LEGALISATION GUIDE FOR CHINA

Photocopy of the Apostille ONLY is required on submission.

The Chinese Consulate Application Form is required to be filled out in Section 1 for private documents only OR section 2 for commercial documents only, ticked sections 3 and 4 as appropriate, and must be ink signed and dated by the Applicant on both designated places in section 8. Please note all relevant details MUST be typed in using CAPITAL LETTERS, including Agents details on SECTION 7 (please use our template which can be provided upon request).

The application form is accepted with electronic/scanned signature only for documentst originated from the British Overseas Territories (BOT) and Crown Dependencies (CD).

The Application form for submission of UK death certificate differs from the standard Application form and the Consulate requires the latest passport copy for the deceased, a copy of passport for the informant on the death certificate and proof of relationship between the informant and the deceased.

The original ink signed application form is required to be submitted to the Chinese Visa Centre together with the Applicant’s passport copy. Scanned copy of application form with electronic signature is not accepted for submission of documents for legalisation.

For documents related to personal matters, the Applicant (document holder) must provide simple photocopy of a valid passport. The name on the documents requiring legalisation and signature on the Chinese Consulate Application Form must match the same name and signature as shown on Applicant’s passport copy provided.

If the name or signature does not match, the notary/solicitor is required to confirm on his/her certification that the names used on the document and the name on Applicant’s passport relates to the same individual.
Alternatively, the Applicant can support the change of name with copy of a birth or marriage certificates or a Deed of Change of Name.

For documents related to commercial matters, the company’s legal representative (must be a director listed on Companies House) needs to provide a photocopy of their passport (ID page only) and a company document (Companies House Report or BOT or CD Companies Registry Report) showing directorship status as proof of their legal status as company’s director (e.g. Current Appointments Report or Certificate of Good Standing with director’s confirmation).

Documents with more than one page must be securely bundled together with ribbon and seal, otherwise will be rejected by the Consulate. The embossing on the seal must be clearly seen on the reverse of the page.

Documents issued in the United Kingdom for use in Hong Kong and Macao regions do not require and will not be accepted by the Chinese Consulate for further consular legalisation after being Apostilled.

ANY TYPE OF FOREIGN DOCUMENTS are no longer accepted by the Chinese Consulate in the UK for legalisation and this includes foreign passports notarised by UK notaries. The documents are required to be legalised by the Chinese Consulate in the country of origin of such documents.

Method of payment: Debit card only.

Opening hours: 9:00 am – 15:00 pm Mondays to Fridays

****Due to COVID-19 pandemic, the Chinese Visa Centre is currently open on Tuesdays and Thursdays only.

CONSULATE ADDRESS

31 Portland Place, London W1B 1QD

CHINESE VISA CENTRE – LONDON ADDRESS

12 Old Jewry, London EC2R 8DU