Document Authentication Guidelines

2023/05/10

In line with international practice and consular practice in China, the purpose of consular authentication (legalization) is to ensure that notarial deeds issued in one country can be acknowledged by relevant authorities in another country, and the deeds can have its due legal effect, which shall not be affected by doubts on the authenticity of the seal or signature on the deeds.

The Chinese Embassy is responsible for legalizing notarial deeds and other documents that have been duly authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Regional Integration of the Republic of Ghana.

I. Application Requirements

A document to be authenticated should meet the following requirements:

1. The document should have been authenticated by the Legalization Office of Ghana Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Regional Integration .

2. The document must be authentic, intact and legitimate. The Embassy will NOT authenticate a document if it contains illegal contents under Chinese laws or may cause potential threats to China's national or public interests.

3. A document containing two or more pages must be bound properly and securely, with sealing wax or paging seal/embossed seal to ensure the integrity of the document. The Embassy will NOT authenticate a document if it is found illegitimate, or in any way forged, counterfeited, fraudulent or altered.

4. Single affidavits/certificates intended to be used for marriage registration in Chinaare only valid for six months from the date of issuance. The Embassy will NOT authenticate a document if it becomes invalid.

II. Legalization Process

Step 1.The document needs tobe notarized by a local notary public.

Step 2.The document needs to be legalized by the Judicial Service of the Supreme Court.

Step 3. The document needs to be authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Regional Integration of the Republic of Ghana.

Step4. The document needs to be authenticated by the Chinese Embassy.

III. Documents To Be Submitted:

1. One duly completed and signed Authentication Application Form.

2. Submit both the original and a complete set of photocopy of the document to be authenticated.

3. For individual documents, please provide one passport/driver license /ID copy of the applicant; for corporate documents, please provide a cover letter and one passport/ driver license/ID copy of the legal representative of the company.

4. If your application is submitted by an agent, please include one copy of the agent' s passport/driver license/ID.

5. Other supporting documents，a consular officer may request.

IV. How to apply

1. You may submit your application in person or entrust someone else to do it for you.

2. No appointment is needed.

3. If necessary, applicants should come in person for an interview as required by the Chinese Embassy.

V. Processing Time

1. Regular service: 5 working days. It can be delayed due to some unforeseeable reasons.

2. Express service: documents can be collected on the same day or the 3rd working day upon submission.

3. Documents can be submitted and collected during office hours: 08:30-12:00AM,14:30-17:30PM, every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday except holidays.

VI. Fees and Payment

1. Regular service:

Civil documents: $20 per document;

Commercial documents: $40 per document.

2. Express service: an additional fee of $25 per document will be charged.

3. Same-day rush service: an additional fee of $37 per document will be charged.

4. The applicant is supposed to make due payment with the Pick-up Form (the white slip)to EcoBank of Labone Branch or Head Office Branch(opposite Children’s Park) or Silver Star Branch(in Silver Star Tower near Airport). Upon collection, please bring the receipt of bank together with the Pick-up Form (the white slip) on the pick-up day or after.

VII. Other Important Information

1. Consular officers s of the Chinese Embassy will review the documents to be authenticated. If there is any problem, such as uncompleted process, wrong document format, illegal contents, or alteration or substitution of the document, the application will be rejected.

2. Consular officers reserve the right to request additional documents from the applicant.

3. A document that has been authenticated by the Chinese Embassy shall not be willfully bound, unbound or altered. An applicant is solely responsible for all consequences and legal responsibilities arising from his or her unauthorized binding, unbinding or altering of the document.