1. Procedure for legalization application

Step 1：The documents shall be first notarized or certificated by local Notary Public or other competent authorities in Finland.

Step 2: The notarizations or certifications need to be authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland.

Step 3: The authenticated documents shall be submitted to the Chinese Visa Application Service Center in Helsinki for consular legalization by the Chinese Embassy in Finland.

2. Documents needed for the application of legalization

1). One original duly and completely filled Legalization Application Form.

2). Applicant's original valid passport and a photocopy of the passport information page or the original and a photocopy of other legal and valid ID.

3).  The original and one photocopy of the document that has been authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland.

4.   If the legalization application is for company or organization , a photocopy of the passport of the legal representative of the company or organization and an official document which proves his or her legal status as the company's legal representative should be provided.

5. If an applicant entrusts an agent to submit the application on his/her behalf, in addition to the above documents, the photocopy of original agent’s valid ID and the applicant’s valid ID should be provided.

6). The above-mentioned terms are general requirements. Consular officers may require, if necessary, the applicant to provide additional supporting documents in case of significant matters.

All rights of interpretation are reserved to the Chinese Embassy in Finland.

3. Notes for legalization application

1). The Chinese Embassy in Finland can legalize notarial deeds and other documents for use in China, issued by relevant authorities of Finland, and authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland.

2). Consular officers of the Chinese Embassy in Finland will examine the documents to be legalized. The Chinese Embassy will not legalize a document in the following cases, including but not limited to its notarization or authentication procedure is found incomplete, its format fails to meet the required standards, its content does not comply with laws and regulations, it is found to be altered, disassembled or modified.

3). An authenticated document shall not be or altered or modified. Consular legalization will be invalid in case any alteration or modification occurred. The applicant should bear full responsibility for any problem and any legal liability incurred.

4). If the documents applied for legalization are more than two pages, they should be bound in a way that is not easy to be disassembled or replaced, such as sealing with lacquer, sealing with seal or steel seal.

5). A Single Status Affidavit to be used for marriage registration in China is valid for 6 months from the date of issuance. It cannot be legalized beyond its validity.

6).Documents regarding marital status, health status, and non-criminal record meant for adoption process in China, are valid for 6 months from the date of issuance of the notarization to the date of registration for the adoption application. It cannot be legalized beyond its validity.

7). All fees must be paid immediately after the application is successfully submitted. If the fees are not paid during the opening hours of the day of submission, the Visa Application Center will have to terminate the unpaid application，which may only be re-submitted later.

8). The following application will not be accepted if:

8.1) The seal or signature of the document is not true or accurate;

8.2) The seal or signature of the document could not be verified through the Chinese Embassy's records or does not correspond to the Embassy’s records;

8.3) The document is issued by domestic authorities in China, such as Chinese passport, ID card or driving license;

8.4) The content of the documents does not comply with Chinese laws or may injure China’s national and public interests;

8.5) All the cases that the Chinese Embassy in Finland deems inappropriate.

All rights of interpretation are reserved to the Chinese Embassy in Finland.