How to apply for a birth certificate in China.

Birth certificate notarization refers to the activity in which a notary office with the authority to handle foreign-related notarization affairs provides proof of the legal fact of a person's birth based on the applicant's request, in accordance with the law. Most notary offices at the city and county levels in China have this qualification. In immigration applications, notarized birth certificates are among the essential documents, necessary for individuals intending to go abroad. This article will introduce how to obtain a birth certificate in China.

Because the national "Birth Medical Certificate" was not widely implemented nationwide until January 1, 1996, the application for notarized birth certificates varies depending on whether the birth occurred before or after 1996.

• For applicants born before 1996, the required application materials include: 
• Applicant's identification documents such as ID card, household registration booklet (hukou), passport, or residence permit in the country of residence. 
• Copies of the applicant's parents' ID cards, household registration booklets (hukou), and marriage certificate. 
• Birth certificate materials of the applicant, such as the birth certificate issued by the household registration department or the "Certificate of the Only Child."
• 3-4 recent 2-inch, front-facing, passport-style photos.

If the applicant does not have a birth certificate, "Certificate of the Only Child," and is relocating from another place without household registration information, the birth certificate can be substituted with the following:

• A certification from the village committee or neighborhood committee of the original household registration location, stamped and confirmed by the local police station.
• Retrieval of the original household registration files. 
• Personnel files of the applicant and their parents.

For applicants born after 1996, the required application materials include:

• Original ID card of the applicant; for those with a household registration booklet (hukou) or collective household registration, provide the original page of the "Residence Registration Card" along with a photocopy of the front page stamped by the household registration unit.
• "Birth Medical Certificate" of the applicant.
• ID card, household registration booklets (hukou), and marriage certificate of the applicant's parents.
• If not applying in person, provide an authorization letter, as well as the ID card of the agent.
• If the evidence materials provided are not sufficient to prove the notarization matters being applied for, additional proof materials should be supplemented according to the requirements of the notary officer.

Application Process

The applicant needs to bring all required documents to the local notary office, apply for the notarization of the birth certificate, and pay the relevant fees (please make sure to bring all mentioned documents, missing documents may result in extended processing time). The notary office will verify the materials provided by you. Once confirmed, the certification process will commence (which takes about 7 days for completion). After the certification is done, the notary officer will notify you separately to come to the office to verify the original.