obtain your criminal record extract.

If your ballot contains no conviction, it is sent to you by simple mail. However, if it bears one or more convictions, it is sent to you by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt.

In all cases, the response is within 2 weeks (including postal deadlines).

You were born overseas

The approach differs according to your place of birth:

Drom, French Polynesia and Wallis and Futuna

In general, the request must be made on the Internet. If you are unable to do so online, you can request the number 3 of your criminal record by post.

Request on the internet

You must use the Department of Justice online service:

Online application for a criminal record extract (bulletin n°3)

Once your request has been registered, you will receive an email confirming that your request has been taken into account by the National Criminal Records Service.

Your request will be taken into account when you have clicked on the confirmation link present in this email.

If the bulletin n°3 does not contain any condemnation, you can find it directly on the online service of the Ministry of Justice, receive it by mail or by post.

If a conviction appears on the B3 of your criminal record, you will receive it by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt.

The time taken to receive an extract from the criminal record (bulletin n°3) varies according to the method of sending. It is:

  • From one hour to 24 hours in case of transmission via FranceConnect or by email
  • 2 weeks (including postal deadlines) if sent by post (or by LRAR).
Request by mail

You must complete the form cerfa no. 10071 and send it to the National Criminal Records Service.

You do not have to attach an envelope or stamp to obtain your criminal record extract.

If your ballot contains no conviction, it is sent to you by simple mail. However, if it bears one or more convictions, it is sent to you by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt.

In all cases, the response is within 2 weeks (including postal deadlines).

New Caledonia

The request can be made by email or by mail or by going to the registry of the court of first instance of Nouméa.

Request by email

You must send the form cerfa no. 10071 to the e-mail address of the Court of First Instance of Nouméa.

Your application must be accompanied by proof of identity (example: an identity card or a passport).

If your B3 does not contain any mention, it is sent to you by simple letter. If it bears one or more convictions, it is delivered to you by hand or by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt.

The response time is approximately 15 days. This period may vary depending on the duration of the journey (return postal delays).

Request by mail

You must send the form cerfa no. 10071 at the Registry of the Court of First Instance of Nouméa.

This form must be accompanied by a photocopy of both sides of a proof of identity (for example, identity card or passport).

If your B3 does not contain any mention, it is sent to you by simple letter. If it bears one or more convictions, it is delivered to you by hand or by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt.

The response time is approximately 15 days. However, it may vary depending on the duration of the journey (return postal delays).

On-site request

To obtain the bulletin n°3 of your criminal record, you must present yourself at the registry of the court of first instance of Nouméa, with an identity document.

In this case, it is possible that your criminal record extract will be given to you immediately. Otherwise, it takes about 2 weeks.

Who shall I contact

  • By phone

    00,687 27,93 67

    By courier

    Casier-judiciaire.tpi-noumea@justice.fr

    By post

    Court of First Instance

    Criminal Record Service

    BP F4

    98848 Nouméa Cedex

    By fax

    00,687 27,96 15

You were born abroad

In general, the request must be made on the Internet. If you are unable to do so online, you can request the number 3 of your criminal record by post.

Request on the internet

You can use the Department of Justice online service:

Online application for a criminal record extract (bulletin n°3)

Once your request has been registered, you will receive an email confirming that your request has been taken into account by the National Criminal Records Service.

Your request will be taken into account when you have clicked on the confirmation link present in this email.

The time taken to receive an extract from the criminal record (bulletin n°3) varies according to the method of sending. It is:

  • From one hour to 24 hours in case of transmission via FranceConnect
  • Of 2 working days in case of transmission by email, if you have not used FranceConnect
  • 2 weeks if sent by post.

Warning  

If you apply on the Department of Justice website without going through FranceConnect, you must attach a copy of your identity document (example: identity card or passport). This applies in particular to persons born abroad, whose identity documents do not mention their place of birth.

Request by mail

You must submit the form cerfa no. 10071 the National Criminal Records Service.

A copy of your ID must be attached to your application. It is preferable that this document indicates your parentage (example: birth certificate).

It is not necessary to attach an envelope or stamp for the answer.

If your B3 contains no mention of conviction, it is sent to you by simple letter. If it bears one or more convictions, it is sent to you by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt.

The response time is approximately 15 days. However, it may vary depending on the duration of the journey (return postal delays).

If you are the legal representative a minor (e.g. parent) or a adult under guardianship, you can apply for bulletin n°3 instead.

Warning  

These are the only 2 cases where you can apply for Bulletin #3 on behalf of someone else (for example, you cannot apply for a friend's B3). If you apply for a B3 in place of another person, without being authorized to do so, you will be liable to €7,500 of fine.

The conditions under which the request can be made depend on the person for whom you are the legal representative:

Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement

Minor

In most cases, the request can be made on the online service of the Ministry of Justice:

Online application for a criminal record extract (bulletin n°3)

It may also be made by post addressed to the National Criminal Records Service.

Warning  

Sending the request by post is mandatory if the minor you represent is under the age of 12, was born outside France or is unknown.

You do not have to attach an envelope or stamp for the answer.

In all cases, the response is sent by post within 2 weeks (including postal deadlines for metropolitan France).

Warning  

The application must always be accompanied by proof of identity of the minor, unless you use FranceConnect.

Major under guardianship

The request must be made by post addressed to the National Criminal Records Service.

You do not have to attach an envelope or stamp for the answer. You only need to provide the court decision that designates you as its legal representative.

The response is sent by post within 2 weeks (including postal deadlines for metropolitan France).

The law does not provide for a period of validity for the extract of criminal record (bulletin n°3). In general, the organization or employer that asks you for bulletin 3 specifies the desired seniority (example: less than 3 months).

Who can help me?

Find who can answer your questions in your region

  • To get help if you are having trouble getting the B3 from the criminal record

    National Criminal Records Service

    By phone

    02 51 89 89 51

    Telephone reception from Monday to Friday from 9:30 to 12:30 and from 13:00 to 16:00

    24-hour voice server