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Federal Employment Records · China

Federal Employment Records Apostille for China

Route, timeline, translation and price for using a Federal Employment Records in China — based on the official Hague Convention status table.

Quick answer

China accepts a U.S. apostille. Your Federal Employment Records needs one apostille from the U.S. Department of State — 10–12 business days with us. Certified Chinese translation required.

Route
Apostille — one step
Hague member since
7 November 2023
Issuing authority
Office of Personnel Management
Translation
Certified Chinese translation required.

Is China a Hague Convention country?

Yes. The Apostille Convention has been in force for China since 7 November 2023, and for the United States since 15 October 1981 — so a U.S. apostille is accepted in China with no embassy step.

That date matters. Before 7 November 2023, U.S. documents for China had to go through embassy legalization, and instructions written before then — including some older guides and consulate pages — are now out of date.

The route to China

A Federal Employment Records is issued by Office of Personnel Management, a federal authority, so it is authenticated by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. — never by a state office. For China, that apostille is the finish line.

People most often send documents to China for work permits, business registration, residence permits. Receiving offices set their own requirements, so confirm what yours asks for — we’ll help you read it.

About the Federal Employment Records

How to apostille federal employment records (OPM, SF-50) for foreign employment and pension verification.

You obtain this from Office of Personnel Management. We can’t request it on your behalf, but once you have it, we handle everything through to delivery in China.

A personal copy usually isn't enough. Records need a certification from the agency or records centre. If you're proving pension income rather than service history, the OPM annuity letter is the document consulates actually want.

Timeline and price

StageTimeNotes
U.S. Department of State apostille10–12 business daysHand-delivered in Washington, D.C.
Certified translationAlongsideOrdered with the authentication so nothing waits in sequence
Return shipping1–3 days in the U.S.Tracked courier; worldwide delivery available

Price: $299 per document, government fees and U.S. shipping included.

Translation for China

Certified Chinese translation required. We coordinate certified translation alongside the authentication so the document arrives ready to file.

How it works

  1. Confirm the route

    Tell us you’re sending a Federal Employment Records to China. We confirm route, price and timing before any payment.

  2. Get the document to us

    Ship it to our processing office, or to any of our U.S. offices and we route it internally.

  3. Pre-submission review

    We check it against authentication requirements to catch the problems that cause rejections.

  4. Department of State

    Hand-delivered to the Office of Authentications in Washington, D.C.

  5. Certified translation

    Arranged alongside so it arrives ready to file in China.

  6. Delivery

    Returned to you by tracked courier, or sent directly to your recipient in China.

Sources: HCCH — Apostille Convention status table (updated 30 June 2026) · U.S. Department of State — Authenticate Your Document.

Federal Employment Records for China — FAQ

Is China part of the Hague Apostille Convention?

Yes. The Convention has been in force for China since 7 November 2023, so a U.S. apostille is accepted there directly.

How long does it take to prepare a Federal Employment Records for China?

About 10–12 business days for the U.S. Department of State apostille, plus return shipping. Certified translation runs alongside.

How much does it cost to send a Federal Employment Records to China?

$299 per document, with government fees and U.S. shipping included. We confirm your exact price before any payment.

Do I need a translation for China?

Certified Chinese translation required. We can arrange certified translation with your order.

Can you obtain the Federal Employment Records for me?

No — you obtain it from Office of Personnel Management first. Once you have it, we handle the rest.

Do I have to be in the United States?

No. Most China orders are handled entirely by mail, and we can ship the finished document anywhere.

Related: Federal Employment Records — full guide · All documents for China · Apostille vs. embassy legalization · Why apostilles get rejected

Ready to start?

Order online in minutes, or call and we will walk you through it. Federal documents from anywhere in the U.S. — one flat price, all government fees included.