Hong Kong–Mainland Notarisation: Roles and Fees

Direct answer: Identify origin, destination and purpose before allocating work among a China-appointed attesting officer, Mainland notary, lawyer, translator and recipient. Hong Kong attesting officers have no uniform government fee table.

Call a Lawyer Message on WhatsApp Online / WeChat

WeChat ID: yuanjia12287. When the page finishes loading, you can also use the WeChat button, phone, or WhatsApp.

Legal information notice

This article provides general legal information only. It is not legal advice for a specific matter and does not guarantee filing, preservation, settlement, judgment, enforcement or any other result. Qualified counsel in the relevant jurisdiction must assess the complete facts, documents, current rules and receiving authority requirements.

  • Do not substitute this page for matter-specific verification
  • No firm quote, duration, success rate or recovery rate is invented
  • Statutory deadlines and strategic suggestions must be identified separately

Direct answer: Fix origin, destination and document purpose

This is general legal information, not a quote or matter-specific advice. Notarisation, legal review, translation, transmission and court service are different services. Route every document by origin, destination and purpose. (Sources: Hong Kong Department of Justice official explanation of China-appointed attesting officers (Official text: https://www.doj.gov.hk/tc/our_legal_system/other_useful_info.html); China-appointed Attesting Officers Association procedures and FAQ (review, transmission and fee explanation) (Official text: https://www.caao.org.hk/zh-CN/problems?cate=116); PRC Notary Law, Articles 11, 25, 27, 28, 30 and 32 (Official text: https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=2c909fdd678bf17901678bf8688a0a5f))

  • Fix origin, destination and document purpose
  • No uniform Hong Kong attesting-officer government fee
  • Do not transplant Mainland prices to Hong Kong

1. China-appointed attesting officers handle Hong Kong matters for Mainland use

The Hong Kong DOJ describes qualified Hong Kong solicitors commissioned by the Ministry of Justice to attest acts, facts and documents occurring or originating in Hong Kong for Mainland use. Recipient requirements still govern. (Sources: Hong Kong Department of Justice official explanation of China-appointed attesting officers (Official text: https://www.doj.gov.hk/tc/our_legal_system/other_useful_info.html); China-appointed Attesting Officers Association procedures and FAQ (review, transmission and fee explanation) (Official text: https://www.caao.org.hk/zh-CN/problems?cate=116))

  • Hong Kong origin
  • Mainland use
  • Ask recipient first

2. Mainland notaries accept statutory matters by locality

Mainland notaries handle contracts, succession, mandates, declarations and identity relations. Article 25 allocates applications by residence, act or fact location, with immovable-property matters generally at property location. (Sources: PRC Notary Law, Articles 11, 25, 27, 28, 30 and 32 (Official text: https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=2c909fdd678bf17901678bf8688a0a5f))

  • Define matter
  • Apply Article 25
  • Locate immovable property

3. Lawyers analyse law and conduct procedure

Counsel reviews transactions, succession or litigation and drafts or represents. Notaries prove statutory propositions. Lawyer witnessing, notarisation and judgment have different effects. (Sources: PRC Lawyers Law, Articles 2, 25, 28 and 38 (Official text: https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=2c909fdd678bf17901678bf867e80a55); PRC Notary Law, Articles 11, 25, 27, 28, 30 and 32 (Official text: https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=2c909fdd678bf17901678bf8688a0a5f))

  • Advice versus proof
  • Witnessing is not statutory notarisation
  • Separate procedural authority

4. Hong Kong fees depend on provider, documents and complexity

The Association FAQ says there is no uniform fee standard and charges are discussed with the officer. Itemise drafting, verification, searches, translation, transmission, courier and urgency. (Sources: China-appointed Attesting Officers Association procedures and FAQ (review, transmission and fee explanation) (Official text: https://www.caao.org.hk/zh-CN/problems?cate=116))

  • Professional fee
  • Search, translation and copies
  • Transmission, courier and urgency

5. Shenzhen figures apply only to listed Mainland items

The Guangdong table used by Shenzhen lists RMB430 for specified natural-person mandate, declaration or guarantee items, RMB120 for specified legal facts, RMB80 for specified conformity matters, generally two copies and RMB20 per extra copy. These are maximum listed standards, can move downward, and unlisted matters are market-regulated. (Sources: Shenzhen DRC and Justice Bureau notice implementing Yue Fa Gai Jia Ge Han [2021] No. 2508 for notarial service fees (Official text: https://www.sz.gov.cn/szzt2010/wgkzl/jcgk/jchgk/content/post_9513981.html))

  • Match RMB430 item
  • Do not mix RMB120 and RMB80
  • Confirm copies and unlisted work

