Document legalisation for Chinadone for you.

Document legalisation for China, handled from start to finish: degree certificates, criminal record checks, birth and marriage certificates and company documents prepared so they’re accepted in China.

Ask about document legalisation Call 0161 956 2003

ApostilleThe UK’s official certificate
Since 2023China accepts apostilles
Any documentPersonal or company
One teamFrom checking to return

What to send us

Tick them off. Most people have everything on their phone already.

The documentOriginal, or a certified copy
What it’s forWork permit, marriage, business or study
Your deadlineSo we can plan the timing

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Documents we legalise for China

Any official UK document needed by an employer, university or authority in China.

Degree certificates

For Chinese work permits and university places.

Criminal record checks

DBS and police certificates for work permits.

Birth and marriage certificates

For family visas, marriage and residence.

Company documents

Certificates of incorporation, powers of attorney and board resolutions.

Academic transcripts

For study and professional recognition.

Good to know

Some documents must be certified by a solicitor or notary first
The receiving office in China may also want a Chinese translation
Photocopies need certifying before they can be legalised

Documents you’ll need

Document	Details	Needed
Your document	The original document, or a copy certified by a UK solicitor or notary public.	Required
Solicitor or notary certification	Needed for private documents, such as company papers or translations, before the apostille.	If applicable
Apostille	The official certificate added by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.	We prepare
Chinese translation	If the office in China asks for one.	If applicable

Upload them from your phone. We check every document and resize it to the official limits before we submit.

Not sure which of your documents need legalising? Send us the request from your employer, university or authority in China and we’ll tell you exactly what’s needed.

How document legalisation for China works

China accepts apostilles

Since 7 November 2023, China has accepted apostilles under the Hague Apostille Convention. Most UK public documents now only need an apostille from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, without further legalisation by the Chinese Embassy.

Some documents need certifying first

Private documents, copies and translations usually need certifying by a UK solicitor or notary public before the apostille can be added. We arrange this for you.

Check what China needs

The employer, university or office in China decides which documents they need and whether a Chinese translation is required. Send us their request and we’ll match it exactly.

Start early for work permits

Chinese work permits usually need a legalised degree certificate and criminal record check. Criminal record checks can take several weeks to come through, so start as soon as you have a job offer.

Moving to China for work?

We can legalise your documents and then prepare your China work visa.

China work visa

Document legalisation for a China work permit

Most Chinese employers ask for your degree certificate and a criminal record check, both legalised for use in China. Once your work permit notification is issued, you can apply for your China work visa. We can handle both, so your documents and visa application match.

Document legalisation for company documents

If your business is setting up in China, opening a bank account or appointing a representative, Chinese authorities often ask for legalised company documents, such as a certificate of incorporation, articles of association or a power of attorney. These usually need notarising before the apostille.

Our document legalisation fees

Fees depend on the number of documents and whether they need certifying by a solicitor or notary first. We give you a fixed quote per document before we start, including the official apostille fee.

Work visa (Z)Corporate China visa services Family visa (Q1, Q2)

Questions people ask

Does the Chinese Embassy still need to legalise UK documents?

For most UK public documents, no. Since 7 November 2023 an apostille is enough for use in China.

How long does document legalisation take?

It depends on the documents and whether they need certifying first. Tell us your deadline and we’ll confirm the timing before we start.

Do I need a Chinese translation?

Sometimes. The office in China decides. We can arrange a translation if they ask for one.

Can you legalise documents for other countries too?

Yes. Our sister company Unique Visa Services handles document legalisation for many countries.

Ready when you are

Start online in about 10 minutes, or call us if you’d rather talk first.