Criminal Record in France: How to Access and Clear It

When applying for a job, seeking to acquire French nationality, or taking steps to obtain a professional license, the question of your criminal record quickly becomes central. This document, which traces an individual's criminal history in France, often causes anxiety and raises many questions: Who can view it? How can you obtain your own extract? Is it possible to wipe the slate clean to fully reintegrate into professional life? This comprehensive guide, written by our experts, explains in detail how the French criminal record works, the procedures for accessing it, and the legal mechanisms to have it cleared.

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What is the Criminal Record? Understanding the 3 Bulletins

The criminal record in France is a national automated database managed by the Casier judiciaire national automatisé (National Criminal Record Office, located in Nantes) under the authority of the Minister of Justice. It centralises criminal convictions handed down by French courts. To guarantee confidentiality and support rehabilitation, French law divides the criminal record into three distinct bulletins, whose access and content are strictly regulated.

Bulletin n° 1 (B1): The Complete History

Bulletin n° 1 contains the entirety of convictions and judicial decisions concerning a person. This includes prison sentences (custodial or suspended), fines, territorial bans, as well as disciplinary decisions and compositions pénales (criminal compositions/alternative prosecutions).

• Who can request it? Only magistrates and penitentiary establishments have access to it. Under no circumstances can it be given to the individual concerned or to an employer.

Bulletin n° 2 (B2): The Professional Record

Bulletin n° 2 contains the majority of convictions for crimes and délits (misdemeanours), excluding certain decisions (such as police-level petty offenses, convictions with a discharge/dispensation of penalty, or decisions handed down against minors, with some exceptions).

• Who can request it? Certain public administrations and private employers for specific reasons (access to public sector employment, working with minors, security professions, banking, etc.). Article L. 1121-1 of the Code du travail (French Labour Code) strictly regulates this request, which must be proportionate to the objective pursued and justified by the nature of the task to be performed.

Bulletin n° 3 (B3): The Personal Record

Bulletin n° 3 is the most restricted. It only contains the most serious convictions: convictions for crimes and délits exceeding 2 years of imprisonment without suspension, active bans, forfeitures, or incapacities, as well as certain socio-judicial supervision measures.

• Who can request it? Only the person concerned (or their legal representative if they are a minor or a protected adult) can request it. It is strictly forbidden for a third party to request the B3 of another person, subject to a fine of 7,500 € (Article 781 of the Code de procédure pénale / French Code of Criminal Procedure).

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How to Consult Your Criminal Record: Practical Steps

Accessing your criminal record depends on which bulletin you wish to obtain or verify.

Step-by-Step: Requesting Your Bulletin n° 3 (B3)

Requesting Bulletin n° 3 is entirely free of charge and is done primarily online.

1. Go to the official website: Connect to the Ministry of Justice portal (casier-judiciaire.justice.gouv.fr).

2. Fill in the online form: Enter your civil status (surname, first names, date and place of birth) and your email address. If you were born outside of France, you must attach a scanned proof of identity (passport or ID card).

3. Validate the confirmation link: You will receive an email containing a confirmation link that you must click to validate the request.

4. Receiving the bulletin: If your record is clean (néant / nil), the bulletin will be sent to you by email within 1 hour (or within 2 to 3 business days if you were born abroad). If the bulletin contains convictions, it will be sent to you by registered mail with acknowledgement of receipt (lettre recommandée avec accusé de réception) within 2 weeks.

How to Consult Your Bulletin n° 1 (B1) and Bulletin n° 2 (B2)?

Unlike the B3, you cannot receive a paper copy of your bulletins n° 1 and n° 2. However, the law grants you a right of access and visual consultation, in accordance with Article 777-2 of the Code de procédure pénale.

1. Send a written request to the Procureur de la République (Public Prosecutor) of the Tribunal judiciaire (Judicial Court) of your place of residence.

2. Make an appointment: Once your request is processed, you will be summoned to the court to view your file.

3. On-site consultation: A court official will present the B1 and B2 bulletins to you. You may review them visually and orally, but you are strictly forbidden from making a copy, taking a photo, or taking exhaustive handwritten notes.

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How to Clear Your Criminal Record: The Two Legal Routes

There are two ways to clear entries from your criminal record: automatic legal rehabilitation (réhabilitation légale) and judicial rehabilitation (réhabilitation judiciaire), which is done upon request.

1. Legal Rehabilitation (Automatic after a certain period)

French law provides for the "right to be forgotten" after a certain period of good conduct. Entries are automatically cleared from bulletins n° 2 and n° 3 upon the expiration of a probationary period, which begins on the day the sentence was served, paid, or became time-barred.

Here are the main timeframes for automatic legal rehabilitation:

• 3 years for petty offenses (contraventions).
• 5 years for convictions to a fine or day-fines (jours-amendes).
• 5 years for a single prison sentence of 1 year or less.
• 10 years for a single prison sentence of 10 years or less, or for multiple prison sentences whose total does not exceed 5 years.
• 40 years for all other convictions (except for crimes against humanity or non-prescriptible offenses), after which deletion is permanent for Bulletin n° 1.

2. Judicial Rehabilitation (Request for early deletion)

If you cannot wait for the automatic legal timeframes, particularly for professional reasons, you can submit a request for the early deletion of Bulletin n° 2 (which automatically removes it from Bulletin n° 3 as well). This is the procedure for désinscription (exclusion) under Article 702-1 of the Code de procédure pénale, also known as a petition for exclusion from the criminal record bulletins.

