Abacus Chinese Translation Services

Authentication by the Chinese Consulate in Los Angeles
and
Notarization by the Chinese Consulate in Los Angeles

Because of popular request, we now offer authentication and notarization services by the Chinese Consulate in Los Angeles.

Also see Authentication by the Chinese Consulate in New York - Notarization and Legalization by the Chinese Consulate in New York

Price: $600 for the Entire Authentication Process by the Chinese Consulate in Los Angeles

Authentication

Authentication is also called certification or legalization. It is a legal process for the document to have any legal effects in the People's Republic of China, or any other countries.  It is a governmental act by which a designated public official (e.g. a consular officer at an Embassy or a consul in a Consulate) certifies the genuineness of the signature and/or seal and the position of the person/official who has executed, issued or authenticated (a copy of) a document. A consular authentication in no way attests to the authenticity of the contents of a document.

In order for the documents to have legal effects in China, the documents first need to be translated into Simplified Chinese. The detailed procedures are described below.  The Chinese Consulate General in Los Angeles only authenticates documents that are executed in America and have been certified by authorities in our consular jurisdiction (namely Southern California, Arizona, Hawaii, New Mexico and American Pacific islands) and will be used in China.

Please also note that in order for the documents to be authenticated and legalized, a copy of the passport is required.  There are no exceptions.

Detailed Procedures of the Authentication Process by the Chinese Consulate in Los Angeles

Note: If the original document is in English, then it will have to be translated into Simplified Chinese by a certified translator.

1. Sign the document before a notary public.
2. Have the document certified by the clerk of the county in which the notary public is commissioned.
   
   (Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk, County of Los Angeles:
   12400 Imperial Highway, Norwalk, CA 90660,Tel: 562-4622060)
    
3. Have it certified by the Secretary of the State (Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii, Attorney General of Guam and of the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands) of the relevant state in which the document is executed.
   
   (Office of the secretary of state of California in Los Angeles:
   300 South Spring Street, Room 12513 Los Angeles, CA 90013-1233, Tel: 213-8973062)
    
4. Have it authenticated by the Chinese Consulate in Los Angeles.  Please do not forget to bring a copy of your passport.

Document Requirements

1. Original and one photocopy of the complete document to be authenticated, including certification and notarization pages from the first 3 steps in the above Procedures.
    
2. One truthfully completed Authentication or Notarization Application Form
    
3. In cases of commercial documents authentication, one copy of a formal document showing the TYPE OF BUSINESS of the company and the certificate of good standing are also required. In other cases, one copy of the applicant's ID is required.

Please contact us for more information.