Apostille for China
ApostilleUsing US documents in China · Asia
China is a Hague Apostille Convention member, so US documents only need an apostille — no embassy legalization. State-issued documents (birth certificates, diplomas, notarized papers) are apostilled by the issuing state; federal documents (FBI checks, IRS letters) by the U.S. Department of State — Office of Authentications. Fees run $1–$40 by state, $20 federally.
| Hague status | Member since November 7, 2023 |
|---|---|
| Embassy legalization needed? | No — apostille only |
| State documents go to | The issuing state's competent authority |
| Federal documents go to | U.S. Department of State — Office of Authentications ($20/doc) |
Your exact steps for China
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Which documents does China usually ask for
- Birth certificate (state example: California)
- Marriage certificate (state example: California)
- Single status affidavit (state example: California)
- FBI background check (Identity History Summary) (federal)
- Corporate documents (state example: California)
State documents vs federal documents
The routing never depends on China — it depends on who issued your document. A birth certificate, diploma, or notarized paper is a state document, apostilled or certified by the issuing state. An FBI background check, IRS letter, or naturalization certificate is federal and goes only to the U.S. Department of State — Office of Authentications.
Special notes for China
China acceded to the Convention in 2023 (in force 7 November 2023); Chinese authorities commonly require a certified Chinese translation of the apostilled document. The Convention does not apply between China and states that objected to its accession.
Frequently asked questions
＋Does China accept an apostille?
Yes. China is a Hague Apostille Convention member (in force since November 7, 2023), so a US document needs only an apostille — no embassy legalization. State documents are apostilled by the issuing state; federal documents by the US Department of State.
＋Do I still need to legalize documents at the China embassy?
No. Because China accepts apostilles, the embassy legalization step is skipped entirely. That is the whole point of the Convention — one certificate replaces the old multi-step chain.
＋Does China require a translation?
China acceded to the Convention in 2023 (in force 7 November 2023); Chinese authorities commonly require a certified Chinese translation of the apostilled document. The Convention does not apply between China and states that objected to its accession.
＋Which US office issues the apostille for China?
It depends on the document, not on China. State documents (birth certificates, diplomas, notarized papers) go to the issuing state's authority. Federal documents (FBI checks, IRS letters) go to the US Department of State.
More country requirements
Sources
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor
Last verified: July 13, 2026 against the HCCH status table(official page). See how we verify and how often on ourmethodology page.
This is informational, not legal advice. The receiving authority sets the final requirements — confirm with them and the office named above before you send anything.