Gather the documents and apply at the consulate
You apply at the French consulate in the country where you live, no earlier than 3 months before you leave. The document list for your visa type and the fee (it depends on the country) are on France-Visas (F16162).
Bring the originals of your civil status documents (for example a full birth certificate): in France the CPAM asks for one with a French translation (F16467).
For a licence exchange the translation must be official, and if it is made abroad it must be legalised or apostilled (F1460): this is easier to do before you leave.
Each fact links to the official Service-Public page (in French). This is general information, not legal advice.
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