School certificate for China, issued in Saint Petersburg: apostille step by step
The chain of steps with authorities, fees and timescales. Change the fields and the route is recalculated.
School certificate for China, issued in Saint Petersburg
One apostille stamp obtained in Russia is enough. No consulate is involved.
- What the apostille goes on
- On the original
- Second apostille on the translation
- Not required
- Translation
- A Russian notarised translation is accepted
- Under the treaty
- Legalisation is not required by treaty, but is asked for in practice
- 1
Check the school certificate before you apply
The stamp is only affixed to an original of the established form and in good condition. A laminated document, a Soviet-era form or one with corrections will not be apostilled: you need a duplicate first.
Under the treaty no legalisation is required
The 1992 treaty between Russia and China on legal assistance in civil and criminal matters is in force between Russia and China: formally the document must be accepted without a stamp. In practice institutions in China ask for an apostille, and an apostille is always accepted. The route is therefore built with one; if the receiving institution confirms in writing that no stamp is needed, the apostille step can be skipped.
- 2
Have the apostille affixed to the original
The apostille on the school certificate is affixed by Комитет по науке и высшей школе Санкт-Петербурга (апостиль на документы об образовании). The state fee is paid in advance and the receipt is attached to the application.
Комитет по науке и высшей школе Санкт-Петербурга (апостиль на документы об образовании)Санкт-Петербург, Миргородская улица, д. 26–28 · metro Площадь Восстания+7 (812) 717-47-80, +7 (812) 576-26-02Book an appointment- In Saint Petersburg the apostille on educational documents is handled not by Комитет по образованию but by Комитет по науке и высшей школе (КНВШ) — a frequent confusion
- The service takes 5 working days, but it can extend to 45 days if an enquiry to the university is needed
As with a diploma, you may apply to the authorised body of any region, wherever the school is.
- 3
Have the document translated into Chinese and notarised
The translation is bound to the document and the translator's signature is certified by a Russian notary. Such a translation is accepted in China.