How do I get a document apostilled for use in China?
For public documents from a Hague Convention member state, you notarise the document at home, obtain an apostille from your country’s competent authority, then have it translated into Chinese for the receiving body. Consular legalisation is no longer required between member states. The Chinese recipient still decides whether your translation is acceptable.
China’s accession to the Hague Apostille Convention removed a step that used to add weeks and an embassy appointment to every cross-border document. The chain is shorter now. It is also more frequently misunderstood, because “apostilled” is not the same as “accepted”.
The sequence, outbound to China
- Confirm the document is a public document, or have it notarised so that it becomes one. Corporate documents usually need notarisation first.
- Obtain the apostille from the competent authority in the country of origin — in most countries the foreign ministry or a designated department.
- Have the document and the apostille translated into Chinese.
- Confirm with the receiving body in China — the registry, bank, court or platform — what form of translation and certification they will accept, before you commission it.
The same chain in reverse
A Chinese company registering, banking or bidding abroad follows the mirror image: notarisation at a Chinese notary office, apostille from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or an authorised provincial foreign affairs office, then translation into the destination language. This direction has grown quickly as Chinese manufacturers set up entities and warehouses overseas.
| Reason | How to avoid it |
|---|---|
| Translation not accepted by the receiving body | Ask that body what they accept before translating |
| Name mismatch between documents | One legal name, spelled identically everywhere |
| Document too old | Many recipients want something issued within 3–6 months |
| Apostille obtained for the wrong document | The apostille certifies the notary or issuer — not the content |
| Origin country not a member state | Consular legalisation still applies — check first |
An apostille authenticates a signature or seal. It says nothing about whether the content is true or whether the recipient will accept it. The recipient’s requirements are the real specification — get them in writing at the start.
Want this done rather than explained?
Corporate documents recognised across a border — from US$220, 5–15 working days.
Sources
All sources checked 23 August 2026. This page is general information, not legal, tax or customs advice. Requirements vary by product, market and circumstance — confirm your own position before acting.
