How a Florida marriage certificate is used in China
A Florida marriage certificate goes to China mostly for family-based residence: a foreign spouse of a Chinese citizen, or of a foreigner working in China, applying through the local public security bureau's exit-entry office. Since November 7, 2023, the Florida apostille replaces the old chain of state, federal and Chinese consular authentication. Chinese offices want a full Chinese translation from an accredited translation agency, including the apostille, with the agency's seal. Bring a certificate signed by the State Registrar or a County Court Clerk, certified in 2014 or later.
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 marriage certificate must look like
Two versions can be apostilled: a certified copy from the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics (signed by the State Registrar; the $10 state apostille fee applies) or a certified copy from the Clerk of Court in the county that issued the license (the $20 state fee applies). The decorative certificate from the ceremony and church certificates cannot be apostilled. Vital Statistics copies certified before 2014 must be replaced; order a new one through VitalChek or the county clerk. The state fee is included in our price either way.
Step by step: marriage certificate apostille for China
- Order online — pick "Marriage certificate" 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.