Job Discussion Forums

[djwheat]

Thailand and some others don't require an apostille, how about China?

I am a British citizen. I have found info regarding Americans needing an apostille but I don't know about others.

If yes, do I need it for CRB and degree? or just degree?

[Listerine]

No apostille needed. Some random docs like marriage certificates for dependants might need additional authentication, but that's generally done by the Chinese embassy. For the basic Z visa though its not needed (with the usual addendum that the rules change from place to place, consulate to consulate etc.)

The CBC thing isn't uniformly enforced. *Most* provinces and cities currently don't require one. It would depend where you are looking. I would guess in the next few years the check will be mandatory across the board though.

[jimpellow]

http://www.chinesevisadirect.co.uk/legalb.htm and some other Chinese visa services for Brits seem to mention it as a step you will need to take.

The Chinese love the apostille. I wouldn't be surprised if they invented it, and if not, claim they did anyways.

How the apostille stayed pretty much out of the entire Chinese visa process until the last couple years is a mystery to me. But is has been mandated at the Beijing level for quite a few things in the recent visa overhaul.

How and when it is implemented at more local levels is haphazard as Listerine notes. But you are wise to really nail down the requirement for where will you be, and if in doubt, obtain the apostille.

I am assuming from your profile that you are new to China. This is made up scenario of how it will most likely transpire, which is why you really need to dig and be a persistent pain in the ass.

1. The mandate from Beijing for two years has been that all Brits require an apostille for CBCs.
2. The area that you are going to teach in just started to follow this mandate six months ago.
3. The FAO does not know this, as no one told her and she has been too busy napping and tending to the crops in her video game to find out herself.
4. You then pointedly ask her about it and she is adamant that you do not need one. After hanging up she tells her colleagues what stupid pains in the pi gu's (butts) foreigners are before harvesting her pumpkins so she can buy a new sofa for her make believe house.
5. You then submit your work visa application only to have it denied as there is no apostille on your CBC.
6. The FAO takes no responsibility for any of this. She convinces the boss of the school, while chatting with him in some love hotel room, that it is all your fault. You are left to correct the process at a further investment of time and expense.

(The above structure is also good to memorize as it will give you insight of how everything in China will be for you.)

My British friend had to have his college transript apostillized for a job in Tianjin. I believe that the still official policy for Americans is to get two apostilles for the FBI security clearance. One from the State Department and then from the Chinese embassy or relevant consulate for your permanent address. Talk about travel and expense!

[Son of Bud Powell]

How the apostille stayed pretty much out of the entire Chinese visa process until the last couple years is a mystery to me. But is has been mandated at the Beijing level for quite a few things in the recent visa overhaul.

When China signed on to the Dayton Accord and then the Hague Agreement, it agreed to accept official documents from other countries as official for its own uses. This ended FTs and people who adopted Chinese children having to jump through rings of fire at the local, state, and national level. In the U.S., only some states' residents were required to go through this before China became signatories My degrees bear authentication documents with Colin Powell's signature (probably done by proxy).


(These two agreements also covered intellectual property piracy. See how much good it did).

I don't know why apostillization is returning. It's probably a tit-for-tat.