China joined the Hague Apostille Convention on 7 November 2023 — the MFA and provincial FAOs now issue apostilles, replacing the old double-legalisation chain.
Overview
China acceded to the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation (the Apostille Convention) on 8 March 2023, with the Convention entering into force for China on 7 November 2023. This ended the previous requirement for a double-legalisation chain (notarisation → Chinese embassy/consulate legalisation) for documents exchanged with other Hague member countries. The competent authorities designated by China to issue apostilles are the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) in Beijing and the Foreign Affairs Offices (FAOs) of provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the central government, who issue apostilles on public documents emanated within their respective administrative areas. For documents going to or from countries that are NOT parties to the Apostille Convention, the traditional consular legalisation route remains in effect, administered through Chinese embassies and consulates abroad. Foreign-language documents submitted to Chinese authorities must be translated into Chinese by a qualified translation service; China does not operate a national sworn-translator register equivalent to some European countries, but translations for official use typically require a company business licence and official stamp. Verified against hcch.net, mfa.gov.cn records, and english.www.gov.cn as of June 2026.
Apostille — Issued by MFA and Provincial FAOs (from 7 November 2023)
- Who issues apostilles on Chinese documents: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) in Beijing is the central competent authority. The Foreign Affairs Offices (FAOs) of all provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the central government are also designated competent authorities — each issues apostilles on public documents originating within its own administrative area. Applicants should approach the FAO in the province where the document was issued.
- What changed on 7 November 2023: Before accession, Chinese documents for use in Hague member countries required notarisation followed by legalisation by a Chinese embassy or consulate in the destination country, or by the MFA for documents used abroad. The apostille replaces that chain — only one apostille stamp from the MFA or relevant FAO is now required.
- Documents covered: Chinese public documents that can receive an apostille include court judgments, civil registration documents (birth, marriage, death certificates), notarial certificates, academic certificates authenticated by the relevant authority, and administrative documents issued by government bodies.
- Notarisation still required first: Many Chinese documents must be notarised by a state notary office (公证处) before the FAO will issue an apostille. The notary verifies the authenticity of signatures and seals on the underlying document.
- Cost: Apostille fees are set by the MFA and FAOs; fees are not published uniformly online. Contact the relevant FAO or the MFA Consular Department for current charges.
Continue reading — paid members only.
This guide is part of our full paid membership library. Upgrade to access all 10 China guides, plus Migration Fee Protection up to USD 25,000 if your application doesn't go ahead for a qualifying reason.
See Paid Plans →Frequently Asked Questions
Do I still need to get my documents legalised at the Chinese embassy if I'm from a Hague country?
No — not for documents going into China from Hague member countries. Since 7 November 2023, an apostille from your own country's competent authority is sufficient for Chinese authorities to accept foreign public documents. You no longer need an additional legalisation stamp from the Chinese embassy in your country. However, check the specific requirements of the Chinese authority receiving the document (e.g. some permanent residence instructions still specify embassy certification for certain documents). For documents from non-Hague countries, consular legalisation at the Chinese embassy abroad still applies.
Which authority issues the apostille on a Chinese document?
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) in Beijing is the central competent authority, and the Foreign Affairs Offices (FAOs) of each province, autonomous region, and municipality directly under the central government are also designated. You should approach the FAO in the province where the document was issued — for example, the Beijing FAO for Beijing-issued documents, the Guangdong FAO for Guangdong-issued documents. The MFA handles documents where there is no local FAO or for documents issued by central government bodies.
My degree is from a foreign university — what does China require to verify it?
Foreign degree certificates typically need two steps: authentication in the issuing country (apostille or consular legalisation depending on Hague membership), then submission to the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange (CSCSE, cscse.edu.cn) under the Ministry of Education, which assesses the recognition status of the overseas university. The CSCSE issues an overseas academic credential evaluation report that human resources bureaus and employers rely on for work permit applications. Allow several weeks for the CSCSE evaluation; online applications are accepted.
What happened to the old double-legalisation process for China?
Before 7 November 2023, Chinese documents for use in Hague member countries required notarisation plus legalisation by the MFA (or a Chinese consulate abroad). Foreign documents coming into China similarly required authentication plus Chinese embassy legalisation. Both chains have been replaced by the apostille for Hague member countries. The old process survives only for documents exchanged with non-Hague countries, which still require the full consular legalisation chain.
Do I need a sworn translator in China, and how do I find one?
China does not maintain a national 'sworn translator' register equivalent to Germany's beeidigter Übersetzer or Spain's sworn translator system. For official immigration documents, translations are typically provided by translation companies (not individuals) and must carry the company's official stamp (chop) and business licence details. Some documents also require a notarised translation where a Chinese state notary certifies the translation. Seek a company experienced with immigration documents; the Chinese embassy in your home country may be able to recommend providers.
Is a Chinese notarisation the same as an apostille?
No — these are different steps. Chinese notarisation is performed by a state notary office (公证处 gōngzhèng chù) and certifies the authenticity of signatures, copies, or facts. It is typically a prerequisite before the FAO will issue an apostille on a Chinese document. The apostille itself is then added by the MFA or FAO and is the international authentication step recognised by Hague Convention member countries. Think of it as: notarisation verifies the document's authenticity domestically; the apostille makes it internationally recognised.