Chinese Documents for Use in the USA
Chinese documents for use in the United States require an Apostille issued by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs or one of the 31 authorised local Foreign Affairs Offices. Both China and the US are Apostille Contracting Parties, so consular legalization is no longer needed.
Key Points
- Apostille replaced Chinese consular legalization
- Civil documents: notarise at a Chinese notary office first
- Commercial documents: obtain a CCPIT certification first
- English translations are accepted
- Individual US states may impose additional format requirements
Legal Basis
Hague Apostille Convention; China in force 7 November 2023.