Common reasons you need documents for China
Work permits, family and marriage records, study, and business registration.
Documents and who authenticates them
FBI background check results with a federal apostille, and degrees, birth and marriage certificates, and notarized business documents apostilled by the issuing state.
Step by step from Oregon
- Confirm the documents with your employer, school, or the receiving office in China.
- Send FBI results to the U.S. Department of State for a federal apostille, and degrees or civil records to the issuing state.
- Skip Chinese embassy legalization for documents covered by the Apostille Convention.
- Arrange the Chinese translation the receiving office requires, often through a qualified translation company in China.
Translation
Chinese authorities usually require a Chinese translation. Many offices want it done by a qualified translation company in China, so ask the receiving office first.
Good to know
- Hong Kong and Macau used apostilles before 2023 as well.
- If an office in China still asks for embassy legalization, ask it to confirm, since the apostille replaced that step for Convention documents.
Moving to China: which route, and what it needs
Requirements differ by route and change without notice, so treat this as a starting point and confirm with the consulate or your immigration attorney.
- Work and employment. Chinese work permits commonly require an apostilled criminal record check and an apostilled degree, with a Chinese translation arranged through the receiving office.
- Business, investor, and self-employment. Company formation, investor permits, and self-employment routes typically need authenticated corporate documents, powers of attorney so someone can act for you locally, and a background check.
- Remote work and digital nomad routes. Where a remote-work route exists, applications usually require proof of foreign income, health insurance, and an authenticated background check. Confirm whether the route is currently open before you build a document pack around it.
- Retirement and passive income. Retirement routes generally require an authenticated background check, proof of pension or investment income, health insurance, and often apostilled birth and marriage certificates.
- Family, marriage, and children. Marriage abroad, family reunification, and registering a child usually need apostilled birth and marriage certificates, and sometimes a single-status or no-impediment document.
- Study. Universities and student permits typically ask for apostilled diplomas and transcripts, and a background check for longer programs.
Document timeline
These are our turnaround times for the steps we handle. Government processing and consulate appointments are set by those offices.
- Fingerprinting and FBI background check — Submitted within 30 minutes of
your appointment
We capture your prints and submit the request through our channeler partners. The FBI controls how quickly results come back. - Notarization, if your documents need it — Same day
Powers of attorney, affidavits, and copies that need a notary before authentication are handled at your appointment, in our office or at your location. - Apostille or authentication courier service — 10 to 15 business
days
We prepare and courier the request to the right office: the U.S. Department of State for FBI results, or a state Secretary of State for state-issued documents. - Certified translation — 2 to 3 business days
Ordered after the apostille when the receiving country wants the apostille page translated too. Some countries require their own sworn translator, and we tell you when that applies. - Your consulate appointment — Set by the consulate
Book early. Appointment backlogs, not document preparation, are usually what delays a move.
Finding the China consulate that covers Oregon
Each China consulate in the United States covers specific states, and you generally have to file with the one that covers Oregon. Check the consulate's own website for its jurisdiction, appointment system, and current document checklist, because those differ by post and change without notice.
The U.S. State Department publishes the official directory of foreign consular offices in the United States, which is the reliable place to find current addresses and contact details rather than a third-party list.
U.S. State Department: Foreign Consular Offices in the United States
We don't book consulate appointments or file applications. We prepare, notarize, translate, and courier the documents you take to that appointment.
How we help with your move to China
One team handles the document chain, so you make one call instead of coordinating four businesses against one deadline.
- Fingerprinting and FBI background checks
Captured at our Beaverton office or at your location, submitted within 30 minutes. $135, or $350 with the federal apostille package.
- Notary and witnesses
Powers of attorney, affidavits, and consent letters notarized before they go for authentication. $10 per signature at our office.
- Apostille courier service
Prepared and couriered to the Oregon Secretary of State, another state, or the U.S. Department of State. $125 to $195 per Oregon document.
- Certified translation
$65 per document, $75 with a notarized certificate, in 2 to 3 business days. We tell you when the destination requires its own sworn translator instead.
- Passport photos and shipping
Photos sized for the country you're applying to, and tracked international shipping for the finished documents.
We are notaries and a private document facilitator, not attorneys or immigration consultants. We can't choose a visa route, complete application forms, or advise on eligibility. For that, talk to an immigration attorney or the consulate.
Our prices for documents going to China
- FBI background check with apostille courier service (package)Best value: your FBI background check fingerprinting and federal authentication together.$350
- Federal authentication courier service (FBI apostille)For FBI background check results going to another country. The apostille is issued by the U.S. Department of State.$225
- Expedited federal authentication courier serviceAdd-on for the FBI apostille or the package.Add $140
- Oregon apostille courier serviceNotary fee is separate. Documents not in English need a certified translation before we can notarize them.$125–$195per document
Our fees are for our document authentication facilitator and courier service. See all prices.
Questions about documents for China
Does China accept apostilles?
Yes. The Apostille Convention entered into force for mainland China on November 7, 2023, replacing consular legalization for most U.S. public documents.
Do I still need Chinese embassy legalization?
Generally not for documents covered by the Apostille Convention. Confirm with the receiving office in China.
Who apostilles an FBI check for a Chinese work permit?
The U.S. Department of State, because FBI results are federal documents.
Related country guides
Where we serve China clients
Documents for China are handled at our Beaverton office or by mobile appointment across the Portland metro area.
Last updated 2026-09-10. Requirements change, so confirm with the office receiving your documents.