Documents To Get Consular Authentication
1. Your police background check (6 months validity).
2. Bachelor’s degree or Master’s degree or Doctorate degree. (It is advised to authenticate the original diploma instead of a photocopy)
* Note that for item 2, you can also do so through the Ministry of Education of P.R. China online verification system. The system is in Chinese. If you read Chinese or have a Chinese friend for help you can do that online. For item 1, you have to go to a Chinese embassy/consulate to get it authenticated. Usually applicants send both items in one package to get both authenticated
* Note that for some cities and provinces (previously was Beijing only, now the requirement applies to many other cities), you need to get your TEFL/CELTA/TESOL certificate authenticated if you don’t have two years’ teaching experience. Please double-check with the contact person from your placement school/university.
Authentication procedure for some countries:
United States:
Notarization: Get the original document notarized by a notary public (in the state it was issued) (Should be ONE 1 working day).
Authentication I: Send both the original and notarized document to and get them authenticated (NOT apostilled) by the Secretary of State, the state where your documents were issued. (FBI background check should be legalized by U.S. Department of State)
Authentication II:Send the legalized document to the corresponding Chinese Embassy/consulate (check consular district map) for final authentication.
Canada
Notarization: Get the original document notarized by a notary public, lawyer or Commissioner of Oaths of Canada.
Authentication Ⅰ: Send both the original and notarized document to and get them authenticated by the authentication office of the Canadian Foreign Affairs Department or the relevant province (territory).
Authentication Ⅱ:Send the authenticated document to the Chinese Embassy/Consulate (check consular district map) for final authentication.
UK
Notarization: If your documents were not issued by a British government authority, please get the original document notarized by a local international notary public. If your documents were issued by a British government authority, then you must get them notarized by a lawyer.
Legalization: Send both the original and notarized document to and get them legalized by the Legalization office of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) or an authorized department by FCO.
Authentication:Send the legalized document to the Chinese Embassy or a consulate for final authentication.
Ireland
Notarization: please get the original document notarized by a notary public.
Legalization: Send both the original and notarized document to and get them legalized by Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Ireland.
Authentication:Send the legalized document to the Chinese Embassy or a consulate for final authentication
Australia
Notarization: please get the original document notarized by a notary public.
Legalization: Send the notarized document to and get them legalized by Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia.
Authentication Ⅰ: Send the notarized document to and get them authenticated (NOT apostilled) by the Departments of Foreign Affairs and Trade or its Office in States or Territories.
Authentication Ⅱ: Send the authenticated document to the Chinese Embassy or relevant Consulate General where the documents notarized but not authenticated for final authentication. For example, if your documents are notarized in South Australia and authenticated in DFAT’s office in Sydney, they should be authenticated in the Chinese Consulate General in Adelaide but not the Consulate General in Sydney.
New Zealand
Notarization: If your documents were not issued by an approved New Zealand government agency, please get the original document notarized by a notary public.
Legalization: Send the notarized document to and get them legalized by the Legalization office of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) or an authorized department by FCO.
Authentication Ⅰ: Send the authorized document to and get them authenticated by the Authentication Unit at the New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs
Authentication II: Send the authenticated document to the Chinese Embassy or a consulate for final authentication.
South Africa
1.Diploma
Verification: Get the original document verified by the Department of Higher Education.
Legalization: Send the verified document to and get them apostilled by the Department of International Affairs
Authentication:Send the apostilled document to the Chinese Embassy or a consulate for final authentication.
2.Police clearance
Notarization: Get your original document notarized by a notary public.
Legalization: Send the original and verified document to and get them apostilled by the Department of International Affairs
Authentication: Send the apostilled document to the Chinese Embassy or a consulate for final authentication.
3.TEFL certificate
Verification: Get the original document verified by the high court.
Legalization: Send the verified document to and get them apostilled by the Department of International Affairs
Authentication:Send the apostilled document to the Chinese Embassy or a consulate for final authentication.
France:
1. Notarization: Get the original document notarized by a notary public
2. Legalization: Send both the original and notarized document to and get them authenticated by the Bureau des légalisations, Service de légalisation du Ministère des Affaires étrangères de France
3. Consular Legalization: Send the legalized document to the Chinese Embassy/consulate for final authentication.
4. Translation: Get your documents translated into Chinese by a registered translation company with stamp
Please follow Legalization and Consular Legalization information
