证件翻译
Translating an Overseas Birth Certificate for China Hukou Registration
Children born abroad need a stamped Chinese translation of their birth certificate to register hukou (household registration) in China. Here is how to choose the right translation tier, what to prepare, and what police stations actually accept.
Contents
If your child was born in the US, Canada, Australia or elsewhere, the local police station (派出所) in China will ask for a Chinese translation of the birth certificate, stamped by a registered translation company, before registering the child's hukou.
The short version
- Only one parent needs to hold Chinese hukou — not both
- The translation must carry a translation company seal; self-made translations are not accepted
- Since the Hague Apostille Convention took effect in China on 7 Nov 2023, a single Apostille replaces the old consular legalization chain for US documents
- Requirements vary by city and by the child's age — confirm with your local police station before ordering
Choosing the right tier
For a US birth certificate we offer three tiers:
| Your document | Tier | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Government-issued certified copy only | Translation only | ¥70 |
| With Apostille (the norm after Nov 2023) | + Apostille translation | ¥120 |
| Old-style full three-step legalization (pre Nov 2023) | + Legalization translation | ¥170 |
In practice, almost every document processed after November 2023 carries an Apostille. If yours went through the old three-step consular chain, choose the ¥170 tier and we translate the legalization pages as well.
What we do and don't do
We do not process the US-side Apostille — you apply to the Secretary of State of the birth state yourself, then send us the birth certificate together with the Apostille for translation.
Delivery
Every certificate order includes, at no extra charge:
- Bilingual translation seal
- A copy of our business licence
- Digital delivery by email; printed copies carry a cross-page seal
Documents of up to 3 pages are delivered in 0.5–1 business day.
Will it be accepted?
Our stamped translations are routinely accepted by police stations nationwide, by exit-entry administrations in Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, and by courts and notary offices. Policies differ by city and change over time — always confirm with the receiving office first. Note that Guangzhou's exit-entry administration requires notarized translations, not just stamped ones.
