China
Apostille in China
At a glance
Who issues apostilles in China, and what does it cost?
| Uses apostilles? | Uses apostilles1 |
|---|---|
| Member since | 1 |
| How it joined | Joined later (accession), 1 |
| Who issues apostilles | Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, public documents issued in mainland China2 Foreign Affairs Offices of Hebei, Shanxi, Liaoning, Jilin, Heilongjiang, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Fujian, Jiangxi, Shandong, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Chongqing, Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan, Shaanxi, Gansu, Changchun, Harbin, Ningbo and Jinan, public documents issued within each office's own administrative area, as entrusted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs2 |
| Fee | CN¥50 (per document, civil affairs documents, Ministry of Foreign Affairs)3checked 18 October 2026 CN¥100 (per document, business affairs documents, Ministry of Foreign Affairs)3checked 18 October 2026 CN¥50 (per document, extra charge for express service)3checked 18 October 2026 About €6.65 for the first fee listed, at the European Central Bank reference rate of 16 October 2026. Compare costs |
| Processing time | Not published by the office3checked 18 October 2026 |
| Electronic apostille | Available3 |
| Online register to check apostilles | Available (check an apostille)2 |
| Documents covered | 1 kinds of document listed by the office |
| What the receiving side decides | Whether it accepts the document: for example how recent it must be and whether it needs a translation. |
| Last checked |
Step by step
How to get an apostille in China
Have the document first notarised by a notary public office in mainland China or verified by the competent authority; diplomas, degree certificates and transcripts cannot be apostilled directly and need a notarial certificate first.3
Apply to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing, which handles documents from all of mainland China, or to an authorised Foreign Affairs Office for documents issued in its own province, region or municipality.3
Book an appointment through the Alipay mini-app 'Consular Service Center' and go to the Legalisation Service Reception at the booked time.3
Bring a valid ID (foreign citizens bring their original passport and a copy of the information page), the original notarial certificate or a CCPIT commercial certificate, and any other material the Ministry asks for.4
To apply by mail, book the mail-in and return-mail service in the same mini-app.3
Pay the fee for civil or business affairs documents, with an extra 50 yuan per document if express service is wanted.3
Documents
Common documents
As listed by the office:
- Documents commonly apostilled include birth and death certificates, marital status and kinship certificates, certificates of no criminal record, education and professional qualification documents, declarations, powers of attorney, company articles, quarantine certificates, certificates of origin, invoices and other notarial certificates, issued by notary offices, customs or the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade4
More about these documents: birth certificate, marriage certificate, death certificate, criminal record certificate, university degree certificate, power of attorney, affidavit or sworn statement, company registration certificate, articles of association.
Contacts
Who to contact in China
- Apostille officeMinistry of Foreign Affairs of China2Public documents issued in mainland China
- Apostille officeForeign Affairs Offices of Hebei, Shanxi, Liaoning, Jilin, Heilongjiang, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Fujian, Jiangxi, Shandong, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Chongqing, Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan, Shaanxi, Gansu, Changchun, Harbin, Ningbo and Jinan2Public documents issued within each office's own administrative area, as entrusted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- The office that will receive your documentAsk it before you start what it needs: an apostille, a translation, or a document issued recently.
Common situations
Using a document from or in China
A document issued in China
The apostille comes from China, from the office named above. It works in any other country where the Convention applies with China.
Check where it can be usedA document for use in China
Get the apostille in the country that issued the document, not in China. China accepts it if that country is also a member and the Convention applies between the two.
Check your countryGood to know
Good to know
Caution: Not every country accepts it
When China joined, other member countries could object. Between China and an objecting country the Convention does not apply. Check HCCH for the specific pair of countries.1
Note: Rule
Original paper documents are needed; only electronic certificates of origin issued by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade can currently get an e-Apostille.3
Note: Rule
A document for a country outside the Convention gets a consular legalisation instead, and if that country requires it the foreign embassy in China adds its own legalisation afterwards.3
Before the apostille
Private documents
A private document, such as a power of attorney or a contract, is first signed in front of a notary public, and the apostille then goes on the notary’s certificate. A copy of a public document from another country is first certified by a notary public, then apostilled.
An apostille only confirms the signature, the role of the person who signed and any seal or stamp on the document. It does not confirm what the document says. The office that receives the document decides what it accepts.
Questions
Questions about apostilles in China
Does China accept apostilles?
Yes. China has been a member of the Apostille Convention since 7 November 2023, so it issues and accepts apostilles for documents exchanged with other member countries.
Who issues apostilles in China?
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China (public documents issued in mainland China) and Foreign Affairs Offices of Hebei, Shanxi, Liaoning, Jilin, Heilongjiang, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Fujian, Jiangxi, Shandong, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Chongqing, Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan, Shaanxi, Gansu, Changchun, Harbin, Ningbo and Jinan (public documents issued within each office's own administrative area, as entrusted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs).
How much does an apostille cost in China?
CN¥50 (per document, civil affairs documents, Ministry of Foreign Affairs). CN¥100 (per document, business affairs documents, Ministry of Foreign Affairs). CN¥50 (per document, extra charge for express service). Fees can change, so check the office’s own page before you apply.
How long does an apostille take in China?
The office does not publish a processing time (checked 18 October 2026).
Do I need to notarise a private document first?
Yes. A private document, such as a power of attorney or a contract, is first signed in front of a notary public. The apostille is then added to the notary’s certificate, not to the private document itself.
Is an apostille valid in countries that are not Convention members?
No. It only works in other member countries where the Convention applies with China. When China joined, other members could object, so check the specific pair of countries. Countries outside the Convention use legalisation.
Sources and verification
Sources
- HCCH status table: Apostille Convention (1961)
- China (Mainland) - Competent Authorities (Art. 6)
- Consular Legalisation/Apostillisation Q&A
- Consular Legalisation/Apostillisation in China
- Status
- Last verified: (18 October 2026)
- How it was checked
- Checked by our team against the sources above
- Next review
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