Is a Chinese Translation Required?
In most cases, yes. Foreign nationals applying for a work permit in China are generally required to submit proof of their highest degree or academic qualification, and documents issued in another language usually need a corresponding Chinese translation.
Many applicants translate their diplomas overseas or prepare the translation themselves. In practice, these translations are often rejected because the Chinese authority cannot verify the overseas translator, confirm the company’s registration or identify a responsible entity in China.
We regularly assist applicants who have already submitted an overseas or self-prepared translation and have been asked to provide a new version. Using a properly registered translation company in China can help avoid this problem.
Which Academic Document Should Be Submitted?
Education systems use different names for their final academic documents. Depending on the country and institution, the relevant document may be called a:
- degree certificate;
- diploma;
- graduation certificate;
- academic qualification certificate.
The document submitted should normally prove the applicant’s highest completed degree or academic qualification.
Does the Diploma Need an Apostille or Legalization?
A foreign degree or diploma normally needs to complete the applicable authentication procedure before it is used for a China work permit application. For documents issued in a country where the Apostille Convention applies with China, an Apostille generally replaces the previous consular legalization procedure.
Documents from other countries may still need consular legalization or another accepted form of academic verification.
Authentication and translation serve different purposes. The Apostille or legalization authenticates the foreign document, while the Chinese translation allows the Chinese authority to review its contents.
What Needs to Be Translated?
The full document package should be translated. Translating only the diploma while leaving the authentication pages untranslated may result in an incomplete submission.
The Chinese translation should normally cover:
- the degree certificate, diploma or graduation certificate;
- any attached notarial wording;
- the Apostille;
- consular legalization pages, where applicable;
- seals, stamps, signatures and relevant notes.
Apostille and legalization pages are frequently overlooked. Since these pages explain how the foreign academic document was authenticated, their foreign-language content should usually be included in the Chinese translation.
Who Can Prepare the Chinese Translation?
Translation requirements vary between cities and local authorities. Some authorities require translations from a company registered in the same city, while others accept any properly registered translation company in China.
Some cities have more flexible rules. In Shenzhen, English documents may be translated by the employer and stamped with the employer’s official seal, while documents in other languages must be translated by a professional translation institution and bear that institution’s seal. Passports and international travel documents are excluded from this translation requirement.
Applicants should therefore avoid assuming that one city’s translation policy applies throughout China. The employer should confirm the current requirements with the authority handling the application.
What Is Included in a Certified Chinese Translation?
A certified Chinese translation prepared by a translation company in China commonly includes:
- a complete Chinese translation bearing the translation company’s official seal;
- a copy of the translation company’s business licence bearing its official seal;
- a copy of the foreign-language document, stamped where required;
- a cross-page seal where required by the receiving authority.
The translation provider should be legally registered in China, and its company name or registered business scope should include translation or translation services. This allows the authority to verify the company and identify the entity responsible for the translation.
Other Common China Work Permit Documents
For a standard work permit application, the applicant may also need the application form, proof of relevant work experience, a criminal record certificate, a medical examination, an employment contract, the passport information page and a recent photograph. Applicants applying from within China may also need to provide their current visa or residence permit.
The exact list depends on the applicant’s foreign talent category, position, city and whether the application is submitted from inside or outside China.
Confirm the Requirements Before Translation
Before arranging the translation, ask the employer or local work permit authority who may prepare it, what seals are required and whether a business licence copy or cross-page seal must be included.
Certified Chinese Translation Service
We provide certified Chinese translations of foreign degree certificates, diplomas, graduation certificates, Apostilles and consular legalization documents for China work permit applications. The translation package can include the company-sealed Chinese translation, a company-sealed business licence copy and cross-page sealing where required.
