If your documents are not in Chinese, universities and visa authorities often require them to be notarised, and sometimes authenticated or legalised. The exact chain depends on your country and on the document.
What usually needs it
- Graduation certificates and diplomas
- Academic transcripts
- Birth certificates (occasionally)
- Police/background certificates (for some visa or scholarship routes)
- The Foreigner Physical Examination Form (sometimes)
The typical chain
- Notarise — a notary confirms the copy or translation is genuine.
- Authenticate / legalise — depending on your country, this may mean:
- an apostille (if your country is part of the Hague Apostille Convention), or
- consular legalisation by the Chinese embassy/consulate in your country.
- Translate into Chinese (and often English) by an accepted translator.
China accepts apostilles for public documents from contracting states. If your country is not part of the Convention, consular legalisation is usually required. Confirm which applies to you.
Practical steps
- Ask the university exactly which documents need notarisation and in what form.
- Use a qualified translator; some universities only accept translations from recognised agencies.
- Budget several weeks — consular legalisation can be slow.
- Keep both the originals and multiple copies of the notarised versions.
Common problems
- Notarising the translation but not the underlying document (or vice versa).
- Using a translation the university does not accept.
- Missing an apostille/legalisation step and having to restart.
- Leaving it too late — this is often the slowest part of the application.
Rules change and vary by country and by university. Confirm the required steps with the university’s admissions office and your local Chinese embassy or consulate.