Document Translation Requirements in China
Official bodies in China generally require a notarized translation of foreign-language documents, and many documents also need an apostille or legalization before they are translated. Below: who can translate, when an apostille is needed, and where the official rules are published.
China uses a notarial certificate system: a Chinese notary office (公证处) issues a notarial certificate (公证书) that binds the original and its translation. For a Chinese document used in the United States you instead need a certified English translation with a signed Certificate of Accuracy, which USCIS and universities accept. China joined the Hague Apostille Convention on 7 November 2023, so a Chinese document used abroad is now apostilled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or a local Foreign Affairs Office — replacing the old consular legalization.
China requirements at a glance
| Translation standard | Notarized translation (Other (Notarial Certificate System)) · 公证书 (notarial certificate) |
|---|---|
| Who can translate | Typically by professional translators used by local notary offices |
| Apostille | Depends on use outside China (China joined the Hague Apostille Convention in 2023) |
| Apostille authority | The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and the local Foreign Affairs Offices (FAOs) it authorizes. Private documents must first be notarized by a notary office (公证处) before they can be apostilled. |
| Accepted languages | Chinese (Mandarin) required for official use |
| Responsible authority | Chinese Notary Offices (公证处); Ministry of Foreign Affairs (for apostille) |
Who can translate documents for use in China?
What makes a translation official in China?
How does China treat documents from abroad?
Legal basis
Apostille & legalization for China
China is part of the Hague Apostille Convention (since 2023), so public documents are authenticated with a single apostille — no consular legalization.
Documents from China
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and the local Foreign Affairs Offices (FAOs) it authorizes. Private documents must first be notarized by a notary office (公证处) before they can be apostilled.The Convention entered into force for mainland China on 7 November 2023, replacing consular legalization for member states.
U.S. documents going to China
Since 7 November 2023, a U.S. document going to mainland China is apostilled in the United States rather than consularly legalized, then translated into Chinese.
The apostille should be obtained before the translation, so the apostille certificate is translated too. See how apostilles work, or order a translation with e-apostille.
How to get a China document translation accepted
- 1
Obtain the notarial certificate from a notary office
A Chinese notary office (公证处) issues a notarial certificate (公证书) that usually bundles the original document with a translation.
- 2
Apostille for use abroad (since November 2023)
For use in another member state, the notarial certificate is apostilled by the MFA or an authorized local Foreign Affairs Office — consular legalization is no longer required.
- 3
Order a certified English translation for the U.S. submission
Translate the full notarial booklet, including the notary seals and certificate text, with a signed Certificate of Accuracy, then file it with the original.
Ready to translate your Chinese documents?
Certified for USCIS, universities, and credential evaluators — from $24.95/page.
Which direction are your documents going?
Translating Chinese documents for the U.S.?
Chinese birth certificates, diplomas, and transcripts submitted to USCIS, universities, or credential evaluators need a certified English translation — that is exactly what we do — backed by our revise-free-or-refund acceptance guarantee.
Sending U.S. documents to China?
U.S.-issued documents usually need an apostille before they can be used in China — and the apostille should be obtained before the translation, so the certificate itself gets translated too. We offer e-apostille processing as an add-on to any order.
Popular certified translations
The Chinese documents we translate most often — each with its own pricing and requirements page.
Why China document translations get rejected
The mistakes we see most often on Chinese documents — and what a correct certified translation does instead.
Graduation certificate confused with the degree certificate
China issues a graduation certificate (毕业证) and a separate degree certificate (学位证); treating them as one document misstates the qualification for a university or evaluator.
Read the caseBoth nationality fields on a birth notarial certificate mishandled
A Chinese birth notarial certificate can list nationality information in two places; rendering only one creates an inconsistency across the immigration packet.
Read the caseCHSI English re-translated into a conflicting version
When a CHSI transcript already carries an official English version, producing a second, differently-worded translation triggers a discrepancy; the certified translation should match the verified record.
Read the caseReal Chinese translation cases we've handled
Anonymized Chinese-to-English orders. Each case shows the exact translation problem and how we solved it for the receiving authority.
