A Saudi student completed an undergraduate programme in international policing at a university in China and was awarded a Bachelor of Laws. As he prepared to return to Saudi Arabia after graduation, he needed his Chinese academic documents notarized and apostilled for official use there.
The documents included his degree certificate, graduation certificate and academic transcript. Together, they provided a complete record of the qualification he had earned and the studies he had completed in China.
Why Were Three Academic Documents Required?
The Graduation Certificate confirmed that the student had completed the required undergraduate programme and met the university’s graduation requirements. The Degree Certificate recorded the award of his Bachelor of Laws.
The Academic Transcript listed his courses, grades, credits and overall academic record. It provided details that did not appear on the two certificates and helped complete the academic document set.
Understanding China’s Two-Certificate System
Chinese universities commonly issue a graduation certificate and a degree certificate as two separate documents. The graduation certificate records completion of the programme, while the degree certificate records the academic degree awarded.
This structure may be unfamiliar to institutions in education systems where programme completion and the academic award appear on one final certificate. China’s Ministry of Education also provides separate verification services for higher education qualifications and degree certificates, reflecting the distinction between the two records.
For overseas use, preparing both certificates helps the receiving authority understand the graduate’s qualification more clearly. The transcript then adds the course-level details behind that qualification.
Chinese-Arabic Bilingual Notarial Certificates
For this case, the student requested Arabic translations. The notarial certificates were therefore issued in Chinese and Arabic, with the relevant academic document and its Arabic translation included in each certificate.
Some applicants choose English translations instead. The appropriate language should be confirmed with the university, employer, government department or other receiving authority in Saudi Arabia before notarization begins.
Choosing the language in advance is important because translation forms part of the Chinese notarial certificate. Changing the language after notarization and Apostille may require the documents to be prepared again.
China Apostille for Use in Saudi Arabia
After the Chinese-Arabic notarial certificates were issued, they were submitted for China Apostille. The document route was:
Chinese notarization → China Apostille → Use in Saudi Arabia
The Apostille Convention has applied between China and Saudi Arabia since November 7, 2023. Documents within the scope of the Convention can therefore use the Apostille route without further legalization by the Saudi Embassy or Consulate in China.
The Apostille authenticates the signature, seal and official capacity shown on the Chinese notarial certificate. It does not assess the student’s grades or determine how the qualification will be recognized in Saudi Arabia.
Documents Provided
The student provided clear scanned copies of:
- his degree certificate;
- his graduation certificate;
- his academic transcript;
- the information page of his passport;
- his Chinese residence permit or visa page.
Original academic documents did not need to be mailed for this case. Before processing began, the names and personal details shown on the passport, immigration document and academic records were checked for consistency.
Processing Time
The notarization and China Apostille took approximately 10–12 working days in total. Urgent processing may be available when the applicant has a firm deadline.
The estimated time begins after the documents have been reviewed and accepted. Supplementary materials, public holidays and courier delivery may affect the final schedule.
Conclusion
For this Saudi graduate, the degree certificate, graduation certificate and transcript served different but connected purposes. Preparing all three as Chinese-Arabic notarial certificates gave the receiving authority a fuller record of his Chinese university education.
The completed notarial certificates then received China Apostille for use in Saudi Arabia. For other graduates, the document list and translation language should be confirmed with the receiving authority before the process starts.
