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Since China joined the Hague Apostille Convention, most U.S.-issued documents need an apostille — not consular legalization — before they can be used in China. We handle the Secretary of State or U.S. Department of State apostille process for you.
As of November 7, 2023, China officially acceded to the Hague Apostille Convention, which is now in effect between China and the United States. This removed the requirement for consular legalization of foreign public documents — documents originating in the U.S. now require an apostille from the relevant Secretary of State, or from the U.S. Department of State for federal documents, before they can be used in China. Consular authentication is no longer necessary.
An apostille is a certificate that authenticates the seals and signatures of officials on public documents — such as a birth certificate, marriage certificate, certificate of good standing, court order, or background check — or confirms the identity and signature of a notary public on other documents, such as a diploma or transcript. The apostille certificate verifies that the named official and their position are a matter of record with the Secretary of State's office, and it can only be attached to a properly executed signed original or a sealed certified copy from a public record keeper, such as a Town Clerk.
*Express isn't available for every document type, and an additional government expediting fee may apply. Processing times are approximate and subject to change by the issuing government office.
The two-step process below applies to nearly any U.S. document destined for use in China. Common examples include:
Diplomas, TEFL and TESOL certificates, and other notarized credentials.
FBI criminal background checks and state-issued criminal background checks.
Marriage certificates, birth certificates, and similar government-issued records.
Power of attorney for real estate transactions, Affidavits of Single Status, adoption application papers, and notarized copies of documents such as your passport.
Whether notarization is required depends on the type of document.
Affidavits, diplomas, passport copies, powers of attorney, bank letters, and similar documents must first be notarized by a Notary Public. Sign the document in the notary's presence; the notary should add an acknowledgment statement such as "Signed and sworn (or affirmed) to before me this ____ day of ____, 20__," along with their seal and signature.
Birth certificates, certificates of good standing, and similar government records don't need to be notarized — obtain a certified copy from the issuing state instead.
Documents notarized in these states must also be certified by the county before the state apostille can be issued. County certification is available from a circuit clerk, circuit court, county clerk, probate judge, or superior court clerk.
Once your document is notarized (or you have a certified copy), we submit it for apostille — to the Secretary of State for most documents, or the U.S. Department of State for federal documents like an FBI background check.
| Service level | Processing time | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Regular Processing | 4–8 weeks | $169.00 per document |
| Express Processing* | 2–3 weeks | $249.00 per document |
*Express isn't available for all documents, and an additional government expediting fee may apply. Processing time is approximate and for reference only — government processing time is subject to change without notice.
These two services follow the same apostille process, with document-specific instructions for obtaining the underlying report.
For local or state-level police clearance certificates, most often required for employment in China.
Learn more →For the nationwide FBI Identity History Summary, the background check most widely accepted by Chinese employers.
Learn more →Following these steps closely is the single biggest thing you can do to avoid delays.
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