Can foreign documents only be legalized by Chinese embassies or consulates in foreign countries for being sent to and used in China?-Authentication FAQ

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Can foreign documents only be legalized by Chinese embassies or consulates in foreign countries for being sent to and used in China?

2024-05-27

No. According to international practice and consular legalization practice, firstly Chinese embassies and consulates are only responsible for the authenticity of the seal and signature of the foreign ministry or the authentication departments in the host country; secondly, Chinese embassies and consulates generally do not have the record of the seal and the signature of the notary office or the department issuing the documents in the host country and could not confirm the authenticity of the seal and the signature. Therefore, the relevant documents should be notarized and legalized by the local authorities and then submitted to Chinese embassies or consulates for legalization.