How to apply for document authentication

1. Instructions for Applying to the Department of Consular Affairs for Authenticating Documents

(1) When applying for consular authentication of notarial certificates for civil purposes, the original notarial certificate, one valid copy of personal passport (or the original note issued to a foreign citizen by the embassy of his/her country in China), and other papers required by the concerned embassy in China must be submitted.

(2) In case of applying for consular authentication of documents for business purposes, what must be submitted are the original notarial certificate (or business certificates or bills), one valid copy of personal passport, one original recommendation letter issued by the enterprise concerned, and other papers required by the concerned embassy in China. Besides, the enterprise concerned shall appoint its personnel to handle the procedures for consular authentication.

(3) If applying for consular authentication of notarial certificate for adoption of child, one original note issued to the adopter by the embassy of his/her country in China, one valid copy of the adopter’s personal passport, and one copy of adoption certificate must be submitted.

(4) In case the applicant, enterprise or individual, cannot come to the Department of Consular Affairs personally to go through procedures for consular authentication, they can entrust the work with local foreign affairs offices or other authorized agencies (please visit http://www.mfa.gov.cn/chn/gxh/tyb/ for list of authorized local foreign affairs offices and agencies).

2. Days Needed and Standard of Fees for Consular Authentication

(1) Days needed and standard of fees for authentication of documents by the Department of Consular Affairs

(2) Days needed and standard of fees for authentication of documents by the Department of Consular Affairs and by foreign embassies in China

(3) Explanations

(i) The urgent fee listed in the above form is collected when the applicant applies for urgent authentication of documents by the Department of Consular Affairs. In case any applicant applies for urgent authentication of documents by foreign embassies in China, please make it clear before making the application and pay in advance the urgent fee to be collected by foreign embassies.

(ii) The Department of Consular Affairs can mail back the documents that have been authenticated, but it does not accept mailed authentication applications. In case any applicant needs mail-back service, please fill in a mail-back EMS note and submit it together with relevant documents to personnel of the Department of Consular Affairs.

(iii) Applicants shall pay in advance all the fees for authentication of documents in cash, and they will be refunded the overpaid fees or pay any shortages when coming to take back the authenticated documents. All applicants must keep well the original invoices.

3. Consular Authentication of Documents Issued by Foreign Agencies and to Be Used in China

Documents issued by foreign agencies and to be used in China shall first be notarized and authenticated by the country where the documents are issued, and then be authenticated by Chinese embassy or consulate in the foreign country. Documents that are issued by member countries of the Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents and are to be used in Hong Kong and Macao shall be handled in line with the Convention.

4. Office Hours, Contact Phone Number, Address and Website of the Department of Consular Affairs

Office hours: 8:30-11:00 AM, Monday to Friday (excluding holidays); afternoon unavailable

Answering machine number: 010-65889761, 65889762

Manual number: 010-65889763 (Working days 13:30-16:00)

Fax: 010-65889905

Address: 7th floor, South Building of MFA, No.2, Chaoyangmen Nandajie, Chaoyang District, Beijing

Website: http://www.mfa.gov.cn/chn/gxh/tyb/