Chinese Embassy Islamabad, Chinese universities and employers
Documents for a China Visa from Pakistan
China changed the harder half of this process recently. Its accession to the Hague Apostille Convention in November 2023 means the long consular legalisation chain may no longer apply. What has not changed is that many Chinese authorities want a translation bearing a registered Chinese company's seal, which no Pakistani provider can supply.
What does Chinese Embassy Islamabad, Chinese universities and employers require?
China acceded to the Hague Apostille Convention with effect from 7 November 2023, so an apostille may replace consular legalisation for Pakistani documents. Many Chinese authorities separately require a translation bearing a registered Chinese translation company's seal, which no Pakistani translator can provide. Confirm both points before ordering.
Can we help with this one?
Sometimes — depends on your checklist
Where a certified translation with a statement of accuracy is accepted, we can provide it through a vetted collaborator. Where a registered Chinese translation company's seal or notarisation in China is required, that work has to be done there and we will say so.
The sequence
- Confirm whether an apostille now applies to your document rather than consular legalisation
- Assemble originals - degree, transcripts, police character certificate, physical examination form, passport
- HEC for university documents or IBCC for matric and intermediate
- Obtain a MOFA apostille where that route is available for your document type
- Ask the university or employer whether a Chinese company seal or notarisation in China is required
- Translate into Simplified Chinese where the receiving party accepts an overseas translation
What changed, and what did not
Changed: China acceded to the Hague Apostille Convention with effect from 7 November 2023. For documents moving between member states, an apostille can replace the long consular legalisation chain — and since Pakistan is also a party, that route may now be available for Pakistani documents heading to China.
That is a meaningful shortening of what used to be the hardest part of a China file.
Did not change: many mainland Chinese authorities and universities require a translation bearing the official seal of a translation company registered in China.
That status belongs to companies registered there. No Pakistani translator can provide it, ourselves included. Where your checklist names it, the translation has to be done in China, and we will say so rather than take the order.
Confirm both points before ordering anything — the apostille route with the Chinese Embassy and mofa.gov.pk, and the seal requirement with your university or employer.
Two questions decide this job
One: Simplified or Traditional? Mainland China uses Simplified, which covers study visas, work permits and business submissions. Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan use Traditional. They are not interchangeable and a mainland authority will not accept Traditional. We deliver Simplified by default.
Two: does your submission need a Chinese company seal? If yes, the work happens in China. If a certified translation with a statement of accuracy is accepted, we can help — through a vetted collaborator rather than in house.
Ask the university or embassy for the exact wording and forward it to us.
Notarisation is a third requirement
Chinese submissions commonly ask for notarised translations — and sometimes for notarisation performed in China, not in Pakistan.
That is separate from certification and separate from the company seal. If your checklist names a Chinese notary, that step happens there. Read the wording literally rather than assuming a Pakistani notary satisfies it. See notarized translation assistance for what we can coordinate here.
What a study visa file contains
- Degree or FSc certificate, and full transcripts
- Police character certificate
- Physical examination form — produced in the required format already, generally needs no translation
- Passport
- Admission notice and JW201 or JW202 form from the university, which they issue in the required form
Note how much of that is university-issued in the correct format already. The documents needing work are usually your Pakistani educational and police records.
Does an English degree need translating?
Often yes for China, since the submission language is Chinese — which differs from a UK or Canadian file where an English degree needs nothing at all.
But ask the university first. Some programmes taught in English accept English documents. Do not assume either way, and do not pay before you know.
Sequence
- Confirm the apostille route applies to your document
- Assemble originals
- HEC or IBCC for educational documents
- MOFA apostille where available, instead of consular legalisation
- Ask about the Chinese company seal and notarisation
- Translation into Simplified Chinese, where an overseas translation is accepted
What we do and do not do
Do: certified English to Chinese translation into Simplified characters, through a vetted collaborator, where the receiving party accepts an overseas translation.
Do not: provide a registered Chinese translation company’s seal, arrange notarisation in China, obtain apostilles, or promise a visa outcome.
Related
English to Chinese translation covers the pair in detail. Apostille in Pakistan covers the authentication route, which for China has recently become the simpler part. What “certified translation” means to different authorities covers approved-panel requirements, which is the same class of problem as the company seal.
Official sources
Requirements and fees change, and this page does not publish either. Verify directly:
Frequently Asked Questions
Does China accept an apostille now?
China acceded to the Hague Apostille Convention with effect from 7 November 2023, which means an apostille may replace the longer consular legalisation chain for documents moving between member states. Since Pakistan is also a party, that route may be available. Confirm with the Chinese Embassy and on mofa.gov.pk before choosing, because scope by document type is what decides it in practice.
What is the registered translation company seal requirement?
Many mainland Chinese authorities and universities require a translation bearing the official seal of a translation company registered in China. That status belongs to companies registered there, so no Pakistani translator can provide it, ourselves included. Where your checklist names it, the translation has to be done in China and we will tell you rather than take the order.
Which characters do Chinese authorities want, Simplified or Traditional?
Mainland China uses Simplified, which covers study visas, work permits and business submissions, and that is what we deliver by default. Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan use Traditional. They are not interchangeable and a mainland authority will not accept Traditional. Confirm the destination before ordering.
Do I need notarisation in China as well?
Chinese submissions commonly ask for notarised translations, and sometimes for notarisation performed in China rather than in Pakistan. That is a third requirement, separate from certification and from the company seal. If your checklist names a Chinese notary, that step happens there. Read the wording literally.
What does a study visa file contain?
Typically the degree or FSc certificate, full transcripts, a police character certificate, the physical examination form, passport, admission notice and JW201 or JW202 form from the university. The examination form and university-issued documents are produced in the required format already and generally need no translation.
My degree is in English. Does China need it in Chinese?
Often yes, since the submission language is Chinese, which differs from a UK or Canadian file where an English degree needs nothing. But ask the university first, because some programmes taught in English accept English documents. Do not assume either way.
Send the checklist before you send the documents
Forward the exact wording your consulate or employer gave you. We will tell you what it calls for, and whether we can meet it, before you pay for anything.