How to obtain your Chinese non-criminal record, have it translated, and have it certified with a Chinese apostille – 2026 Guide
In this article, we will explain how people living in China can obtain their Chinese non-criminal record, have it translated, and have it certified with a Chinese apostille (known in China as a notarial certificate).
For some cases, such as when moving back to their home country and applying for a new job, foreign nationals will need to provide a non-criminal record covering the time they spent in China, and have the Chinese apostille fixed to it.
What is an apostille?
An apostille is a certificate issued by the appointed authority in the country where the public document (such a university diploma or a non-criminal record) was drawn up, to certify that the document is genuine and authentic.
Since China officially joined the Hague Apostille Convention in November 2023, the process is now much simpler and faster than before.
I am currently living in China. First of all, how can I obtain my Chinese non-criminal record?
Before we begin, we strongly recommend obtaining your non-criminal record before you leave China permanently! If you have already left China and need your Chinese non-criminal record, please read our article here.
To obtain your Chinese non-criminal record while in China, you firstly need to go to your local Exit-Entry Administration Bureau (出入境管理部门). The addresses of some of the bureaus in Shanghai can be found at the bottom of this article.
You must bring the following documents with you:
- Valid passport
- Your old passports that cover your whole residence period in China
- Your registration form of temporary residence
After providing the above documents, you will be given a receipt indicating the date on which you can pick up your non-criminal record certificate (see example below).
The pick-up date is typically 2-4 working days after your submission.
In the section below, we will walk you through how to have the official apostille applied to your Chinese non-criminal record notatized, translated, and have it certified with the official apostille.
However, if you do not require an apostille, but would like a certified translation of your non-criminal record into a language of your choice, then a translation agency recognized by the Chinese authorities such as HI-COM can help.
Ok great, so now how do I get my Chinese non-criminal record notarized, translated, and have the official apostille applied to it?
To have your Chinese non-criminal record (or notarial certificate, as it is known in China) translated, notarized, and have the official apostille applied to it, you need to go to a local notary in China first.
You must bring the following documents with you:
- Valid passport
- Your old passports that cover your whole residence period in China
- Your registration form of temporary residence
- The non-criminal record certificate you obtained at the Exit-Entry Administration Bureau (see above)
The notary will first notarize the non-criminal record certificate you obtained and then arrange for a certified translation into the required language. You will be given a receipt indicating the date on which you can pick up the notarized document together with the certified translation (similar to the one shown earlier in this article). The notarization process usually takes about one week.
Once completed, you will need to go back to the notary to collect the notarized document together with the certified translation, which will be packaged and sealed by the notary. Do not open it!
And now for the final step:
You then need to go and submit this sealed package at your local Foreign Affairs Office (外事服务中心). The addresses of the two Foreign Affairs Offices in Shanghai are listed at the bottom of this article.
After submitting this package, you will be given a receipt indicating the date on which you can pick up your apostilled non-criminal record certificate. The pick-up date is typically 2-4 working days after your submission.
If your case is urgent, an expedited service is available for an additional fee.
If I’m in China, but I can’t go a notary public office or foreign affairs office myself, can someone else go on my behalf?
Yes. If you are currently in China, but can’t go to a notary public office or foreign affairs office yourself, you need to follow the steps below:
- Sign a Power of Attorney document (see example below), and give it to your contact to bring with him/her
- Take a photo of yourself holding the signed Power of Attorney and your passport, and send it to your contact to bring with him/her (recommended but not required)
- Give your contact a copy of your Temporary Residence form, to bring with him/her
- Provide your contact with your original passport (preferred). If that is not possible, a high-quality full scan of the entire passport will also be acceptable for them to bring.
- If you are looking for a contact to complete the process on your behalf, then an authorized agent such as HI-COM can assist
If you have already left China and need your Chinese non-criminal record, or if you have any other questions on how to get your Chinese non-criminal record, or how to have it apostilled please contact us today!
Useful addresses
To obtain your non-criminal record
Municipal Exit-Entry Bureau – Pudong Branch
Address: No. 1500 Minsheng Road, Pudong New Area
Service Hours: Monday to Saturday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM)
市局出入境管理总队：浦东新区民生路1500号（周一至周六 9:00–17:00）
Municipal Exit-Entry Bureau – Jing’an Branch
Address: 2nd Floor, Building No. 1, Yongxing Business Plaza, Lane 1355, Qiujiang Road
Service Hours: Monday to Saturday, 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Note: There is an Entry-Exit Bureau in every district of Shanghai. If you would like the address of a bureau in another district, please contact us.
To have the official apostille applied to your translated non-criminal record
Service Department for Consular Authentication Submission & Delivery
Address: Room 104, 1st Floor, No. 228 Huashan Road (Shanghai International Equatorial Hotel Business Building)
Service Hours: Monday to Friday, 13:30 – 17:00 (except national public holidays)
Tel: 62470833
上海外事服务中心领事认证受理(递送)服务部
服务地址:华山路228号一楼104室(上海国际贵都大饭店商务楼)
受理服务时间:每周一至五，下午13:30-17:00 (国定节假日除外)
联系电话:62470833
Shanghai Foreign Affairs Service Center – Pudong Branch (For apostille)
Address:Room 101, Building A, Jinying Tower, No. 1518 Minsheng Road (also No. 80 Hanxiao Road), near the Exit-Entry Administration Bureau of the Shanghai Public Security Bureau
Service Hours:Monday to Friday, 09:00 – 11:30 and 13:30 – 17:00 (excluding national public holidays)
Contact Number:50933651
上海外事服务中心浦东分部
服务地址:浦东民生路1518号(含笑路80号)金鹰大厦A幢101室(市公安局出入境管理局旁)
受理服务时间:每周一至五，上午09:00-11:30 下午13:30-17:00(国定节假日除外)
联系电话:50933651
For notarization and translation of your non-criminal record
To find your nearest notary in China, please contact us.
