Destination country
Apostille & Legalization for China
How to authenticate a U.S. document for use in China: whether it needs an apostille or embassy legalization, translation requirements, and how we handle the whole process.
As a Hague Convention member, China recognizes a single apostille certificate from the U.S. Department of State. No embassy legalization step is required. The Apostille Convention has been in force for China since 7 November 2023. Before that date, U.S. documents for China needed embassy legalization, so older instructions are out of date.
If you are sending a U.S. document to China — for work permits, business registration, residence permits, or another purpose — it must be authenticated before China authorities will accept it. This page explains exactly what China requires and how we handle it end to end.
- Route
- Apostille
- Official language
- Mandarin Chinese
- Translation
- Certified Chinese translation required.
- Common uses
- work permits, business registration, residence permits
The process for China
- Confirm your document is federal (or Florida state, where applicable) and send us the details.
- Ship the document to us with tracking (we send the address when we confirm your order), or drop it off by appointment at our West Palm Beach or Miami office.
- We submit it to the U.S. Department of State for apostille and monitor progress.
- The apostilled document returns to you or your recipient in China with tracking.
Translation for China
Certified Chinese translation required. Where a certified translation is required, we coordinate it as part of your order so the document and its translation move through authentication together.
Official sources: U.S. Department of State — Authenticate Your Document · U.S. Department of State — Apostille Certificates (Hague & non-Hague) · HCCH — Apostille Convention status table (Hague countries) · U.S. Department of State — Foreign Embassies & Consulates in the U.S.
Documents for China
Select your document to see specifics for the China route:
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