RecentMay 2026Bilingual Source Document & Stamp OverlapChinaWhen a Chinese Birth Certificate Already Has English Field Labels
A Chinese Medical Certificate of Birth (出生医学证明) was translated for a USCIS submission. The form is bilingual — every label appears in Chinese AND English, but every value is in Chinese. We rendered each value into English while preserving the document's bilingual structure, described the round red hospital seal overlapping the issuing-authority block, and noted the seal's partial obscuring of the mother's residential street name. The certified translation was delivered for the USCIS packet.
Handled by Michael Chen, Chinese Civil & Identity Document SpecialistUSCIS submissionRead case →- Senior High School Teacher Qualification Certificate (folded paper booklet)RecentJun 2026legibilityChina
When a Chinese Teacher Certificate Seal Is Partly Obscured
A Chinese Senior High School Teacher Qualification Certificate was submitted in folded-booklet form. The issuing authority's red seal at the bottom right was partly obscured: the booklet's pre-printed label '认定机构(公章)' crossed through the middle band of the seal, and decorative ornament covered the lower arc. We extracted what we could from the image, then sent the client a short clarification rather than guessing. The corrected Chinese teacher certificate translation named the authority correctly and was accepted by CHSI and WES.
Handled by Michael Chen, Chinese Civil & Identity Document SpecialistUS Master's degree program admissions (CHSI-verified Chinese credentials, WES credential evaluation)Read case → 
RecentMay 2026transliterationChinaMatching the Passport Spelling on a Chinese Birth Certificate
A Chinese Medical Certificate of Birth (出生医学证明) recorded the bearer's name only in Chinese characters, in surname-first order. The bearer's PRC passport spelled the same name in given-first Western order, not the default Hanyu Pinyin. We translated the document using the passport's exact spelling and added a Translator's Note documenting the choice. The certified translation was delivered for the client's USCIS filing.
Handled by Michael Chen, Lead Immigration Document TranslatorUSCIS filingRead case →
Cost & turnaround
A one-page certificate is priced as a single page; a notarial booklet (公证书) or multi-page transcript is priced by its page count. Standard delivery is 24–48 hours, with notarization and e-apostille available as add-ons. See full pricing.
China translation requirements — FAQ
What translation does China require for foreign documents?
China relies on its notarial certificate system: a notary office (公证处) issues a notarial certificate (公证书) that binds the original and a translation. Since November 2023, such documents are apostilled for overseas use rather than consularly legalized.
how apostilles workDo I need a notarized translation for a Chinese document used in the U.S.?
For the U.S., you need a certified English translation with a signed Certificate of Accuracy. A Chinese notarial certificate (公证书) helps for use inside China or abroad, but USCIS and universities rely on the certified translation.
certified Chinese translationDid China join the Hague Apostille Convention?
Yes. The Apostille Convention entered into force for mainland China on 7 November 2023. Chinese public documents used in member states are now apostilled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or an authorized local Foreign Affairs Office, replacing consular legalization.
requirements for other countriesWho issues an apostille in China?
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and the local Foreign Affairs Offices it authorizes. Private documents, such as a power of attorney, must be notarized by a notary office (公证处) before they can be apostilled.
Chinese birth certificate translationMy Chinese transcript already has English from CHSI — do I still need a translation?
If the CHSI verification report already carries the official English version, that is usually accepted. Producing a second, differently-worded translation can create a mismatch, so match the verified record rather than re-translate it.
WES translationWhat is the difference between 毕业证 and 学位证?
毕业证 is the graduation certificate (you completed the program); 学位证 is the degree certificate (you were awarded the degree). They are separate documents and the translation must keep them distinct.
Chinese diploma translationHow much does a Chinese document translation cost?
Pricing is per page. A one-page certificate is a single page; a notarial booklet or multi-page transcript is priced by page count. Notarization and e-apostille are optional add-ons.
see live pricingCan I translate my own Chinese documents?
No. USCIS and universities reject self-translation. An independent qualified translator must complete and certify the translation with a statement of accuracy.
what a certified translation isRequirements in related countries
Neighbors and countries with a similar translation standard.
Sources
- Notarization system overviewMinistry of Justice of the People's Republic of China
- Abolition of consular authentication after China's accession to the Apostille ConventionConsulate-General of China in San Francisco
- Apostille Convention — specialised sectionHague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH)
Information verified against official sources. Last verified June 2026.
Need a certified Chinese translation?
Signed Certificate of Accuracy with every order, a revise-free-or-refund acceptance guarantee, optional notarization and e-apostille — delivered in 24–48 hours.