China Embassy Degree Attestation 3 Steps Explained
An Indian degree going to China collects three sets of stamps before anyone there will rely on it: a Delhi notary and the SDM, the Ministry of External Affairs, and a Chinese mission in India. This short explainer takes each step in turn, what it proves and what can go wrong, so you know what is happening to your degree.
China embassy degree attestation 3 steps: quick answer
China embassy degree attestation 3 steps, briefly: first a Delhi notary certifies a copy of your degree and the Sub-Divisional Magistrate authenticates the notary; second, the MEA attests the SDM’s signature; third, the Chinese Embassy or a Chinese Consulate General legalises the MEA stamp. Each step vouches only for the one before it, which is why none can be skipped. For checklists and uses of a legalised degree, read the full China degree guide.
There is no shortcut through an apostille, because India objected to China’s accession to the Apostille Convention. INFINITYGRO runs all three steps from Delhi. Steps one and two cost Rs 1,000–1,500 per document all-inclusive; the Chinese Embassy fee for step three is extra and confirmed in your written quote.
China embassy degree attestation 3 steps at a glance
- 1Notary and SDM, DelhiA notary compares the copy with your original degree and certifies it; the SDM confirms the notary’s signature and seal.
- 2MEA attestationThe Ministry of External Affairs attests the SDM’s signature, through its outsourced collection centre.
- 3Chinese Embassy or ConsulateThe Chinese mission checks the MEA seal and signature against its records and adds its own legalisation.
Think of it as a chain of signatures. The Chinese officer cannot know your university’s seal, but can check the MEA’s, and the MEA can check the SDM’s.
Notary and SDM: getting the degree into the system
The MEA attests the signature of a designated state authority, not a university registrar. In Delhi, that authority is the SDM, who authenticates a notary’s certification of your degree.
- Original degree, final not provisional
- Name spelt as in your passport
- Not laminated or taped
- Seal and signatures legible
MEA attestation: the national stamp
Since 2012 the MEA has not accepted documents from individuals at its counter; papers go through its outsourced collection agencies. The MEA attests the signature of the authority before it and takes no responsibility for what the degree says.
This is the stamp the Chinese side looks for. The Chinese Visa Application Service Center in New Delhi states that Indian documents must be notarised and attested by the MEA before going to the Chinese Embassy.
Chinese mission: the last stamp
Papers for legalisation are lodged through the Chinese Visa Application Service Center, which takes the application and fee; consular officers decide. The mission may refuse a document whose seals or signatures it has no record of, or whose binding is not in order.
| Consulate General, Kolkata | Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal |
|---|---|
| Consulate General, Mumbai | Maharashtra, Karnataka |
| Embassy, New Delhi | All other areas |
These districts come from the Chinese Embassy’s notice for its visa centres. We confirm the mission for your degree when we quote.
What happens next
We send you scans at once and return the original by Blue Dart, or you collect it from our New Ashok Nagar office. Your employer or university in China then uses it, sometimes with a Chinese translation, which we can also provide through our translation service.
China embassy degree attestation 3 steps: fees and time
| MEA attestation stage, personal or educational document | Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 per document, all-inclusive: notary, SDM attestation, the MEA fee and our service |
|---|---|
| Embassy legalisation fee | Extra; set by the embassy and confirmed in your written quote |
| Courier | Extra, both ways |
| Translation | Quoted by language and page |
Steps 1 and 2 are covered by our all-inclusive MEA stage charge. The Chinese mission’s fee for step 3 and a time estimate are confirmed in writing.
All charges for this country, including any embassy fee, are on its own fee page.
China embassy attestation feesFAQs: China Embassy Degree Attestation 3 Steps Explained
Can any of the three steps be skipped?
No. Each authority vouches only for the signature of the one before it. The Chinese mission checks the MEA stamp, and the MEA checks the state authority, so a degree that misses a step is not accepted at the next one.
Why can’t I use an apostille instead?
China joined the Apostille Convention in 2023, but India objected to its accession, so the Convention does not operate between the two countries. Indian degrees for China still go through MEA attestation and legalisation by a Chinese mission in India.
Does the Chinese mission check my marks or university?
No. It checks that the MEA seal and signature are genuine and that the document is in order. It does not grade or verify your studies. Any degree verification an employer wants is a separate process.
How long do the China embassy degree attestation 3 steps take?
It depends on the MEA and the Chinese mission’s workload, so we do not publish a fixed figure. Your written quote includes an estimate for all three steps. Add courier time to Delhi and back, usually two to four days each way.
What does it cost?
Steps 1 and 2 cost Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 per document in total, covering the notary, SDM, the MEA fee and our service. The Chinese mission’s fee for step 3 is extra and confirmed in writing. Courier is separate.
Which Chinese mission handles step 3?
China has an embassy in New Delhi and Consulates General in Mumbai and Kolkata, each covering certain states. Step 3 is lodged through the Chinese Visa Application Service Center for the mission concerned. We confirm which one applies to your degree when we quote.
Do the same three steps apply to a transcript or diploma?
Yes. Transcripts, diplomas and marksheets follow the same three steps. Send them in the same courier as the degree so they move through each step together and are covered by one written quote. Each document is charged separately.
Do I have to come to Delhi?
No. Courier the original to our New Ashok Nagar office, or drop it off if you live in Delhi. There is no home pickup. We return the legalised degree by Blue Dart or another secure courier.
Official sources
Start the three steps for your degree
WhatsApp a photo of your degree and say where in China it is going. We confirm the mission, time and total in writing.
Office: C – 5 A/2 New Ashok Nagar, Delhi – 110096 · Monday to Saturday, 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM · office drop-off or courier, no home pickup
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Disclaimer: INFINITYGRO is a private document facilitation service, not a government office or embassy. Apostilles and attestations are issued only by the Ministry of External Affairs and the embassies concerned; we do not issue, correct or verify certificates. Rules and fees can change, so check the requirements of the authority that will receive your document.
Last reviewed: October 2026