Degree & Transcript Verification — China
China acceded to the Hague Apostille Convention (effective 27 November 2023), so a UK apostille is now sufficient for documents used in China. Consular legalisation by the Chinese Embassy is no longer required for most documents.
Degree & Transcript Verification for use in China
Degree certificates and academic transcripts normally need to be verified or certified before they can be apostilled for use in China. Some universities issue a verified copy directly, while others require confirmation from the awarding body. Requirements vary between employers, professional bodies and immigration authorities in China.
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.
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