CHINESE EMBASSY
and consular
SERVICES

If you are applying for a visa to work, study or visit China, it is likely that the Chinese authorities will require UK-issued documents to be legalised by a UK-based Chinese Embassy.

This is largely down to China not currently being part of the Hague Convention, which means it requires documents to be legalised in a different way to countries that are. Not being part of the convention means that the documents you want to use in China need to be legalised by the Chinese Embassy and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), rather than with an apostille.

However, China will be joining the Hague Convention 7 November 2023.

While this may be confusing for many, our team of experts can take the hassle out of dealing with your consulate/ embassy and ensure everything runs smoothly.

Woodcock Law and Notary Public is on-hand to assist you with obtaining both an FCDO apostille, and embassy legalisation for your documents. We can also arrange a courier to deliver your documents to a place of your choice. Additionally, the notary public does not have to be in China or a Chinese national. 

Some of the documents that commonly need notarisation and legalisation can be seen below: 

• University degree certificates 
• Marriage certificates
• Birth certificates 
• Proof of criminal convictions (usually a DBS or ACRO certificate)
• Corporate documents (e.g. Certificate of Incorporation).

All of the above documents can be used in China.