How a Florida diploma or transcript is used in China
The Foreigner's Work Permit is the big one. Work-permit rules from Beijing and Nanjing require a degree obtained abroad to be certified, or verified by China's academic credentials body, and since November 7, 2023 the Florida apostille replaces Chinese consular certification. Every non-Chinese document needs a Chinese translation sealed by a translation company or the employer. On our side, the school registrar must sign the diploma before a notary when it's issued. Ask the employer whether the highest degree alone is enough.
Translation for 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.
What your Florida diploma or transcript must look like
A school document is apostilled through a notarized copy: the registrar (or another school official) signs a statement that the copy is true, and a Florida notary notarizes that signature with a complete notarial certificate. The Department of State then apostilles the notary's signature. An original diploma, an unsigned transcript or a copy you notarize yourself cannot be apostilled. Ask the school for its apostille procedure first — most Florida universities and school districts have one — and send us the notarized copy, not the original.
Step by step: diploma or transcript apostille for China
- Order online — pick "Diploma or transcript" and "China" on the order form; $220 per document, $380 for two, $160 each for three or more.
- Send a photo — reply to the confirmation email with a picture of the document. We check the certification before anything ships, so a defect is caught before it costs you a round trip.
- Drop it at FedEx — after approval, FedEx emails you a prepaid QR code; show it at any FedEx Office or Ship Center, no printer or label needed.
- Filed in person in Tallahassee — we walk the document into the Florida Department of State and ship the apostilled original back by FedEx within 5–7 business days of receipt — to your U.S. address, or to China with international return shipping (+$100).
One Florida apostille is all the U.S. side needs for China. Whatever the office there asks for after that — a translation, a filing deadline — is covered above.