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Consular Authentication Process for Civil Documents Issued in China

Chinese citizens and foreign nationals residing in China may need to have civil documents issued in China authenticated to be recognized for purposes such as applying for studies, immigration, or employment abroad. Common documents that require authentication include China police certificates, degree certificates, and graduation certificates. The purpose of consular authentication is to ensure that these documents are recognized in the country represented by the embassy or consulate.

Consular authentication, also known as "Double/Triple Authentication/Legalization," involves three steps: (1) notarization, (2) authentication by China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), and (3) authentication by a foreign embassy/consulate in China. For more information on the relationship between consular authentication, MFA authentication, and notarization, please click here to view our brief introduction. This article explains the procedures and requirements for obtaining document authentication from a foreign embassy/consulate in China.

Step 1: Notarization

Where to Apply?

Notarization applications must be submitted to a local notary office in the city where the documents were issued, and the notary office must be qualified to handle foreign-related notarizations. For example, a degree certificate issued by a university in Beijing can only be notarized by a local notary office in Beijing. There are multiple notary offices in each city, and it is recommended to go to the major notary office in the city that has the most experience with such notarizations. In Beijing and Shanghai, the following notary offices are generally considered the most experienced:

Beijing Fangyuan Notary Public Office
Address: 3rd Floor, Beijing INN Building, No. 5 Dongshuijing Hutong, Dongcheng District, Beijing (Click to view on Google Maps or Baidu Maps)
Phone: +86.010.85197666
Website: https://bjfy.egongzheng.com/

Shanghai Oriental Notary Public Office
Address: No. 598 Fengyang Road, Jing'an District, Shanghai (Click to view on Google Maps or Baidu Maps)
Phone: +86.0512.68083871
Website: https://www.sh-notary.org.cn/

Required Documents?

For the notarization of graduation and degree certificates, the following documents are typically required:

• Original graduation/degree certificate
• Copy of ID card (for Chinese students) or current passport copy (for foreign students)
• Power of attorney, if a third party is handling the application on your behalf

For the notarization of other civil documents, please inquire with the local notary office.

For information on notarizing a foreigner’s China police certificate, please click here to view our guide.

Processing Time?

Typically, it takes about 5 working days for a notary office to process a notarization application for a degree/graduation certificate or a police certificate. For the notarization of other civil documents, please consult the local notary offices.

Step 2: Authentication by China's MFA

Where to Apply?

Foreign affairs offices (FAOs) under China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) are responsible for receiving authentication applications. A list of FAOs is available on the China Consular Service website (in Chinese). In addition to FAOs, the MFA has designated a few organizations in Beijing to handle authentication applications. However, not every FAO on the list may be relevant to your application, as each FAO has a geographical jurisdiction. The FAO's jurisdiction must cover the location where your notarial certificate was issued.

Required Documents?

When applying for authentication by China’s MFA for a notarial degree/graduation certificate or a police certificate, typically only the original notarial certificate is required. For the authentication of other civil documents by the MFA, please consult the relevant office where you will submit your application.

Processing Time?

The processing time for China MFA's authentication is usually consistent: 5 working days for routine service and 3 working days for expedited service.

Sample Authentication Stamps

Sample Authentication Stamp of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Sample Shanghai Foreign Affairs Office Authentication Stamp
Sample China MFA (Beijing) Authentication Stamp

Step 3: Authentication by Foreign Embassy/Consulate in China

Where to Apply?

Each FAO, as well as each foreign consulate or embassy, has its geographical jurisdiction. The relevant consulate or embassy should have jurisdiction over both the location of the FAO and the place where the notarial document was issued. The following is an illustration of the relationship between jurisdictions.

Generally, to submit an application for consular authentication with a foreign embassy/consulate in China, the applicant can either request the China MFA in Beijing or local FAOs to submit the application, or visit the embassy/consulate in person. This means that an applicant does not necessarily need to appear in person at an embassy/consulate for consular authentication; instead, the China MFA in Beijing or local FAOs can handle this step for an additional service fee. However, some embassies/consulates require the applicant to submit a consular authentication application in person, meaning that China MFA cannot submit it on behalf of the applicant. Conversely, some other embassies/consulates only accept applications submitted by China MFA.

Required Documents?

The required documents can vary slightly between different embassies/consulates. For details, please inquire with the relevant FAO or embassy/consulate. For the consular authentication of a notarial academic document or a police certificate, the following documents are commonly required:

• The original notarial certificate with the FAO's authentication stamp
• Copy of your China ID card (for Chinese citizens) or current passport copy (for foreign nationals)

Processing Time?

The processing time varies depending on the embassy or consulate. It can be as short as a few hours or as long as 20 working days.