Birth, Marriage & Death Certificates — China

Birth, Marriage & Death Certificates for use in China

UK birth, marriage and death certificates must normally be original or certified copies issued by the relevant register office before they can be apostilled for use in China. Photocopies are not usually accepted unless the authority in China specifically allows a solicitor-certified copy.

How it works

• Solicitor certification of your document, where required
• Apostille legalisation through the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)
• Return of the legalised document, ready for use in China

Fees

Note: These fees would be in addition to the fees Embassies and Consulates charge for processing and legalising documents. Every Embassy has their own fee structure depending on whether documents are commercial or personal. The exact costs can be confirmed if required.

Since the Convention took effect for China, the apostille alone is generally accepted — making the process faster and avoiding consular fees. A small number of document types may still be subject to specific requirements, so confirm with the receiving authority if you're unsure.