Resources for Expats in France

Tools to help you get started in France

Learning French

High-quality tools for beginners to advanced learners

French Apps & Online Courses

1. Duolingo – Beginner-friendly, gamified French.

2. Babbel – Structured lessons with grammar explanations.

3. Busuu – CEFR-aligned lessons + speaking practice.

4. Rosetta Stone – Immersive, no translations.

5. LingQ – Learn through reading real content.

6. Memrise – Vocabulary with spaced repetition.

7. Pimsleur – Audio-based learning, good for commuting.

Serious Study / CEFR-Aligned

8. Alliance Française Online – Official French courses, A1–C2.

9. Français Facile – Free grammar exercises and quizzes.

10. TV5 Monde Apprendre – Videos and exercises for all levels.

11. RFI Savoirs – Journal en Français Facile – Daily slow news.

12. Lawless French – Excellent grammar explanations.

13. Frantastique – Daily personalised lessons with humour.

14. Clozemaster – Sentence-based practice for intermediate learners.

Certified Translators in the EU (Sworn / Official Translators)

These are translators recognised by courts/governments, suitable for visas, titre de séjour, driving licence exchanges, birth/marriage certificates, etc.
(Note: France uses “traducteurs assermentés” registered with the local Court of Appeal; other EU countries have their own sworn translator systems.)

France

1. Annuaire des Traducteurs Assermentés (Cour d’Appel) – Official directory.

2. SFT – Société Française des Traducteurs – Professional certified translators.

3. La Poste Certified Translation Service – Government-recognised.

4. Acolad Legal Translations – Sworn translators for FR/EN.

Germany

5. BDÜ (Bundesverband der Dolmetscher und Übersetzer) – State-certified translators.

6. Justiz-Dolmetscher.de – Official German sworn translator registry.

7. KERN AG – Certified legal translations across the EU.

Spain

8. Traductores Jurados (MAEC official directory) – Government-certified sworn translators.

9. SeproTec – Large certified translation provider.

Netherlands

10. Wbtv Register (Dutch Bureau for Sworn Interpreters & Translators) – Official list.

Speaking Practice

15. italki – Affordable 1:1 lessons with native tutors.

16. Preply – Conversation-focused tutors.

17. HelloTalk – Language exchange with native speakers.

18. Tandem – Conversation exchange matching system.

Immersion Materials

19. Netflix with LingoPie / Language Reactor extensions – Dual subtitles + vocab.

20. YouTube French Teachers

• Alice Ayel

• Français Authentique

• Hugo Décrypte (for advanced learners)

Belgium

11. Belgian National Register of Sworn Translators & Interpreters

12. Lexitech – Certified translations recognised across the EU.

Italy

13. Tribunale di Roma – Albo dei Periti – Sworn translator listings.

14. Studio Interpreti Milano – Legalised translations for immigration.

Portugal

15. Notaries/Conservatória Certified Translators – Portugal’s recognised system.

16. Letrário – Legalised translations accepted for residency.

Ireland

17. ITIA (Irish Translators’ and Interpreters’ Association) – Certified members.

18. InstantTranslations.ie – Popular for visa paperwork.

EU-Wide / Online

19. RushTranslate (EU/US accepted formats) – Certified translations for immigration.

20. Translated.com Certified Division – Notary-ready, sworn translations.