Official Remote Process (Solicitor Verification + UK Apostille)
If you need to use a UK degree certificate or academic transcript in China, you can complete the entire process remotely, even if you have already left the UK permanently.
Since China joined the Hague Apostille Convention, the legalisation route has changed. As a result, Chinese embassy or consulate legalisation is no longer required for UK documents.
However, Chinese employers, universities, and authorities still require authenticity-verified UK academic documents. Therefore, the process must follow the correct order: verification first, certification next, and apostille last.
This guide explains the correct, China-accepted process, step by step.
Who This Process Is For
This route works best if you:
- Have already left the UK permanently
- Live in China or another country
- Need UK academic documents for:
- employment in China
- work permit or residence permit applications
- university admission
- professional or regulatory registration
- Cannot attend a UK solicitor or university in person
As a result, all steps are completed remotely by a UK solicitor.
What Documents Are Usually Required in China?
In most cases, Chinese authorities request one or both of the following:
- UK Degree Certificate
- UK Academic Transcript
Some organisations require both documents, while others request the degree certificate only.
Therefore, you should confirm the exact requirement before starting.
Why China Requires Authenticity-Verified Certification
For use in China, UK academic documents usually require verification of authenticity, not just a copied certificate.
In practice, this means:
- The degree must be confirmed as genuine
- Verification must happen before certification
- The graduate must give consent
Because of this, a simple certified copy is often not sufficient.
This requirement commonly applies to:
- Employment and HR compliance
- Work permit and residence permit applications
- University admissions
- Professional or regulatory registration
Degree Verification Completed Remotely by a UK Solicitor
A UK solicitor coordinates and completes degree verification on your behalf. You do not need to contact the university yourself or attend in person.
There are two accepted verification routes.
HEDD Online Verification
First, if the awarding university supports HEDD (Higher Education Degree Datacheck):
- The solicitor submits the request online
- Verification completes digitally
- No physical attendance is required
This is the most common and efficient route.
University-Direct Verification
However, if HEDD is not available:
- The solicitor contacts the university registry directly
- The university confirms the award
- The process remains fully remote
In both cases, the solicitor selects the correct route and manages the process from start to finish.
Universities That Often Require University-Direct Verification
Some UK universities do not support HEDD online verification. Therefore, they require direct confirmation from the university.
Common examples include:
- University of Cambridge
- London Business School
- Royal Academy of Music
- City St George’s, University of London
- Glasgow Caledonian University
- University of Northampton
- University of South Wales
- Glasgow School of Art
- University of Wales
By contrast, universities such as Oxford, UCL, LSE, Imperial, King’s College London, and Manchester usually support HEDD verification.
UK Solicitor Certification After Verification
Once verification finishes, the UK solicitor certifies the degree certificate and/or transcript.
Specifically, the certification confirms that:
- the copy matches the original document, and
- the degree has been verified as authentic
Importantly, this step also happens entirely remotely.
UK Apostille for Use in China
After certification, the solicitor submits the documents for a UK apostille issued by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).
The apostille confirms:
- the solicitor’s authority, and
- the validity of the certification
Because China is a Hague Convention country, no Chinese embassy or consulate legalisation is required. As a result, apostilled documents can be used directly in mainland China.
Correct Remote Process (China-Accepted Order)
To avoid rejection, the steps must follow this order:
- Confirm Chinese authority requirements
- Prepare the degree certificate and/or transcript
- Complete degree verification remotely
- Certify the documents through a UK solicitor
- Apply for the UK FCDO apostille
- Arrange international courier delivery
Correct sequencing is essential.
Common Reasons Documents Are Rejected in China
Most rejections occur because of process errors. For example:
- Degree verification was skipped
- The wrong verification route was used
- Certification happened before verification
- The apostille was applied too early
Therefore, following the correct order is critical.
How Ginkgo Advisory Helps
Ginkgo Advisory coordinates remote UK degree certificate and transcript certification for use in China, working with UK solicitors who manage verification directly.
Support includes:
- Confirming Chinese recipient requirements
- Identifying the correct verification route
- Coordinating degree verification remotely
- Arranging solicitor certification
- Managing the UK FCDO apostille
- Handling secure international courier delivery
Ginkgo Advisory does not issue academic documents. All verification is completed through HEDD or the awarding university, coordinated by a UK solicitor.
Summary
If you have already left the UK, you do not need to return.
In most cases, the correct process is:
Remote degree verification → solicitor certification → UK FCDO apostille
When handled in the correct order, UK academic documents are accepted in China without embassy legalisation or travel back to the UK.
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