公证翻译
Notarized Certificate Translation in China: When the Notary's Seal Goes on the Translation
Notarizing a Chinese document for use abroad raises recurring questions: does the certificate need a translation, does the translation need a seal, who arranges it? Here's where the translation fits, the Apostille/legalization that may follow, and why it all comes down to the notary office and receiving institution.
Contents
Getting a Chinese document notarized for use abroad raises the same tangle of questions every time: does the notarial certificate need a translation? Does the translation need a seal? Do you find your own translator, or does the notary office handle it? Here's the clear version.
What a notarial certificate (涉外公证) is
A notarial certificate is a document a Chinese notary office (公证处) issues to attest to a document or fact for use abroad — commonly degrees, police clearance (no-criminal-record), birth, marriage and kinship certificates.
Where the translation fits
- Most notary offices bind the original and the translation together inside the notarial certificate.
- The translation usually has to be one the notary office accepts: some offices arrange it in-house, others accept a sealed translation from a qualified translation provider.
- Key point: follow the specific notary office's requirements — some want you to bring a sealed translation first and then notarize, others translate it themselves. Ask the office handling your case before you start.
After notarization, you may need authentication
To use the notarial certificate abroad, you often need an Apostille or consular legalization on top. Since the Hague Convention took effect in China on 7 November 2023, an Apostille alone is usually enough between China and member states. See Apostille vs Three-Level Authentication.
How we help
- We provide the translation and translation seal the notarization needs, formatted and bound to the office's requirements.
- Need to find an office? Look up notary offices across China in our notary directory.
- Whether you need notarization, which authentication route, and the translation format all depend on the receiving institution and the notary office handling your case — requirements vary by region.
Not sure of the difference between "certified" and "notarized" translation? See Certified vs Notarized Translation.
