Authentication Services

1st Level Authentication

2nd Level Authentication

The document shall be notarized by a local qualified notary public, ministry authorized lawyer or Commissioner of Oaths of Canada.

2nd Level Authentication

The document, notarized where the Chinese Consulate General holds consular jurisdiction is to be authenticated by the authentication office of the relevant province (territory).

3rd Level Authentication

2nd Level Authentication

3rd Level Authentication

The document is to be authenticated by the Chinese Embassy or Consulate General in accordance with the location where it is notarized (territory).

Apostille vs. Authentication

An “apostille” is the term used to describe the process of having a document certified so it will be accepted in a foreign jurisdiction. After a document has been apostilled, it will be recognized in every country that has signed the Hague Apostille Convention. However, Canada is not a signatory to the Hague Apostille Convention, and therefore it is not possible to obtain a Canadian apostille.

In BC, the Canadian equivalent to the international apostille process is called document authentication and legalization. If you have been told that you need to obtain a Canadian apostille, what you will actually be doing is authenticating and legalizing your document.

We specialize in navigating the Canadian apostille process (document authentication and legalization) with speed and accuracy, working both for corporate clients and individuals with documents that require an apostille.

Authentication Services

Kingsway is specialized in assisting you to obtain authentication from the Chinese Consulate and Embassy easily and quickly

In order to facilitate document exchanges across countries in international diplomatic and consular affairs, consular authentication (also known as, Three-level Authentication*) has gradually become an international practice. With increasing international interactions, a great number of documents of various types are exchanged between countries, but each country has different requirements and formats for notarization and business certification.

The consular authentication (Three-level Authentication*) system is based on a chain process ending with one country's diplomatic or consular mission abroad certifying the last seal and signature on the documents, so as to ensure the documents can be accepted by relevant departments and institutions in the country and the use of the documents will not be affected by doubts on the authenticity of the documents. In this way, foreign-related documents can be smoothly circulated and used in different countries.

One-Stop-Shop Services

Three-level Authentication means a consular authentication process completed by three levels of procedures. The first level is notarization by a BC Lawyer or Notary Public, the second level is authentication by the Ministry of Attorney General, and the third level is the final authentication by the Chinese Consulate General (3-Level Authentication). If you have a Chinese Power of Attorney*, declarations, or other documents that need to be used in China, you need to have those documents authenticated by the three levels before the documents can be recognized by the Chinese authorities.

We can coordinate and provide one-stop service so that you do not have to running around at different places for the three-level authentication (i.e. One-Stop-Shop Services).

*A Chinese Power of Attorney (POA) is an official document giving one person (the agent or attorney-in-fact) the power to act for another person (the principal).

Sample of Chinese POA: Power of Attorney

Download the Chinese Embassy Application Form:

Legalization of the Consulate of the PRC CHINA

Application Forms - download