Why French-language documents need careful translation
If your company is French or filings from a French-speaking market, the papers for a China trademark — power of attorney, certificate of incorporation, registry extract — are in French. CNIPA examines everything in Chinese, so each document must be translated, and several French-specific details decide whether the translation passes without a query. A legal form rendered inconsistently, a diacritic dropped from a brand name, or an extrait K-bis confused with a looser extract can all slow the filing.
Below are the French points we handle most, so you know what to prepare before filing.
Which documents usually need translating
Foreign applicants generally need to translate:
- Pouvoir (power of attorney) — mandatory unless you have a business presence in China; it appoints your China agent.
- Extrait K-bis / certificat d'immatriculation — the company registry extract showing the exact registered name and legal form.
- Statuts (articles of association) — sometimes requested to confirm the entity.
- Priority documents — if you claim Paris Convention priority within six months of an earlier filing.
- Documents de changement de dénomination ou de siège — name or address change certificates.
- Acte de cession ou de licence — assignment or licence deeds when relying on prior rights.
Our general guide to translating corporate documents for a China trademark covers the rules that apply to every language. The notes below are specific to French.
French entity forms and how they are rendered
French company names carry a legal-form suffix that must be translated consistently:
- SARL (Société à Responsabilité Limitée) — a private limited company; noted as 有限责任公司.
- SAS (Société par Actions Simplifiée) — a simplified joint-stock company; noted as 简易股份有限公司 in filings.
- SA (Société Anonyme) — a public limited company; noted as 股份有限公司.
- EURL (Entreprise Unipersonnelle à Responsabilité Limitée) — a single-member limited company.
- SCI (Société Civile Immobilière) — a civil real-estate partnership, common for property-holding vehicles.
The registered name before the suffix is kept as filed; the suffix is noted in Chinese. The form on the pouvoir, the extrait, and the application must match — "Société Dupont, SARL" on one and "SAS" on another is a mismatch that draws an office action.
The extrait K-bis
The extrait K-bis is the standard, up-to-date extract from the Registre du Commerce et des Sociétés and is usually the document CNIPA expects as proof of the entity. Other French extracts exist (a fuller statuts extract, or a dated extrait d'immatriculation), but the K-bis is the cleanest single proof of existence and standing. If you only hold a looser extract, tell us early so we can flag the gap.
Diacritics and brand names
French uses accents — é, è, à, ç, ô, ù — that carry meaning. Two issues follow:
- Legal names — accents in a company or personal name (for example, Café, Électricité) must be preserved in the original script held alongside the Chinese translation, because the Chinese characters cannot reproduce the accent.
- Brand distinctiveness — an accented word mark (for example, Crème versus Creme) can be examined differently for distinctiveness and confusion. How an English or French word is read in China is covered in our guides to when an English word is refused for what it means and Chinese-name choices.
We keep the accented original and a clear transliteration so the two never diverge.
The power of attorney in French
The pouvoir should name your China agent exactly and state a clear scope — filing, prosecution, and registration. French phrasing such as mandataire versus représentant can be read differently by an examiner, so we render the authority in Chinese without ambiguity. France uses traducteurs assermentés (sworn translators), but China does not require that specific qualification; a professional translation with a statement is what is filed.
Apostille and certification
France is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, and China acceded in 2023, so for most French public documents an apostille replaces the older two-step legalisation. The precise path still depends on the document type and the year it was issued, so confirm the current requirement for your papers in our by-country reference and the what to notarise guide.
The translation statement (ordinary translation, not sworn)
CNIPA requires a Chinese translation of any French-language document, accompanied by a translation statement attesting completeness and accuracy, with the translator or agency details and a date. We deliver the French-to-Chinese translation with the statement attached and ready to submit.
How we handle French translations
Our French-to-Chinese work is done by translators working in intellectual-property contexts, not generalists. For each client we keep a glossary so the applicant name, legal form, and key goods terms are rendered identically across the pouvoir, the extrait, and the application. Before filing, we cross-check the transliterated applicant name against the mark you intend to register, because a mismatch is one of the quieter causes of refusals.
Translating the goods and services list from French
The specification of goods and services is itself translated from your French filing. French terms such as "services de vente au détail" or "logiciel téléchargeable" must be mapped onto the Chinese accepted vocabulary and the correct Nice class. A literal translation can drift outside what CNIPA accepts, producing a correction notice. We align the Chinese wording with classification practice rather than translating word for word.
SAS versus SARL in practice
French founders sometimes hold the same business under different forms over time — a SAS when raising outside capital, an EURL when sole-owned. Make sure the legal form on the pouvoir matches the form on the extrait K-bis at the filing date; if the company recently converted, translate the current form and keep the conversion document in the set.
Legal name versus trade name
The French registered company name can differ from the name you trade under. For a trademark filing, translate the registered name as the applicant; protecting the brand is a separate mark decision covered in our Chinese-name guide. Mixing the two on one form is a frequent source of office actions.
When to translate
Translate the set before you file. A translation prepared after CNIPA has already raised a query compresses your response window and risks inconsistency with your existing records. Sending the documents up front lets us build the glossary once and reuse it across the whole filing.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to translate my French company documents into Chinese for a China trademark?
Yes. CNIPA examines filings in Chinese, so any French-language document must be submitted with a Chinese translation and a translation statement.
What is the extrait K-bis and is it enough?
The extrait K-bis is the standard French company registry extract and is usually the proof of entity CNIPA expects. An apostille is normally added for documents going to China.
How are French accents handled in a Chinese filing?
Accents cannot be reproduced in Chinese characters, so we keep the accented original script alongside the transliteration and notes, ensuring the two never diverge.
Does the translator have to be sworn?
No. China does not require a civil-law sworn translator. A professional translation with a statement of accuracy is what is filed.
Can my French brand name be registered in Chinese characters?
It can, and many French brands adopt a Chinese-character mark. Whether you need one is a strategy choice covered in our Chinese-name guide.
How long does a French-to-Chinese translation take?
A standard filing set is typically turned around in a few business days, faster when the glossary is already established for a returning client.