China joined the Hague Convention in November 2023 — apostille now valid for many China purposes. But implementation varies by province and authority. We assess your specific case and handle apostille or Embassy chain as needed.
Step 1 of 4
What US document needs China legalization/apostille?
Note: Some Chinese authorities still follow the old chain. We confirm which route your specific authority requires.
US professionals applying for Chinese work permits (Z visa) typically need legalized/authenticated credentials. Since China's 2023 Hague accession, the route depends on the specific Chinese province and authority. We navigate the current China requirements for work permit documents.
Americans marrying in China need single status certificates (certificate of no record of marriage) and divorce decrees authenticated for Chinese civil affairs bureaus. Chinese requirements vary by city — we advise on your specific marriage registration location.
Company documents used in China for joint ventures, representative offices, and wholly foreign-owned enterprises need authentication. Since China's 2023 Hague accession, apostille is increasingly accepted — but some MOFCOM and SAMR filings still request the old chain.
| Document | Issuing authority | Estimated time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original US document (notarized) | Issuing authority + US notary public | Before chain starts | China joined the Hague Convention in 2023, but implementation has been uneven. Confirm with us whether apostille or the old chain is needed for your specific Chinese authority. |
| Secretary of State authentication | Secretary of State — relevant US state | 5–15 business days | Required for state-issued documents. Even with China's 2023 Hague accession, Chinese authorities often still request this step. |
| US Apostille (or US State Dept. authentication) | US State Dept. (for federal documents) or Secretary of State (for state documents) | 1–3 weeks (apostille) or 5–7 days (expedited auth) | China joined the Hague Convention on November 7, 2023. US apostilles are now theoretically valid for China. However, individual Chinese authorities are implementing this unevenly — some still request the old consular chain. We assess your specific China authority. |
| Chinese Embassy legalization (if still required) | Embassy of China in the United States | 5–15 business days | For Chinese authorities still following the pre-2023 chain or requiring Embassy legalization for specific purposes, we submit to the Chinese Embassy in Washington DC (or Consulates in Houston, LA, etc.). |
| Certified Chinese translation | Certified translator (Chinese) | 3–5 business days | China requires certified Chinese translation of US documents for most official purposes. |
China joined the Hague Convention in November 2023. Whether apostille is accepted depends on your specific Chinese authority and province. We confirm the correct route and provide a fixed quote.
We arrange notarization and Secretary of State authentication as needed.
We obtain the US apostille or State Dept. authentication based on your confirmed China requirement.
If your Chinese authority still requires Embassy legalization, we add that step. We also arrange certified Chinese translation. Your complete document set is delivered ready for China.
Information on this page is based on procedures from recognized government and intergovernmental bodies — not third-party estimates.
Reviewed by
Laura ChenLegal Document Expert
Specialist in documents for the English-speaking market with a focus on fast and secure processing.
Yes. China acceded to the Hague Apostille Convention with effect from November 7, 2023. This means US apostilles are now theoretically valid for China — replacing the old chain (notarization → Secretary of State → US State Dept. → Chinese Embassy). However, implementation has been uneven across Chinese provinces and authorities.
Not uniformly. Chinese implementation of the 2023 Hague accession has been inconsistent across provinces, cities, and government departments. Some Chinese authorities (particularly for work permits and marriage registration) have fully transitioned. Others (certain MOFCOM and notary bureau requirements) still follow legacy procedures. We confirm what your specific China authority requires before proceeding.
Yes. Regardless of whether apostille or Embassy legalization is used, Chinese authorities require certified Chinese (Mandarin) translation of US documents for most official purposes. Translation must be by a qualified translator and is separate from authentication.
With apostille route (where accepted): 2–3 weeks. With old Embassy chain: 4–6 weeks. The apostille route is significantly faster where accepted by the Chinese authority.
This typically means the old consular chain: notarization → Secretary of State → US State Dept. authentication → Chinese Embassy legalization. Even with China's 2023 Hague accession, some Chinese employers still specify this format. We produce the correct format for your specific employer requirement.
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