The Great Wall of China in the mountains outside Beijing

Documents for China

Swedish documents for China

China requires full embassy legalisation for Swedish documents on the mainland. That means Notary Public when needed, the Swedish MFA and the Chinese Embassy in Stockholm. Chinese authorities, employers and universities in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou or Shenzhen often also want documents in Simplified Chinese. We set the chain from the recipient list.

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Choose a service for China

Embassy legalisation from SEK 2,495, notarisation from SEK 449, authorized Chinese translation from SEK 1,495. Chinese plus legalisation package from SEK 3,495 when the recipient needs both.

Embassy legalisation

Full legalisation via the MFA and the Chinese Embassy for authorities, banks and universities in China.

From 2 495 kr See prices →

Notarisation / PoA

Certify powers of attorney and signatures before legalisation. Common for property and banking.

From 449 kr See prices →

Translation Swedish → Chinese

Authorized translation for Chinese authorities, banks and universities.

From 1 495 kr See prices →

Translation Chinese → Swedish

Chinese diplomas, certificates and documents for the Swedish Migration Agency, Tax Agency and schools.

From 1 495 kr See prices →

Bundle: Chinese + legalisation

When the Chinese recipient needs both language and full legalisation. Most common before work permits.

From 3 495 kr See package price →

Correct path

Full legalisation required. An apostille is not enough

China joined the Hague Convention in November 2023, but in practice most Chinese recipients still require embassy legalisation via the MFA and the Chinese Embassy. The exception is Hong Kong and Macao which accept an apostille. Chinese authorities and banks generally also want authorized translation into Simplified Chinese. Private powers of attorney are notarised before legalisation.

Official embassy page: Chinese Embassy in Sweden

Overview

How it works for China

Swedish personal records, diplomas, employment certificates and company extracts are increasingly used in China, but the recipient requires them to be authentic and in the right language. China is in practice outside the apostille system for mainland matters, despite formal Hague membership since November 2023. That means Swedish documents must be legalised via a Notary Public when needed, the Swedish MFA and the Chinese Embassy in Stockholm. VIZA starts from what the employer, university, bank or authority in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen or another city actually asks for. Then we run Simplified Chinese translation when needed, notarisation of powers of attorney and full legalisation. Common cases are work permits and Z visas, studies, family reunification, company setup and adoption.

When needed

When do Chinese recipients want legalised documents?

The requirement comes from an authority, employer, bank or school in China. These are the situations we see most:

You need a work permit or Z visa and must provide legalised diplomas and criminal record certificates
A Chinese university requires legalised diplomas and grades before admission
Family reunification requires legalised marriage and birth certificates
A Chinese bank or authority requires a legalised power of attorney for a remote matter
A Swedish company is setting up in China and must submit legalised company extracts
An adoption case requires legalised Swedish documents

Which Swedish papers most often go to China?

Typical documents by category. Collapse a box if you want less.

01 Family and civil status

Personal records / extracts
Marriage certificates
Birth certificates
Marital status certificates
Adoption and custody documents
Name change certificates

02 Work and studies

Diplomas and grades
Transcripts of records
Criminal record certificates
Employment certificates and contracts
Professional certificates
Supporting papers for Z visas

03 Company and powers of attorney

Companies Registration Office extracts
Articles of association and minutes
Powers of attorney for a Chinese agent
Bank powers of attorney
Certified passport copies
Trade agreements and invoice documentation

From a Swedish document to an accepted China chain

The usual chain from review to return. Collapse a step if you want less.

1 Read the requirement from China

We start from the employer list, university requirement or bank checklist. That decides whether Chinese, notarisation or only legalisation is needed.
2 Translate into Chinese when required

Chinese authorities generally want Simplified Chinese. English is rarely enough. We can run translation before or in parallel with legalisation.
3 Notarise private powers of attorney

Powers of attorney and other private documents are certified by a Notary Public before legalisation. Public extracts can sometimes go straight to the MFA.
4 The legalisation chain

We drive the case through the Swedish MFA and the Chinese Embassy in Stockholm. That is the full chain required for the mainland.
5 Return to you

You get the papers back with tracked post, ready for the authority, bank or employer in China.

Important

Legalisation for China, not apostille

Although China formally joined the Hague Convention in November 2023, the system does not yet work in practice for Swedish documents to the mainland. Chinese recipients still require full legalisation via the MFA and the Chinese Embassy. The exception is Hong Kong and Macao. Legalisation for China starts from SEK 2,495 in Basic.

