Quick answer
Bank statements occasionally go to China as proof of a foreign investor's funds or creditworthiness when setting up a company or opening a capital account, or in a court case. One Florida apostille is all the U.S. side needs — $220, 5–7 business days.
- Issued by
- A Florida notary: notarizing a bank officer's signature on a letter or stamped statement, attesting a copy of your statement, or notarizing your sworn statement about it.
- Florida state fee
- $10 — included in $220
- Route
- Apostille only — Hague member since 2023
- Online notarization
- Available as an add-on
- Consulate serving Florida
- Embassy of China in Washington, D.C.
- Translation
- China generally requires a full Chinese translation sealed by a translation agency, often one registered in China, or by the employer for work-permit files.
How a Florida bank statement is used in China
Bank statements occasionally go to China as proof of a foreign investor's funds or creditworthiness when setting up a company or opening a capital account, or in a court case. Chinese banks and registries may accept a bank reference letter directly. Florida bank statements are private documents, so if an apostille is required, the bank must issue a letter signed by an officer before a notary. Ask the Chinese side which format it wants.
Getting a bank statement Florida will apostille
The statement or bank letter must carry a complete Florida notarial certificate: a bank officer's signature acknowledged in a representative capacity (or sworn), a Florida attested-copy certificate, or a jurat on your sworn statement with the statement attached. Every page must be included, and the notary must be commissioned in Florida.
Ask your branch for a reference letter signed before a Florida notary, or use the attested-copy or sworn-statement route, both of which can be done through our online notarization add-on: $40 for the first document ($10 notarization fee + $30 technology platform fee) and $20 for each additional document. Bank fees and notarization are not included in our $220.
State fee for this document: $10 — included in our price. Full details on the bank statement apostille page.
Who receives it in China — and translation
Work permits go through local foreign-expert and work-permit offices; residence permits through public security bureaus' exit-entry offices; companies through local Administrations for Market Regulation; marriages through civil affairs marriage registration offices; and inheritances through Chinese notary offices. The Embassy of China in Washington, D.C. serves Florida, but it no longer authenticates U.S. documents for mainland China.
China generally requires a full Chinese translation sealed by a translation agency, often one registered in China, or by the employer for work-permit files. A Florida translation, even certified, notarized and apostilled, may not be accepted, so ask the Chinese office first.
Work-permit rules require a criminal record certificate issued within six months, and Beijing's marriage registration rules treat a single-status document as valid for six months. Other offices set their own limits.
Consular office serving Florida: Embassy of China in Washington, D.C.
Four steps, one week
Order online
Pick the document and destination country on the order form and pay by card. After we review your documents, FedEx emails you a prepaid label.
Send it — or sign online
Drop the envelope at any FedEx location. Not signed yet? Add online notarization and there is nothing to ship.
We file in person
We review it, then walk it to the Florida Department of State in Tallahassee for the apostille.
Returned to you
Back in 5–7 business days — anywhere in the U.S., or abroad for a flat $100.
Why bank statements get rejected
- Medallion signature guarantee instead of a notarization
- Letter notarized at an out-of-state bank office
- Pages missing, or added after notarization
- Statement older than the consulate's cutoff
What it costs for China
$220 per document, $380 for two and $160 each for three or more — the state fee, request form, in-person filing in Tallahassee and FedEx shipping inside the U.S. are included. Shipping the finished apostille to China is a flat $100 per order.
Not included: whatever the issuing office charges for the certified copy or certificate, and notarization (online notarization is $40 for the first document — $10 notarization fee + $30 technology platform fee — and $20 for each additional one).