

In 2017, the Chinese government passed new laws regarding visa qualifications for foreigners requiring that all degrees, necessary certificates, and background checks had to be authenticated by the Chinese consulate for visa applications. Over the past two years, I have seen many people scrambling to get their documents verified without leaving the country and up until this point, I only had “my guy.” My guy does visas, degrees, and general paperwork through means of which we do not speak for a hefty fee. He’s good to have in a pinch, but if you have the time, going the slow way will save you a ton of money.

Getting your degree and documents authenticated is a hassle if you’re in the US and a nightmare if you’re already in China and trying to apply for a new work visa. Because I arrived the year prior, getting my first working visa here was super easy. All I had to do was send photocopies of my degrees and certificates to the school, they took them to the PSB, and I was issued an invitation letter. These days, though, it’s not so simple. I am now going through the work visa application process for a second time and instead of shelling out over a thousand dollars to get my documents authenticated in a hurry through a backchannel, I want to do it the right (and less expensive) way.



So…if you’re a foreigner already living in China and are trying to figure out how to get your degree authenticated without going back home, this guide is for you. This will walk you through China’s Ministry of Education application for the Authentication of Foreign Degrees.

Note: If you have Google Chrome and access to a VPN, Chrome will automatically translate these pages for you. However, the VPN can sometimes affect the website and it will stall out or not respond. I would suggest turning it off and on as needed if you choose to use it.

Step 1: Download Authorization Form

You first need to fill out this authorization form, sign it in ink, and scan it.

Step 2: Register for an Account

http://zwfw.cscse.edu.cn/



Click the link above to be taken to the updated system. Here you can find FAQs and logins for the new and old service.

Click on the “在线办理” icon.

Click “个人注册” to register a new account.

Enter your information as per the screenshot above. You will receive an email and a text message containing your login information.



Step 3: Degree Verification Application

Log back into the system and it will take you to a landing page as below. Click the “增添认证申请办理” button to create a new application.

Scroll to the bottom of the next page to agree to the Terms & Conditions. The following page will be populated with info you’ve already entered at registration. Confirm the information and click the blue “下一步” button at the bottom of the page

Select the first option (as per above) to verify a foreign degree.

Enter your school and degree information as per the image above. You do not need to translate anything into Chinese.

The next page asks for additional learning experience. This is in addition to the degree you want verified. It states you must list at least two and can include high school.

Step 4: Upload Supporting Documents

Now it’s time to upload copies of your documents as per the three images above. You will need:

1. A visa style photo like this.

2. The authorization form you’ve already downloaded and signed.

3. A scanned copy of your degree.

4. Scanned copies of supplementary materials such as transcripts, apostilles, etc.

5. A photo of your passport info page.

6. A photo of your Chinese visa.

After uploading the required documents, go to the next page to review your information. The following page will take you to the payment portal.

Step 5: Payment

You will see your name and order number as per the image above. Click “支付” to go to the payment page. This will take you to a UnionPay site to complete the payment.



IMPORTANT NOTE: You will need a Windows computer with ActiveX installed to use the portal.



Use your card number and bank password to complete the payment. After the transaction processes, the page will ask if the payment was completed. Click the green button to confirm.

After the payment is completed, your documents are submitted. It should take 2-3 weeks to complete the verification. I will link the results of my application here when mine is complete to let you know if there are any additional steps.

If you have any more questions about this or anything else about living in China, send me a message!