| EXPAT LEGAL
Certified Passport Copies in Shanghai
Lawyer-certified copies of your passport, prepared in English for banks, lenders, regulators and employers abroad.
When an overseas bank, lender, regulator or employer asks for a certified copy of your passport, they need to know that a qualified professional has seen the original and stands behind the copy. At Shanghai Kaimao Law Firm, a PRC lawyer examines your original passport, certifies the copy in English and applies an English-language stamp. Our house-style certification has a near-100% acceptance rate, and where your recipient sets its own wording or form, we follow it.
Updated: 30 October 2026
Who Asks for a Certified Passport Copy?
Bank and investment accounts
International banks and investment platforms often accept a copy certified by a lawyer in your country of residence, provided it carries the lawyer's full details and the required wording.
Property in the UK and elsewhere
Conveyancers and mortgage lenders must verify the identity of buyers and sellers who live abroad. Many specify their own wording and ask for certification dated within the last few months.
Medical Council of Canada (MCC)
For credential verification and exam applications, the MCC asks for a certified copy of your passport. Lawyers who are members of an official bar association are accepted certifiers in any country; the lawyer must see and copy the original and certify it in English or French.
Teaching and employment abroad
Schools, employers and teacher registration bodies frequently ask overseas applicants for certified identity documents as part of their checks.
Business registration abroad
Company formation agents, registered agents and banks commonly ask directors and shareholders for certified passport copies when setting up a company or opening its account.
Visas and other applications
A certified copy may also be requested for a visa where a checklist or sponsor asks for one, or for pension, tax and university admission processes.
What Your Certification Includes
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Certification by a PRC lawyer, in English, with an English-language stamp
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A statement that the copy is a true copy of the original passport seen by the lawyer
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A statement that the photograph is a true likeness of you, if required
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The lawyer's signature in ink and the date, on each certified page
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The lawyer's name, licence number, firm and contact details, so the recipient can verify the certification
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Your recipient's own wording or forms, where these are sent to us by email in advance
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A PDF scan emailed to you once the certification is complete
Two Convenient Ways to Arrange It
At our Shanghai office​
Book an appointment at our office on West Yan'an Road and bring your original passport. Appointments can usually be arranged at short notice.
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By secure courier
If you are outside Shanghai, or would simply prefer not to visit, you can send your original passport to us by secure courier. We certify the copy and return your passport by tracked delivery. If your recipient requires a true-likeness statement, we will discuss how to arrange it.
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How it works
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Send your instructions: tell us who the certification is for and forward any instructions or forms you have received.
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Book or courier: choose an appointment at our Shanghai office, or send your passport to us by secure courier.
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Certification: your lawyer checks the original and certifies the copy in English, using our house wording or your recipient's.
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Delivery: we email you a PDF scan. The signed certification is returned to you, or sent by FedEx directly to the bank, lender, MCC or other requesting party.
Questions
Will a bank or lender abroad accept certification by a lawyer in China?
Many do. Barclays International and Santander International, for example, accept certification by a qualified lawyer, and HM Land Registry accepts a lawyer qualified in your country of residence where a UK conveyancer cannot verify your identity. Requirements vary, so we recommend checking your recipient's instructions and sending them to us.
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Do I need to attend in person?
Not necessarily. You are welcome to visit our Shanghai office, or you can send your passport to us by secure courier. If your recipient requires a true-likeness statement, we will discuss how to arrange it.
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Can you use the wording my bank or lender requires?
Yes. Our house wording is accepted almost universally, but if your bank, mortgage lender, the MCC or another organisation sets out its own wording or form, send it to us and we will follow it.
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How recent does the certification need to be?
This depends on the recipient. Some UK lenders ask for certification dated within the last three months, and others within six. We recommend arranging certification shortly before you submit your application.
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Can you send the certified copy directly to my bank, solicitor or the MCC?
Yes. Once the certification is complete, we email you a PDF scan and can send the original onward by FedEx directly to the requesting party.
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Can an embassy or consulate certify my passport instead?
Embassies and consulates generally offer only limited certification services, and the UK government notes that a local notary or lawyer is usually easier to use. A lawyer in Shanghai can usually provide what your recipient needs more conveniently.
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Do I need an apostille or notarisation?
Usually not. Most banks, lenders and other recipients accept a lawyer's certified copy on its own. A lawyer's certification cannot itself be apostilled, and notarisation or an apostille for a foreign passport generally cannot be arranged in China. If your recipient insists on either, ask them whether a lawyer's certified copy is acceptable, or arrange it in the country that issued your passport. For Chinese documents that need notarisation or an apostille, see our China document legalization service.
Arrange Your Certified Passport Copy
Send us your recipient's instructions, and let us know whether you would like an appointment at our Shanghai office or our secure courier service. We will confirm the details and the next available time.
Contact our team or Flora Huang directly for a quick, confidential response:
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Email: documents@kaimaolegal.com
Or contact Flora Huang directly: florahuang@kaimaolegal.com
Phone: +86-181-2115-5305
Get in Touch
Expat Legal | Shanghai Kaimao
Licensed Law Firm in the People’s Republic of China
Suite 802-805, 8/F, Cloud Nine Plaza
1118 West Yan'an Road, Changning District Shanghai 200052 China
Phone: +86-181-2115-5305
Email: documents@kaimaolegal.com