Authentications
The Chinese Embassy and Consulates authenticate documents which are executed in the United States and will be used in China. Type of documents include: birth/death certificates, power of attorney, marriage certificates, diplomas, adoption application papers, business license, etc. Authentication is also called certification or legalization sometimes.
1. Sign before a notary public.
2. Certified by the Secretary of the State Office of the state where the document is executed.
*Some states require the notarized document to be sent to the notary public's county clerk for verification before presenting to the Office of Secretary of State. Please contact Secretary of State Office of the state where your document is executed for details.
**Certain government or court document can be certified directly by the Office of Secretary of State, like Court Decree, Marriage License, Birth Certificate, etc. Please contact Secretary of State Office of the state where your document is executed for details.
3. Certified by the relevant Consulate General . You must apply to the correct Consulate General which holds consular jurisdiction over your area of residence. The Consular District of the Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco covers: Northern California, Alaska, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. Only documents certified by the Secretaries of State Office of the above listed 5 states ( Click Here for Their Contact Information ) can be certified by the Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco.
*You may come to the relevant Embassy or Consulate Generals for application, or send a representative to apply for you. No appointment is required.
**Mailed applications are also acceptable. Make sure you read the Mail Application Instructions .
1. One Authentication Application Form . The form must be completed and signed by the applicant himself.
2. Photocopy of the applicant's passport.
3. The original of the documents to be authenticated. For documents related to property, business or commercial use, a complete photocopy of all pages of the original documents must be enclosed. For all other documents, please enclose the photocopy of the pages with seal and signature of notary public and all other certification agencies/officers.
4. Photocopy of Articles of Incorporation, if the document to be authenticated is a corporate or company document.
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Category
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Fee
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Civil documents, e.g. Adoption, marriage, birth/death, kinship certificate, etc.
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$20.00
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Property or Commercial documents, e.g. Business license, labor agreement, inheritance, property transfer, etc.
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$40.00
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*For mail service, an additional 5 dollars per package for handling will be charged. Make sure you read the Mail Application Instructions .
**The regular processing time is 4 working days. For express service, additional fees of $30 for 1 working day processing, or $20 for 2-3 working days processing will be charged.
***Please pay by Visa Card, Master Card, Money Order, Cashier's Check, or Official Check. Company Check, Personal check and cash are not acceptable. Please make the cashier's check or money order payable to Chinese Consulate.
 Contact Information of the Secretaries of State of
CA WA OR NV AK
(For Reference Only, Subject to Change)
1. California Secretary of State
1500 11th Street
Sacramento, California 95814
http://www.ss.ca.gov/
(916) 653-6814
455 Golden Gate Ave., Suite 14500
San Francisco, CA94104
Phone: (415)557-8000
2. Washington Secretary of State
801 Capitol Way S.
OLYMPIA WA 98504
Telephone (360) 586-2268
3. Oregon Secretary of State
Public Service Building Suite 151
255 Capitol Street NE
Salem OR 97310
Phone (503) 986-2200
TTY (503) 986-2328
http://www.sos.state.or.us/
oregon.notary@state.or.us
4. Nevada Secretary of State
101 North Carson Street, Suite 3
Carson City
Nevada 89701-3714
Information Number: 775/684-5708
nvnotary@govmail.state.nv.us
5. Office of the Lieutenant Governor
Notary Public Section
Office of the Lieutenant Governor
P.O. Box 110015
Juneau, AK 99811-0015
(907) 465-3509
(907) 465-5400 fax
notary@gov.state.ak.us
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