China has become a member of the Hague Convention countries since November 7, 2023, accordingly the apostille affixation and professional translation of Russian documents into Chinese is indeed required for their use in China.
Apostille for China
- What`s this? An Apostille is a special stamp verifying the authenticity of a signature, the position of the person who signed the document, and the authenticity of the seal/stamp on the document. The apostille is a simplified form of document legalization and replaces consular legalization for the countries participating in the Hague Convention.
- What is it needed for? Chinese State Authorities (such as Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, courts, universities, companies and etc.) will not accept your Russian documents without an Apostille as valid.
- What documents require an Apostille? Any official documents issued in Russia:
- Certificates (birth, marriage, divorce, death and etc.)
- Certificates and extracts (confirming no criminal record, from the civil registry offices, educational institutions)
- Judicial decisions and decrees
- Notarized documents (powers of attorney, consent forms, applications, certified copies)
- Educational documents (diplomas, degrees, supplements, academic transcripts)
- Medical certificates (for official purposes, if required)
- Instruments of incorporation (charters, OGRN/INN certificates, extract from the Unified State Register of Legal Entities)
Note:
- The Apostille is placed only on the original document or a notarized copy (if a copy is apostilled).
- The document shall be qualified, all signatures, stamps and registration numbers shall be clearly legible.
- Start to prepare the documents in advance, as certain procedures may take a month or more.
- Deadlines and cost vary depending on the authority.
- Requirements may change or differ across Chinese provinces or for different purposes (work, study, marriage). Always double-check the information in the official resources or with the final recipient of the documents in China.
Translation of documents into Chinese:
- When to translate? The translation is done after the Apostille is affixed. The Apostille shall also be translated!
- Who should perform the translation?
- Required: The translation shall be performed by a professional translator with certified qualifications in Chinese language proficiency. Our Center`s Chinese translators have extensive experience in preparing documents for China.
- Not allowed: To translate documents yourself (if you are not a certified translator) or to ensure the task to native speakers without proper qualifications.
- Translation verification:
- Notarial certification: the most common and reliable option is to translate all documents in Russia. The translator signs the translation in the presence of a Russian Notary who certifies the translator’s signature. This option is most widely accepted in China.
- Certification by the translation agency: In some cases, the translations with a stamp of a translation agency is accepted. Confirm with the Chinese receiving party if they accept this option. The Notarial certification is preferable and more reliable for China.
- What is translated?
- The entire text of the original document (including all stamps, seals, and signatures).
- The entire text of the Apostille (stamp, signatures, seals, and registrational numbers).
- Translation requirements:
- Accuracy: Documents are translated precisely, all seals and footnotes are translated; proper names shall match the spelling in the international passport; special attention is paid to dates, organization names, and terminology. Our translations always undergo additional editing and proofreading. We always coordinate the work with the customer before Notarial certification.
- Format: The translation shall fully correspond to the original document.
- Quality: No errors or typos.
- We deliver documents in Moscow, all over Russia, as well as anywhere in the world, if necessary.
- Need more details? Contact our specialists for a free consultation via any feedback channel!