If your child was born in China and you plan to use their birth certificate abroad—for passport application, birth registration, visa, education, or other official purposes—you will likely need to have the Chinese birth certificate notarized and further authenticated through apostille or consular legalization. This guide explains the full process in detail, including why notarization is required, how to do it, and what steps follow.
Why You Need to Notarize a Chinese Birth Certificate
Chinese birth certificates (often issued by the hospital and then confirmed by the local Civil Affairs Bureau) are official domestic documents. However, foreign authorities generally cannot accept them in their original format for two main reasons:
- They are written in Chinese and lack an official translation.
- They are not directly verifiable by foreign governments without authentication.
To be accepted abroad, the Chinese birth certificate must be:
- Notarized by a Chinese notary public office, with a certified translation.
- Authenticated either by apostille (for Hague Convention countries) or by consular legalization (for non-Hague countries).
Notarization makes the document a legally certified copy, while authentication confirms its legal validity for international use. For example, you might need the notarized and authenticated birth certificate to register your child’s birth abroad, apply for a foreign passport, or access public services in your home country.
Step 1: Notarization by a Chinese Notary Public
The first step is to obtain a foreign-related notarization (涉外公证) of the birth certificate. This must be done at an official Chinese notary office authorized to handle documents for international use.
During this step, the notary will:
- Verify the authenticity of the original Chinese birth certificate.
- Issue a Notarial Birth Certificate, which is a bilingual (Chinese + English or another required language) legal document summarizing the birth details (child’s name, date/place of birth, parents’ names, etc.).
- Include a certified translation and apply the notarial seal and signature.
The notarized document serves as an official, internationally acceptable version of your child’s Chinese birth certificate. Without this notarization, the document cannot proceed to the apostille or legalization stage.
Where to apply: You should go to a notary public office in the city or province where the birth was registered or where one of the parents holds household registration (hukou). Most cities in China have several notary offices that handle foreign-related documents.
Required documents typically include:
- The child’s birth certificate
- Parents’ passports or IDs
- Proof of marriage
- Household registration (hukou) of the Chinese parent
Processing time: Standard notarization usually takes 5 business days. Expedited services may complete it for an extra fee.
Step 2: Apostille or Consular Legalization
Once notarized, the document must be authenticated for it to be recognized by foreign authorities. The method of authentication depends on your destination country.
- Apostille: For Hague Convention countries (e.g., the Italy, France, Spain, Germany).
- Consular Legalization: For non-Hague countries (e.g., UAE, Thailand, Malaysia, etc.).
Apostille Process
If your country is a Hague member, the notarized birth certificate can be taken to:
- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) or a local Foreign Affairs Office in China. There, an Apostille certificate will be attached to the document. This apostille confirms the notary’s identity and signature and allows the document to be accepted in any other Hague member state.
Consular Legalization Process
For non-Hague countries, the process has two additional steps:
- Authentication by the MFA, verifying the notary’s seal and signature.
- Final legalization at the embassy or consulate of the destination country within China.
This process confirms the document’s validity through multiple layers and ensures it will be accepted for official use abroad.
Timeframe: Apostille generally takes 5 business days. Consular legalization times vary, but may take 1–5 weeks depending on the consulate’s processing schedule.
What Documents Do You Need?
To notarize and legalize a Chinese birth certificate, you will need the following:
- Chinese birth certificate (issued by hospital or local Civil Affairs Bureau)
- Passports of both parents (or ID card for the Chinese parent)
- Household registration booklet (hukou) of the Chinese parent
- Marriage certificate (notaries request it to verify parentage)
- Scanned copies (color and high-quality) if applying remotely
Your document agent or notary office will advise if additional documents are needed based on your case.
How Long Does It Take?
Here’s a general estimate of the timeline:
| Step | Time Required |
| Notarization | ~5 business days |
| Apostille | +5 business days |
| Consular Legalization | 7 to 20+ business days |
| Total Time (Hague countries) | ~2 weeks |
| Total Time (non-Hague countries) | ~3–5 weeks |
Expedited services may shorten these timelines. Make sure to start early, especially if you have immigration deadlines or appointments coming up.
Conclusion: Make the Process Easy with Expert Help
Getting a Chinese birth certificate ready for use abroad may sound complicated, but with our guidance, it’s a straightforward process. Whether you need notarization, apostille, or consular legalization, we can help you every step of the way.
Our agency specializes in notarization and authentication services for foreign nationals. We understand the documents required by different countries and can handle everything remotely on your behalf. With our experience and professional support, you can rest assured your child’s birth certificate will be accepted abroad—no stress, no delays.
Contact us today to get started with notarizing or legalizing your Chinese birth certificate for international use. We’re here to simplify the paperwork so you can focus on what matters most—your family’s future.
