The situation: A foreigner needs official notarisation of a contract, certificate or educational document for use in a commercial or legal transaction.
Applicable law: The Chinese Notarization Law (2017) regulates notary offices under the Ministry of Justice. The notary office verifies the identity of the parties, the authenticity of signatures and the conformity of documents. For using Chinese documents abroad: notarisation plus an apostille is required (for countries signatory to the Hague Convention) or diplomatic authentication (for others). Foreigners may need a certified translation attached.
Typical outcome: Visiting the notary office with the original documents and passport, and receiving the notarisation certificate within days.
📜 Civil Code (general rules) · Awareness case
Notarising Documents in China — What Foreigners Need in Practice · Yalla China
🤝 Governing law: 公证法 / Notarization Law 2017; 公证程序规则 / Notarization Procedure Rules
A foreigner needs to notarise documents for use in China or abroad. What are the official notarisation procedures and how do they differ from Western countries?
Illustrative, general educational examples — not real specific facts and not legal advice; for awareness only. For an actual situation, consult a licensed lawyer.
🎓 The lesson / takeaway
Lesson: Do not confuse Chinese notarisation with common law Notary Public. The role of the notary office in China is different and more rigorous. Start procedures at least two weeks before the required date.
🕒 Updated: 16 March 2026