Egypt needs consular legalisation, not an apostille
Egypt is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention. China’s accession in 2023 therefore changed nothing for documents issued in Egypt, and the older chain still applies in full.
- Have the document notarised locally, by a notary public.
- For a degree, the Supreme Council of Universities operates a General Administration for Degree Equivalency. Reports place it in the chain before the foreign ministry, but that sequencing was not confirmed from an official source, so ask before you queue.
- Have it authenticated by the legalization office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Egypt.
- Take it to the Chinese embassy or consulate for the final legalisation. This step is what makes the document usable in mainland China.
The order is fixed, because each step certifies the one before it. They cannot be done in parallel, and a step taken out of turn generally has to be paid for again.
If a service offers you an apostille for use in China on a document issued in Egypt, that is not the certification mainland China requires. Certification fees are generally not refunded, so confirm the route before you pay.
Applicants who are not Chinese nationals file through the Chinese Visa Application Service Centre in Cairo. A centre in Alexandria reopened in 2024 covering Alexandria, Ismailia, Suez and Port Said. The working week is Sunday to Thursday.
Egypt is often assumed to be an Apostille Convention country. It is not.
What this does not cover
Certification only proves the signature and seal are genuine. It does not translate the document and it does not oblige any university to accept it. Language requirements are set separately by whoever receives the document, so confirm those first, and have any translation made after certification so the certificate is included in it.
Frequently asked questions
Do documents from Egypt need an apostille for China?
No. Egypt is not a party to the Apostille Convention, so an apostille is not the right certification. Documents issued in Egypt need full consular legalisation, ending at a Chinese embassy or consulate.