Consular legalization is the formality by which the
diplomatic or consular organ affirm the reliability of the
final signature and seal on a notarial certificate
or document executed by relevant organ. Consular
legalization enables the notarial certificate or relevant
document to be recognized as valid in another
country.
In accordance with international
practices, diplomatic or consular organ is
responsible only for the authenticity of the
signature and seal of the notary office and those of the
relevant organ placed on the document while the organ
concerned who accepts the document shall be
responsible to examine the authenticity and
legality of the content of the
document.
I. China's Consular
Legalization organs
The Consular legalization organs in China are the
Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
Foreign Affairs Offices of relevant provinces, autonomous
regions and municipalities directly under the central
government. Chinese Embassies and Consulates in foreign
countries are China's consular legalization organs abroad.
II. Procedures on consular
legalization
A.
Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs
1. The following certificates
shall be legalizated by the Consular Department of the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
a. Notarial certificates executed by China's notary
offices authorized to provide
foreign-related
services;
b.
Certificates executed by some specific organs in
China:
(1) Certificates of origin and
commercial invoices issued by Agencies for Quality
Supervision and Inspection and Quarantine in China.
(2) Certificates of origin, detailed lists of goods
for delivery, formal invoices,
specification certificates, weight memos, packing
lists, bills of lading and insurance policies issued or
attested by China Council for the Promotion of International
Trade and its local branches in provinces, autonomous
regions, municipalities directly under the central
government, and open cities.
2. Requirements
for application
a.
Notarial certificates of enterprises and organizations and
commercial certificates executed by organs specified in
A.1.b may be applied directly to the Consular
Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for
legalization.
b.
Notarial certificates for private purpose may be applied to
the Consular
Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for
legalization through the following
organs:
(1) Foreign Affairs Offices
of the provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities
directly under the central government and some cities
specially designated in the stat plan (Harbin, Changchun,
Shenyang, Dalian, Jinan, Qingdao, Wuhan, Chengdu, Xi'an,
Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Ningbo, Xiamen, Nanjing,
Qinhuangdao)
(2) Visa Office of China Travel
Service
Address: No.8 Dong Jiao Min Xiang, Dong
Cheng District, Beijing
Zipcode: 100005
Legalization Office Telephone:
010-6559.3748 or 6512.4896
Legalization Mailing
Telephone: 010-6559.3747
(3) Beijing Chang
Hongqiao Foreign Economic Cooperation Consulting and
Services Co. Ltd.
Address: No.13 Dong Jiao Min Xiang, Dong
Cheng District, Beijing
Zipcode. 100005
Telephone:
010-6526.5271 or 6526.5278
c. Foreign citizens may apply for
consular legalization through Foreign Embassies in China or
directly to the Consular Department of the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China.
d.The applicants shall fill out
Application Form for Legalization.
3. Consular
legalization by Foreign Embassies in China shall
be applied through Service Bureau for the Foreign Ministry
and Overseas Missions. However, foreign citizens may apply
directly to the Foreign Embassies in China for
legalization.
4. Legalization fee standards
(unit: RMB):
a. Consular
Departments authentication fee:
(1)
Civil certificate: 50 yuan,
(2) Commercial
certificate: 100 yuan
(3) Urgent
fee: 50 yuan
b. Service Bureau's
Handling Fee: 60 yuan
Service Bureau's
Urgent fee: 30 yuan
c. The applicants are kindly requested to
inquire the new legalization fee standards to the Consular
Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs due to the
frequent adjustments of legalization fees by Foreign
Embassies in China.
5. The Division of
Legalization of the Consular Department of the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs
Address: Suite 708
Prime Tower, No. 22 Chaoyangmen Wai Street, Beijing
Zipcode.
100020
Office Hour:
9:00-11:30 a.m. (Mon.-Fri. Excluding public holidays
)
Telephones for
Inquiry:
Recorded
Message: 010-6588.9760 or 6588.9761 or
6588.9762
Manual Service:
010-6588.9763
B. Foreign
Affairs Offices of the People's Governments of the
provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly
under the central government in the Consular Districts of
Foreign Consulates in China (hereafter called Foreign
Affairs Office)
At present, there are
twenty Foreign Affairs Offices authorized by the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs with consular legalization as
follows:
Foreign Affairs Offices of Jiangsu,
Zhejiang, Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Hainan, Yunnan, Sichuan,
Guizhou, Hunan, Hubei, Jiangxi, Heilongjiang, Jilin,
Liaoning and Shandong Provinces, Foreign Affairs Offices of
Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Inner-Mongolia
Autonomous Region, the Foreign Affairs Offices of Shanghai
and Chongqing Municipalities.
Foreign Affairs
Offices may legalize certificates, which are executed by the
notary offices and the specific organs mentioned
in A.1. in the above-mentioned
provinces, autonomous regions,and municipalities,
and which will be used in the sending states of Foreign
Consulates.
C. Chinese Embassies and
Consulates in Foreign
Countries
Chinese Embassies and
Consulates shall legalize notarial certificates or documents
which are executed by notarial offices or specific organs in
foreign countries, and which will be used in
China.
1. The notarial certificates or
documents, executed in the country which has diplomatic
relation with China, shall be legalized first by the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs or its authorized organ of this
country and then legalized by the Chinese Embassy or
Consulate in this country before being used in China.
2.The notarial certificates or documents,
executed in the country with which China has no diplomatic
relation, shall be legalized first by the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs or its authorized organ of this country and
second by the Embassy or Consulate of a third country which
has diplomatic relation with China in this country , and
finally by the Chinese Embassy or Consulate in that third
country before being used in China.
3.
Legalization fee standards could be acquired from
the Chinese Embassies and Consulates in foreign countries
where the applicants reside.
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