Apostille for China — Singapore Documents Accepted in China

China joined the Apostille Convention: no more embassy legalisation

China's accession to the Hague Apostille Convention took effect on 7 November 2023. The Chinese Embassy and consulates stopped consular legalisation from that date. The Embassy of Singapore in Beijing confirms the same change in the other direction: Chinese documents with an apostille no longer need Singapore's legalisation.

For Singapore documents going to China, the chain is now:

1. 1Public document (ICA birth certificate, ROM marriage certificate, NUS or NTU degree, court order, ACRA document): goes straight to SAL for an apostille. No notary is required.
2. 2Private document (power of attorney, statutory declaration, board resolution, certified passport copy, a translation you prepared): signed or certified before a Singapore notary public first, then apostilled by SAL.
3. 3Done. No Chinese Embassy stop, and no Singapore MFA stop either (MFA left the chain in January 2021).

Not sure whether your document is public or private? Our guide to public vs private documents explains the difference.

Singapore documents most often used in China

The documents we see most often for China:

Points specific to China:

• Digital certificates. SAL accepts printouts of ICA digital birth certificates and ROM digital marriage certificates if they are exact reproductions with a working QR code. The apostille is valid either way, but whether a Chinese office accepts the printout is its call, so ask first.
• Recent-issue rules. Some Chinese offices expect a COC or single-status record issued within the last few months. If your certificate is old, it can be cheaper to request a fresh one before apostilling.
• COC timing. The police certificate must be issued before it can be apostilled. A pending COC application cannot be processed.

If you are marrying in China rather than using an existing certificate, the checklist is on our marriage abroad documents page.

Chinese translation before or after the apostille

Most mainland offices want a Simplified Chinese translation of an English document. The Chinese consular notices on the Convention tell applicants to check "format, content, time limit, translation and other specific requirements" with the receiving authority first. There are two common routes:

Option 1: Translate in Singapore, then notarise and apostille

A translator prepares the Simplified Chinese version and signs a declaration of accuracy before a Singapore notary public. The notary binds the translation to the original or a certified copy, and SAL apostilles the notarial certificate. You arrive in China with one bound, apostilled set.

Option 2: Apostille the original, translate in China

You get the English original apostilled here, then a translation company in China translates both the document and the apostille. Some local offices, including some public security and civil affairs bureaus, only accept translations stamped by a translation company registered in China. If that is the rule where you are going, option 2 avoids paying for a translation twice.

Which to choose

Ask the office that will receive the document one question: "Do you accept a translation notarised in Singapore, or must the translation be done in China?" We can do either route. We proof-read every translation against your passport before notarisation, because a wrong character in a surname is expensive to fix once SAL has apostilled it.

Company documents for China subsidiaries and staff visas

Singapore companies use apostilled documents in China for setting up a WFOE or joint venture, changing directors or legal representatives, opening bank accounts and supporting staff work permits.

Corporate documents

• ACRA Business Profile and Certificate of Incorporation. OpenAttestation-format ACRA documents can get an SAL e-Apostille for SGD 10.70. A printout of an e-Apostille has no legal effect, so check whether the Chinese market regulator or bank will take the digital file. Where it needs paper, SAL can apostille a printout of the ACRA document at the counter for the same SGD 10.70.
• Board resolutions, constitutions, POAs appointing a legal representative. These are private documents and need a notary, then SAL.
• Chinese translations of company documents. Same two options as above; ask the registration office first.

For multi-country filings see company documents apostille and corporate apostille service.

Apostille for China price and time

Our prices include the fixed government fees.

Timing. Our standard turnaround is 1–2 working days for public and notarised documents. A Simplified Chinese translation usually adds 1–3 working days. Urgent cases may qualify for our same-day apostille service. Finished documents can be collected from our office at 7 Temasek Boulevard, #12-07 Suntec Tower One, Singapore 038987, or couriered to any address in Singapore.

See the full breakdown on our apostille price page.