★★★★★
Academic records accepted by Beijing university
“My academic records were accepted without any issues by a Beijing university. Very pleased with the translation.”
Chinese to English
Mandarin Chinese to English Certified Translation
Certified Chinese translation in Simplified or Traditional characters, accepted by USCIS, UKVI, IRCC, and ECFMG.
✓ $22.99/page
✓ 24hr Delivery
✓ 100% Guarantee
✓ ZH → EN Specialists
Translate My Chinese Documents
Pro Translation ServiceCertified Translation Sample
ZH → EN
Hukou Extract
Certified Translator
Signed Certificate of Accuracy
Date issued
24hr
Standard Delivery
$22.99
Per Page Flat Rate
100%
Acceptance Guarantee
2
Chinese Writing Systems
TL;DR
Chinese has two different writing systems in active use today, Simplified characters used in mainland China and Singapore, and Traditional characters used in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau. Getting this right matters for both the translation and for how your original document gets authenticated.
- Tell us at order time whether your document is Simplified or Traditional, or we'll confirm from the scan
- Mainland Chinese documents, including Hong Kong and Macau, use a standard Hague apostille since November 2023
- Taiwan is not part of the Hague Apostille Convention, Taiwanese documents go through a separate TECRO legalization process instead
Why Chinese Translation Is Different
Chinese isn't one writing system, it's two. Most languages on this hub have one modern writing system. Chinese has two, and they're not interchangeable. US Census Bureau data confirms Chinese as one of the most commonly spoken non-English languages in the country.
The two character sets aren't just stylistic variants of each other. Many characters look genuinely different between them, and a translator working from the wrong assumption can misread a document. We ask at order time which one your document uses, or confirm it from the scan if you're not sure.
Chinese naming convention is also worth knowing before you order. Names are traditionally written surname first, given name second, the reverse of the Western convention. That's a common source of name-matching questions from USCIS and other authorities when a name gets reordered inconsistently across different documents. We keep the name order and formatting consistent with how the receiving authority expects to see it, which helps avoid those questions before they come up.
Why Choose Us for Chinese Document Translation
Every Chinese translation comes with these guarantees, on every order, every time.
Human Translators Only
No machine or AI translation, ever. Every document is handled by a linguist confirmed to read your document's specific character set.
Signed Certificate of Accuracy
Included on every order, signed and ready to submit, noting whether your document used Simplified or Traditional characters.
24 Hour Standard Delivery
12 hour rush available for $7 more per page, whether your document is Simplified or Traditional.
100% Acceptance Guarantee
Accepted at USCIS, UKVI, IRCC, and ECFMG, whether your document is Simplified or Traditional.
Encrypted Upload
Your documents stay confidential, from a Hukou extract to an academic diploma.
Free Revisions
If your translation is ever rejected for a translation-related reason, including a character-set mismatch.
How Chinese Character Sets Vary by Region
Simplified characters were introduced in mainland China in the 1950s and are now standard there and in Singapore. Traditional characters, the older form, remain standard in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau, unchanged from before that reform.
Where your document comes from is usually the fastest way to know which set it uses. A birth certificate issued in Beijing or Shanghai is Simplified. One issued in Taipei, Hong Kong, or Macau is Traditional. Our translators also reference the Library of Congress's standard Chinese romanization table for consistent name rendering, regardless of which character set the original document uses.
Common Chinese Documents We Translate
| Document type | Notes |
|---|---|
| Hukou (household register) extracts | Covers an entire household, not just one person |
| Academic diplomas and transcripts | Common for WES or ECE credential evaluation |
| Marriage and birth certificates | Standard civil records, format differs between mainland and Taiwan-issued documents |
The Hukou extract is one of the more distinctive documents we translate regularly, since it lists an entire family's registered information rather than a single event, similar in structure to Japan's koseki system.
How Chinese Translation Works
Pro Translation Service uses the same four-step process for every Chinese document, from upload to certified PDF delivery within 24 hours.
Upload
Send your Chinese document, whether a Hukou extract, diploma, or civil record.
Character-set matched translator
We confirm whether your document is Simplified or Traditional, then assign a translator experienced with that specific character set.
Accuracy review
Name order and terminology are checked, then the Certificate of Accuracy is prepared and signed.
Delivered
Your certified PDF lands in your inbox within 24 hours, ready to submit to USCIS, UKVI, IRCC, or ECFMG.
Chinese Script and Naming Conventions
Chinese characters are logographic, meaning each character represents a word or meaningful part of a word rather than a sound.
- Simplified characters, used in mainland China and Singapore, have fewer strokes than their Traditional counterparts
- Traditional characters, used in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau, preserve the older, more complex forms
- Chinese is written left to right in modern documents, though older or ceremonial documents sometimes appear in vertical columns
- Names are traditionally surname first, we keep that order consistent throughout your translation
Chinese Document Authentication & Apostille Process
Where your document was issued changes how the original gets authenticated, separate from the translation itself. Mainland China, including Hong Kong and Macau, has used a standard Hague apostille process since November 2023.
| Origin | Status |
|---|---|
| Mainland China, including Hong Kong and Macau | Hague Apostille member since November 2023 |
| Taiwan | Not a Hague member, requires TECRO or TECO legalization instead |
Taiwan is not part of the Hague Apostille Convention, so Taiwanese documents instead go through legalization via TECRO or TECO, Taiwan's representative offices abroad.
What Our Chinese Translation Clients Say
Chinese Translation Pricing
One flat rate covers your Chinese document in full, Simplified or Traditional.
Chinese Translation
$22.99/page
Matched to a translator experienced with your document's specific character set, Simplified or Traditional
- Signed Certificate of Accuracy included on every order
- 24 hour standard delivery
- Accepted at USCIS, UKVI, IRCC, and ECFMG
- Correct character set confirmed, Simplified or Traditional, before translation begins
- Human translator only, no machine or AI translation
Optional add-ons
12 hour rush deliveryPriority handling for tight deadlines
+$7.00per pageExtra proofreading passA second linguist checks every name and term
+$10per orderNotarizationFor the rare office that specifically requests it
+$10per orderNo hidden fees. Free revisions until your Chinese translation is accepted.
100% Acceptance Guarantee
If your USCIS, UKVI, IRCC, or ECFMG application is delayed or rejected because of our Chinese translation, we revise it at no cost until your document is accepted, or refund your order in full within 14 days. No fine print. No time limits on revisions. Every Chinese translation comes with a signed Certificate of Accuracy that meets the receiving authority's published standards, whether your document uses Simplified or Traditional characters.
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Chinese vs. Vietnamese: Two Unrelated Languages
Vietnam used a Chinese-derived script until the early 20th century, which sometimes leads people to assume Vietnamese and Chinese are related today. They're not. Modern Vietnamese uses a Latin-based alphabet and is unrelated to Chinese for translation purposes. See our Vietnamese page if that's what you need.
Chinese Translation: Frequently Asked Questions
Explore More Language & Document Pages
Have another document type or language to translate? These pages go deeper.
Academic Translation
Diplomas, transcripts, and other academic credentials
USCIS Translation
A closer look at how USCIS handles translated documents
Countries We Cover
Apostille and authentication rules by country of origin
Languages We Translate
See all 20+ source languages we cover, from Arabic to Vietnamese
Ready to Translate Your Chinese Document?
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