If you completed your higher education in China and now need to have your degree certificate notarized or apostilled, you’re not alone. This is one of the most common cross-border document procedures for international graduates from Chinese universities. Whether you’re applying for a job, further studies, or immigration abroad, having a legally recognized version of your degree is essential.
At TrueWords, we offer a fully remote, end-to-end service to help you notarize and legalize your degree certificate (and graduation certificate and transcript) issued in the Chinese mainland—without you ever needing to leave home. Simply send us scanned copies of your required documents, and we’ll handle the rest, including shipping the final notarized document straight to your doorstep. Expedited processing is also available upon request.
✅ This guide also applies to the notarization of graduation certificates, transcripts, alongside degree certificates.
Step 1: Notarization
Unlike in some countries where lawyers can act as notaries, in the Chinese mainland, only full-time notaries working at government-authorized notary offices can perform notarizations. All foreign-related notarizations must be done at a notary office with international credentials.
Degree certificates and graduation certificates are considered “nationally accepted” documents, meaning they can be notarized by any notary office in the Chinese mainland, regardless of where you graduated—as long as the degree can be verified on CHSI (China Higher Education Student Information Network). Exceptions may apply only if the receiving authority abroad specifically requires the notarial certificate to be issued from a certain location.
Required Documents for Degree Certificate Notarization:
- A scanned copy of your passport (photo page and visa/residence permit page)
- A scanned copy of your degree certificate
If visiting the notary office in person, bring the originals. If you choose our remote service, we’ll need clear, high-resolution scanner-based scans (not mobile phone photos).
⏱ Notarization typically takes around 5 business days.
Most notarial certificates issued by Chinese notary offices are bilingual (Chinese-English) and include:
- A copy of your degree certificate
- A certified translation (usually done by the notary office)
Step 2: Apostille or Consular Legalization
The second step depends on where the document will be used:
- If the destination country is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, an Apostille (also known in China as a “Certificate of Additional Authentication”) is sufficient.
- ⏱ Apostille processing takes approximately 5 business days.
- If the destination country is not a Hague member (such as the UAE, Malaysia, or Thailand), you will need Consular Legalization, also known as dual authentication. This involves:
- Authentication by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) or a designated local Foreign Affairs Office.
- Legalization by the relevant foreign embassy or consulate in China.
Processing time for consular legalization varies by country—please consult our team for country-specific guidance.
Fees and Turnaround Time
Fees for notarization and legalization are case-specific and depend on several factors:
- Type of document
- Destination country
- Language requirements
- Urgency (standard or expedited)
- Type of legalization (Apostille or consular)
- Number of copies requested
To get an accurate quote and timeline, please contact one of our consultants directly.
Why Choose Us?
✔ Fully remote process — no in-person appointments needed
✔ Nationwide notary coverage — regardless of your university’s location
✔ Fast turnaround & express shipping
✔ Optional expedited services
✔ Expert support for Apostille and consular legalization procedures
Need to notarize your Chinese degree certificate for international use?
We’ll take care of it — simply, securely, and on time.
📩Contact Us now to get started.
