CityLinkers provides professional China attestation services for individuals and businesses.
Under the "One Country, Two Systems" framework, Hong Kong and Mainland China operate under distinct legal systems. Documents originating in Hong Kong must be attested by a China-Appointed Attesting Officer appointed by the PRC Ministry of Justice and transmitted through China Legal Service (Hong Kong) Ltd. before they can be legally recognized across Mainland China. With years of cross-border service expertise, we offer end-to-end support — from document pre-screening and attestation to transmission and delivery.
What Is China Attestation?
China attestation, formally known as "China-Appointed Attesting Officer attestation" (sometimes colloquially referred to as "China notarization"), is a specialized attestation system that bridges the legal frameworks of Hong Kong and Mainland China under the "One Country, Two Systems" principle.
Because Mainland China and Hong Kong belong to different legal jurisdictions, Mainland authorities cannot directly verify the authenticity of Hong Kong-issued documents. A statutory "attestation and transmission" mechanism is therefore required to ensure Hong Kong documents carry the same legal weight as Mainland notarized documents.
Specifically, China attestation involves a China-Appointed Attesting Officer — a Hong Kong solicitor commissioned by the PRC Ministry of Justice — who examines and certifies legal acts, facts, and documents that have occurred in Hong Kong. The resulting attested document must then be submitted to China Legal Service (Hong Kong) Ltd. for review and stamping with a transmission seal, after which it becomes legally valid for use in Mainland China.
When Do You Need China Attestation?
China attestation is required whenever Hong Kong documents need to be submitted to Mainland Chinese authorities, courts, or institutions. Common scenarios include:
Corporate and Commercial Matters:
- Establishing a foreign enterprise, branch, or representative office in Mainland China
- Business registration, amendment, and annual filing with Mainland authorities
- Participating in Mainland public bidding and government procurement
- Cross-border investment, equity transfer, and corporate restructuring
- Mainland court litigation and arbitration proceedings
- Trademark registration and intellectual property matters
- Purchasing, mortgaging, or transferring property in Mainland China
- Marriage declarations (e.g., marrying a Mainland resident)
- Inheriting or renouncing inheritance of Mainland estates
- Sponsoring Mainland relatives for Hong Kong visit or residency applications
- School enrollment and household registration for children in Mainland China
- Authorizing Mainland relatives or representatives to handle personal affairs
Consequences of Non-Compliance:
Hong Kong documents without proper attestation and transmission carry no legal validity in Mainland China. They will be rejected by Mainland authorities for any official purpose, including business registration, litigation, and property transactions. If you anticipate using Hong Kong documents in the Mainland, it is essential to arrange China attestation in advance to avoid delays.
How about Our China Attestation Service Scope？
Corporate Document Attestation
We provide attestation services for a wide range of corporate documents, including:
- Certificate of Incorporation and Business Registration Certificate
- Articles of Association and Memorandum
- Board of Directors' resolutions and shareholders' resolutions
- Register of Directors and Shareholders
- Powers of Attorney and authorized representative appointments
- Company financial statements and audit reports
- Hong Kong Service Supplier Certificate (CEPA)
- Certificate of Corporate Information/Status
- Commercial contracts and agreements
Personal Document Attestation
We provide attestation services for various personal and civil documents, including:
- Marriage status declarations (e.g., application to marry a Mainland resident, spousal relationship certification)
- Declaration of inheritance or renunciation of inheritance
- Kinship certificates and declarations
- Personal powers of attorney (authorizing others to handle Mainland affairs)
- Declaration of adoption of children
- Declaration of same person
- Declaration of no marriage record
- Academic and professional qualification certificates
What is the China Attestation Process？
CityLinkers offers a streamlined, one-stop China attestation service:
