Apostille Checker by Country: Documents for a Chinese Court Case

What is needed

What the court asks for

Have it notarised in the country where it was made. Then have it legalised by the Chinese embassy or consulate there. Legalisation means the embassy checks the seals on the document and adds its own. A treaty between China and that country may set other steps. You can follow those instead (SPC Interpretation on the Civil Procedure Law, art. 521).

Have it notarised in the country where it was made. Then have it legalised by the Chinese embassy or consulate there. Legalisation means the embassy checks the seals on the document and adds its own. A treaty between China and that country may set other steps. You can follow those instead (SPC Interpretation on the Civil Procedure Law, art. 521).

Have it notarised in that country. Then have it legalised by the Chinese embassy or consulate there. Legalisation means the embassy checks the seals on the document and adds its own. A treaty between China and that country may set other steps. You can follow those instead (Civil Procedure Law (in Chinese), art. 275). You can also sign it in front of the judge, by video if the court allows (SPC Interpretation, art. 523; Fa Fa [2021] No. 7, art. 6). See how to instruct a Chinese lawyer from abroad.

Have it notarised in that country. A treaty between China and that country may set other steps. You can follow those instead (SPC Provisions on Evidence in Civil Proceedings, art. 16).

Have it notarised in that country. Then have it legalised by the Chinese embassy or consulate there. Legalisation means the embassy checks the seals on the document and adds its own. A treaty between China and that country may set other steps. You can follow those instead (SPC Provisions on Evidence in Civil Proceedings, art. 16).

The rule on notarising and legalising documents made abroad does not cover private documents (SPC Provisions on Evidence in Civil Proceedings, art. 16). See the evidence checklist.

The route for

The Apostille Convention applies between China and that country. An apostille is a single certificate from the country where the document was made. If the rule above lets you use treaty steps, an apostille takes the place of legalisation by the embassy.

That country is not a party to the Apostille Convention. So documents are legalised by the Chinese embassy or consulate.

India objected to China joining the Apostille Convention. So the Convention does not apply between India and China. Documents are legalised by the Chinese embassy or consulate.

Oman applies the Apostille Convention to civil documents only. Commercial and customs documents are still legalised by the Chinese embassy or consulate.

Documents from Hong Kong follow their own route. First, a China-Appointed Attesting Officer certifies the document. Then China Legal Services (Hong Kong) checks and stamps it for use in mainland China. You don't use an apostille.

Documents from Macao follow their own route, through China Legal Services (Macao) or a notary China has appointed there. You don't use an apostille.

Check whether the Apostille Convention applies between China and that country. The Hague Conference publishes a status table. China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs also lists the countries.

Every document in a foreign language needs a Chinese translation too (art. 17). The steps also depend on the law of the country where the document was made, and on its treaties with China. Ask a lawyer to confirm them for your documents.

Country status checked on 1 October 2026 against the Hague Conference status table and the list published by China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.