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Notary services

Notary Services

Consular Officers perform notary services customarily provided by Notaries Public in the United States. All notary services require an appointment. For notary fee information, please see our list of common fees.

Generally, U.S. Consular Officers can provide notary services to U.S. citizens or for documents that will be used in the U.S. Non-U.S. citizens must provide identification, such as a passport or a Chinese National ID card.

Documents to be notarized should primarily be in English, as the Consular Officer must understand the content before notarizing. The Consulate cannot provide translation services.

If you are a U.S. citizen and need to notarize a Chinese-language document for use in China, please refer to the below list of local notaries public.

If you are getting married in China and need to get a notary for an Affidavit of Eligibility to Marry, click here.

Please note that U.S. academic credentials cannot be notarized, certified, or authenticated at the Consulate General. Instructions on how to obtain this service can be found at the following link: http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/abroad/legal-matters/academic-credentials.html

Requirements for Notary Services at the U.S. Consulate General

For Oaths:

  • Appear in person to sign in the Consular Officer's presence.
  • Provide proof of your identity.
  • Demonstrate your understanding of the document's contents.
  • Swear or affirm after indicating a basic understanding of the penalty for perjury.
  • Indicate you are signing of your own free will.

For Acknowledgements:

  • Appear in person to state that the signature on the document in question is yours, and that your signature is of your own free will.
  • Provide proof of your identity.
  • Demonstrate your understanding of the document’s contents. 

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Local Notary Services

For Chinese-language documents to be used in the U.S., we can perform a consular certification if this process is followed:

  • A Chinese notary public office at the city or county level should first notarize the documents (and provide an English translation)
  • The foreign affairs office of the provincial government, which has jurisdiction over the city where the documents were notarized, can then authenticate them

Only then may the consulate authenticate the signature of the provincial foreign affairs official (this does not certify the validity or truth of an authenticated document). We can only authenticate the signatures of Chinese provincial-level foreign affairs officials within our consular district, which includes the Shanghai municipality, and the provinces of Anhui, Zhejiang and Jiangsu. There is a fee of US$50.00 or the RMB equivalent per authentication. Those who are unable to come to the Consulate for authentication may designate a representative to bring the documents to the Consulate. (Write a letter designating them as your representative, and they must bring valid photo identification). Please make sure you have an appointment before you visit our office.

For Chinese-language documents to be used locally in China, you might choose to consult a local Notary Public, who can typically offer the following services:

  1. Marital status、Kindred relationship、Adoption relationship verifications.
  2. Criminal records checks.
  3. Certification of true copies.
  4. Contracts
  5. Inheritances
  6. Wills, Powers of Attorney, Affidavits, Bestowals.
  7. Divisions of property.

Below are some local Notaries Public that have been used by U.S. citizens for Chinese-language notarization services. Please note that the Consulate cannot assume responsibility for the professional ability or integrity of these or any other firms or persons.

Shanghai Dong Fang Notary Public Office
Address: No. 660 Feng Yang Road, Shanghai
Tel: 021-62154848

Shanghai Foreign Affairs Service Center
Address: 2rd Flr. Equatorial Hotel, No. 228 Hua Shan Rd., Jing An District, Shanghai
Tel. No. 62470833

Shanghai Notary Public Hotline: 96987200

A list of local notaries (Chinese language) is available here

The Shanghai FAO Service Center is located at:

Shanghai Foreign Affairs Service Center
Address: 2rd Flr. Equatorial Hotel, No. 228 Hua Shan Rd., Jing An District, Shanghai
Tel. No. 62470833

For more Notary Publics, please click here. For more Notary Information, please see the notary section on our FAQ page.