Start with the actual China filing
For an ordinary Chinese trademark application, begin with a clear copy of the applicant's identity or registration document, an accurate Chinese translation, the mark representation, the goods or services list and the appropriate signed power of attorney. We review the documents before asking you to obtain anything additional.
Foreign origin does not by itself make every document subject to notarisation, an apostille or consular legalisation. Article 5 of the Implementing Regulations refers to reciprocity for foreign authorisations and related documents. A special mark, contested proceeding, succession instrument or specific CNIPA request may call for more evidence or formalities.
Chinese translations and our portal
Foreign-language identity and registration documents must have Chinese translations for CNIPA. Our included translation service covers the full identity document, not just the applicant's name and address. The portal asks you to supply a full English translation of a document in another language and to enter the name and address in English for the bilingual power of attorney. Our team checks those details and the Chinese translation before filing. The English input is part of our preparation workflow; Chinese is the filing language.
For an individual, our portal accepts a Chinese resident identity card for a Chinese applicant, or an international passport for a foreign applicant. A Chinese natural-person filing may also require proof of the relevant business activity; an identity card alone is not a promise of eligibility.
Current documents, not invented expiry rules
The document must identify the actual applicant, and any stated validity period must be respected. An incorporation certificate records a historical event; a recent register extract can help confirm the current name and status. This does not mean every country has a CNIPA rule requiring both incorporation papers and an annual return. We request supplementary status material where needed for the file, rather than presenting our due-diligence preference as a universal statutory requirement.
If authentication is actually required
First identify the document and why authentication is requested. Only then check whether the Apostille Convention is in force between the issuing jurisdiction and China, any objections or declarations, the competent authority, and the document's eligibility. The Convention simplifies an authentication procedure; it does not create an obligation to authenticate every trademark document. A private document may need a notarial act before an apostille can attach to that public act. Where the Convention does not apply, ask about the actual consular route and any exceptions.
Do not import the trademark-office rules of Kuwait, Saudi Arabia or another country into a filing in China. Nor should a six-month or five-year authorisation expiry be inferred solely from the client's nationality. Check the text of the authorisation and the rule applicable to the actual proceeding.
The mark representation
A filed application needs a clear representation of the mark, including a word mark. For a plain word mark, you may give us the exact words and we can prepare the representation; a separate client-designed logo file is unnecessary. This is different from saying CNIPA receives no image or representation at all. A foreign-language mark may also require an explanation of its meaning; that explanation does not turn it into a separate Chinese-character registration.
Frequently asked questions
Must every foreign applicant obtain an apostille?
No. Check whether authentication is required for the specific document and proceeding before choosing a route.
Is a current annual return compulsory for every UK or Hong Kong company?
Do not assume so. Supply the registration document and any name-change documents; a recent registry record or status document may be requested to resolve the actual applicant's identity and current status.
Do I have to post the original power of attorney?
For ordinary electronic filing a compliant scan is normally used. Keep the original and follow any specific requirement for the file.
Do word marks need a logo file?
You can give us the exact wording to prepare the mark representation. A plain word mark does not need a separately designed logo, but the application still contains a representation.
Related reading
Related guidance for overseas owners
See Foreign Evidence in China Trademark Disputes: Translation, Authentication and Proof for a focused explanation based on the 2021 Guidelines, with source references and checks against later official material.