The request can be made in two ways:

• At the time of trial: Your lawyer can directly ask the court not to enter the conviction into Bulletin n° 2 (concomitant request).
• After the trial (by petition): If the conviction is final, you must send a written petition to the Procureur de la République of the court that handed down the conviction (or the Court of Appeal).

For this petition to be admissible, a minimum waiting period is required after the sentence has been served (for example, payment of the fine or the end of the prison sentence): 6 months for délits (misdemeanours) and 1 year for crimes (felonies).

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Concrete Examples of Criminal Record Clearing

To better understand the financial and time implications, here are two detailed practical scenarios.

Example 1: Sofia's Case (Access to the Public Sector)

Sofia, 24 years old, was convicted 2 years ago for simple theft and sentenced to an 800 € fine. She paid her fine immediately. Today, she has passed the competitive exam to become a hospital nurse. The administration is asking for her Bulletin n° 2, on which her conviction appears, blocking her employment.

• The solution: Sofia cannot wait for the 5-year automatic legal rehabilitation period. Through her lawyer, she files a petition for exclusion from the B2 based on Article 702-1 of the Code de procédure pénale.
• The cost of the procedure: Legal fees amount to 1,200 € HT (excluding VAT).
• The result: After a hearing in chambers (chambre du conseil), the prosecutor issues a favourable opinion in light of Sofia's professional project. The court orders the exclusion of the conviction from the B2. Sofia can sign her employment contract; her conviction now only appears on her B1 (accessible only to magistrates).

Example 2: Marc's Case (VTC/Ride-share Driver)

Marc, 32 years old, received a ordonnance pénale (penal order/simplified judgment) for driving under the influence of alcohol 1 year ago. He was fined 400 € and had his license suspended for 4 months. He wants to become a VTC (ride-share) driver, but obtaining the professional VTC card requires a Bulletin n° 2 free of serious road traffic offenses.

• The solution: Since Marc paid his fine more than 6 months ago, his petition is admissible. He builds a solid file proving his diligence in sobriety tests and his urgent need to work to support his family.
• The result: The court accepts the petition. The entry is cleared from his B2. Marc obtains his VTC card.

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Mistakes to Avoid During Your Procedures

• Lying to your employer during an interview: If an employer has the legal right to ask for your Bulletin n° 3 for a security position or a role handling funds, lying about your criminal past can constitute grounds for dismissal for gross misconduct (faute grave) due to the breach of trust. It is better to anticipate and request deletion beforehand.
• Confusing B2 and B3: Many individuals request their B3 online, see that it is clean ("Néant"), and wrongly assume their record is completely clear. However, a conviction for driving under the influence or simple theft may still appear on the B2 and block employment in the public sector.
• Neglecting the preparation of the petition file: Sending a simple letter requesting deletion without supporting documents guarantees a refusal. The judge requires concrete proof of rehabilitation: employment contracts, job offers, proof of payment of fines and damages to victims, and letters of recommendation.
• Forgetting to pay damages: If you were ordered to compensate a victim, the court will almost systematically refuse the deletion of your B2 if you have not fully paid the sums owed, or if you do not prove your insolvency or a respected repayment plan.

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FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions About the French Criminal Record

Can a private employer demand my Bulletin n° 2?

No. A private employer can never directly request Bulletin n° 2 from the National Criminal Record Office. Only certain public administrations or private bodies carrying out a public service mission have access to it. However, a private employer can ask you to provide an extract of your Bulletin n° 3 if the proposed position justifies it (for example, a position as an accountant or a building caretaker).

How long does a conviction remain on Bulletin n° 1?

All convictions are eventually cleared from Bulletin n° 1 after a maximum period of 40 years from the last conviction, or upon the death of the individual. The only exceptions concern crimes against humanity and war crimes, which are imprescriptible and remain on record for life.

Do minors have a specific criminal record?

Yes, juvenile justice in France is protective. Decisions handed down by the tribunal pour enfants (juvenile court) benefit from faster clearing rules. For example, educational measures are automatically cleared when the individual reaches adulthood (18). Furthermore, convictions handed down against a minor do not appear on Bulletin n° 2, unless the court expressly decides otherwise.

Does clearing the criminal record also delete the TAJ file?

No, this is a fundamental distinction. The TAJ (Traitement des Antécédents Judiciaires / Treatment of Criminal Antecedents) is a police and gendarmerie database (which lists individuals implicated in investigations), completely separate from the criminal record. Clearing Bulletin n° 2 of the criminal record does not automatically result in the deletion of the TAJ. You must submit a separate request to the Procureur de la République or the CNIL (French data protection authority) to update or delete your TAJ file.

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Summary

• The criminal record consists of 3 distinct bulletins, with Bulletin n° 3 being the only one directly accessible by the citizen.
• Requesting Bulletin n° 3 is 100% free and can be done quickly online on the official government website.
• Automatic deletion (legal rehabilitation) occurs after periods of 3 to 10 years depending on the severity of the sentence.
• Early deletion of Bulletin n° 2 is possible via a judicial petition starting 6 months after the sentence has been served for a délit.
• To maximise the chances of success of a deletion petition, it is essential to present a strong file proving active social and professional reintegration.

Legal information for guidance only, not personalised legal advice. For your specific situation, ask your question free of charge on AvocatAI — answers based on French law, in your language.