What typical China cases look like with us

Expand a case to see documents, route and timing.

Work permit and Z visa When you have landed a job in China, the employer or authority requires legalised diplomas, criminal record certificates and sometimes employment certificates, often with Chinese translation.

Typical documents

Diplomas and grades
Criminal record certificate
Employment certificate
Authorized Chinese translation

Sweden: translation if needed → MFA → Chinese Embassy

Often 10 to 20 business days in Basic depending on queue

Studies in China Chinese universities want legalised diplomas and grades before admission is confirmed, often with Chinese translation.

Typical documents

Diploma
Transcript of records
Grades from secondary school or university
Chinese translation

Translation if needed → MFA → Chinese Embassy

Often 10 to 20 business days in Basic

Family reunification When the family is reuniting in China, legalised marriage and birth certificates are required, sometimes with Chinese translation.

Typical documents

Marriage certificate
Birth certificate
Personal record
Chinese translation if needed

MFA → Chinese Embassy

Often 10 to 15 business days

Company setup or banking Chinese banks and authorities require legalised company extracts and powers of attorney before accounts are opened or registrations are completed.

Typical documents

Companies Registration Office extract
Articles of association
Power of attorney (notarised)
Chinese translation

Notarisation if needed → MFA → Chinese Embassy

Often 15 to 25 business days depending on complexity

Translation, timing and embassy

Why Chinese is usually needed

Chinese authorities, banks and universities rarely accept English alone. Authorized Simplified Chinese translation is therefore a separate step, even when legalisation already covers authenticity. We translate with a Kammarkollegiet approved translator from SEK 1,495 and can sync it with legalisation. Translation plus legalisation package from SEK 3,495.

Timeline before an authority, bank or employer in China

Legalisation usually takes 10 to 20 business days in Basic once originals are in. Add time for Chinese translation and any notarisation of a power of attorney. The total is affected by:

whether the power of attorney must be notarised first
whether authorized Chinese should run in parallel
processing times at the MFA
processing times at the Chinese Embassy
number of documents in the same case
post for originals and return

The Chinese Embassy and legalisation

For Swedish documents to be used in mainland China, embassy legalisation is the only path in practice. The chain runs via a Notary Public when needed, the Swedish MFA and finally the Chinese Embassy in Stockholm. We coordinate the entire chain and specify the embassy fee before submission.

Notarisation of powers of attorney and private documents
Legalisation via the Swedish MFA
Final legalisation at the Chinese Embassy in Stockholm
Authorized Simplified Chinese translation
Ordering Swedish extracts when needed
Tracked return to you in Sweden

Chinese Embassy in Sweden →

When the same China case needs more

Order Swedish extracts, or read more about legalisation for other countries.

Order Swedish source documents

Personal records, criminal records and company extracts before they go to China.

Power of attorney for China

Help getting the power of attorney ready for notarisation, legalisation and Chinese translation.

Certified copy

When a Chinese recipient wants a certified copy instead of (or in addition to) the original.

Go to notarisation →

Hong Kong and Macao

Hong Kong and Macao accept an apostille. The mainland requires full legalisation via MFA and embassy.

Questions before you send papers to a Chinese authority or bank

Do I need the Chinese Embassy for legalisation?

Yes for the mainland. Despite formal Hague membership since November 2023, Chinese recipients in practice still require embassy legalisation. Hong Kong and Macao accept an apostille.

Is English enough for a Chinese authority?

Rarely. Chinese authorities and banks generally want authorized Simplified Chinese translation.

What is needed for a power of attorney for China?

Often notarisation in Sweden, then legalisation via the MFA and the Chinese Embassy, plus Chinese translation according to the recipient requirement.

Can you fetch a personal record first?

Yes. Personal records, criminal record certificates and company extracts are often ordered before legalisation and translation.

How long does legalisation take?

Basic typically takes 10 to 20 business days once originals are in, depending on MFA and embassy queues. Priority and VIP give faster coordination.

What does it cost?

Embassy legalisation from SEK 2,495, notarisation from SEK 449, Chinese translation from SEK 1,495, package from SEK 3,495.

Does the legalisation apply across China?

Yes for the mainland. Hong Kong and Macao have their own rules and accept an apostille.

Can I send a scan first?

Yes. We often review digitally before you send originals for notarisation or legalisation.

Do you have the checklist from the employer, university or bank in China?

Send the scan or the email. We say whether you need Chinese translation, notarisation, legalisation or all three, with a price before start.