China Visa and Notary Service provides authentication expediting services to U.S. citizens and foreign nationals on documents that will be used in P.R. China. Authentication ensures that the requested information will serve in the interest of justice and is not contrary to U.S. policy. Common documents for authentication include:
Single Status 单身证明 |
Marriage Certificate 结婚证公证 |
Birth Certificate 出生证公证 |
Powers of Attorney 委托书 |
Articles of incorporation 公司成立 |
Commercial Document 商业文件 |
In accordance with international practice and consular practice in China, the purpose of consular authentication is to ensure that notarial deeds issued in one country can be acknowledged by relevant authorities in another country, and the deeds can have its due legal effect, which shall not be affected by doubts on the authenticity of the seal or signature on the deeds. The Chinese Consulate General in the United States can authenticate notarial deeds and other documents issued by relevant authorities of the United States for use in China. The deeds or documents should be certified by the Authentication Office of the Secretary of the State first.
根据国际惯例和中国领事实践，办理领事认证的目的是使一国出具的公证书等能在另一国境内被相关部门承认并且具有法律效力，不致因怀疑文书上的印章和签字是否属实而影响文书的法律效力。一般意义来说，任何在美国产生的文件拿到中国内地去用，必须要经过领事馆的公证/认证。
外国人（含外籍华人）应在美国当地有资格的公证机构办理公证。公证文书如需送往中国使用，还须办理美国政府部门的认证（Authentication）以及中国驻美使领馆的认证（Legalization）。 总领事馆可为由美国有关机构出具、并经领区内各州州务卿认证的、拟送往中国使用的公证书或者其他证明文书等办理领事认证。
Consular authentication by the Chinese Embassy or Consulate General in the U.S. is not required for relevant documents to be used in Hong Kong SAR or Macao SAR of China. As long as these documents are notarized by a local notary public of the U.S. and apostilled by the Secretary of the State or the Authentication office of the U.S. Department of State, they can be used in Hong Kong or Macao.
送往中国香港、澳门地区使用的有关文书，无需办理领事认证。有关文书经美国当地机构公证（Notary Public），并经有关州务卿或美国国务院认证办公室（Authentication Office）办理附加证明书（Apostille）后，即可在香港、澳门使用。