What is authentication?

Authentication, also called consular authentication, refers to a consular practice ensuring authenticity of the very last signature or the seal affixed to a document related to the application from a natural person, legal person or other organization. In accordance with international practice and the consular practice established in China, the purpose of consular authentication is to ensure that notarial deeds issued in one country have due legal effect and can be acknowledged by the relevant authorities in another country with no question as to their authenticity.

Chinese Embassies and Consulate-Generals are responsible for legalizing notarized deeds to be used in China and other documents that have been duly authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country or the related authorities where the consular authentication application is to be accepted.

Required Information for Consular Authentication Application

The documents intended to be used in China by foreign citizens (including overseas Chinese) cannot be directly sent to the Chinese Embassy in Switzerland for notarization. The documents should be translated into Chinese by a Swiss Notary Public or a Qualified Translation Company, and notarized by a Swiss notary public(the translation does not need to be notarized), and then authenticated by the Legalization Office of Swiss Federal Chancellery before being submitted to the Application Centre.

The documents intended to be used in China by Chinese citizens not directly notarized by the Chinese Embassy in Switzerland should be translated into Chinese by a Swiss Notary Public or a Qualified Translation Company, and notarized by a Swiss notary public(the translation does not need to be notarized), and then authenticated by the Legalization Office of Swiss Federal Chancellery before being submitted to the Application Centre.

Documents of a third country should be authenticated in that country. If a citizen of a third country living in Switzerland applies for passport authentication, his/her application can be accepted by the Chinese Embassy in Switzerland if it has been notarized by the country's embassy in Switzerland.

Consular Authentication Category

Consular authentication is divided into civil affairs authentication and commercial affairs authentication.