6. Courts, registries and service have separate rules

Litigation, property registry, company filing and service may require different versions. The 2026 Mainland-Hong Kong service arrangement has been signed but remains marked not in force on the DOJ status page. (Sources: SPC Provisions on Evidence in Civil Proceedings, Articles 14, 16, 17 and 19 (electronic data, overseas-formed evidence and foreign-language materials) (Official text: https://www.court.gov.cn/zixun/xiangqing/212721.html); Hong Kong Department of Justice status page for Mainland arrangements (the 2026 new service arrangement is not yet in force) (Official text: https://www.doj.gov.hk/sc/mainland_and_macao/arrangements_with_the_mainland.html))

  • Ask each recipient
  • Preserve originals and translations
  • New service arrangement not in force

The verification pack to send counsel

Send a one-page chronology, party details, a core-document index, an amount or asset schedule, and the three questions you need answered. Add the remaining material after counsel identifies the decisive gaps.

  • Origin and issuer
  • Exact Mainland recipient and purpose
  • Copies, language and deadline
  • Professional, search, translation and transmission items

How this guide differs from related articles

This guide explains role and fee structure. The Hong Kong–Mainland notarisation-lawyer guide explains document routes and transmission mechanics.

  • Use this page only for the first routing decision
  • Recheck the forum, authority, current version and deadline before action
  • Confirm scope, fee items and exclusions in writing before engagement

Legal information notice

This article provides general legal information only. It is not legal advice for a specific matter and does not guarantee filing, preservation, settlement, judgment, enforcement or any other result. Qualified counsel in the relevant jurisdiction must assess the complete facts, documents, current rules and receiving authority requirements.

  • Do not substitute this page for matter-specific verification
  • No firm quote, duration, success rate or recovery rate is invented
  • Statutory deadlines and strategic suggestions must be identified separately

Frequently asked questions

Does every Hong Kong document need an attesting officer?

No universal rule; ask the recipient and define origin, use and proposition. (Sources: Hong Kong Department of Justice official explanation of China-appointed attesting officers (Official text: https://www.doj.gov.hk/tc/our_legal_system/other_useful_info.html))

Who is a China-appointed attesting officer?

A qualified Hong Kong solicitor commissioned by the PRC Ministry of Justice. (Sources: Hong Kong Department of Justice official explanation of China-appointed attesting officers (Official text: https://www.doj.gov.hk/tc/our_legal_system/other_useful_info.html))

Is there a uniform government fee?

No. The Association says fees are discussed with the officer. (Sources: China-appointed Attesting Officers Association procedures and FAQ (review, transmission and fee explanation) (Official text: https://www.caao.org.hk/zh-CN/problems?cate=116))

Can Shenzhen notary prices be used in Hong Kong?

No. The service provider and legal basis differ. (Sources: Shenzhen DRC and Justice Bureau notice implementing Yue Fa Gai Jia Ge Han [2021] No. 2508 for notarial service fees (Official text: https://www.sz.gov.cn/szzt2010/wgkzl/jcgk/jchgk/content/post_9513981.html); China-appointed Attesting Officers Association procedures and FAQ (review, transmission and fee explanation) (Official text: https://www.caao.org.hk/zh-CN/problems?cate=116))

Is every mandate RMB430?

No. RMB430 applies only to listed natural-person items and is a maximum that may be reduced. (Sources: Shenzhen DRC and Justice Bureau notice implementing Yue Fa Gai Jia Ge Han [2021] No. 2508 for notarial service fees (Official text: https://www.sz.gov.cn/szzt2010/wgkzl/jcgk/jchgk/content/post_9513981.html))

What is the listed legal-fact amount?

RMB120 for specified identity and other listed facts, subject to item matching. (Sources: Shenzhen DRC and Justice Bureau notice implementing Yue Fa Gai Jia Ge Han [2021] No. 2508 for notarial service fees (Official text: https://www.sz.gov.cn/szzt2010/wgkzl/jcgk/jchgk/content/post_9513981.html))

What is the listed conformity amount?

RMB80 for specified certificate, signature or translation conformity matters. (Sources: Shenzhen DRC and Justice Bureau notice implementing Yue Fa Gai Jia Ge Han [2021] No. 2508 for notarial service fees (Official text: https://www.sz.gov.cn/szzt2010/wgkzl/jcgk/jchgk/content/post_9513981.html))

How are extra copies treated?

The table generally includes two copies and lists RMB20 per extra copy. (Sources: Shenzhen DRC and Justice Bureau notice implementing Yue Fa Gai Jia Ge Han [2021] No. 2508 for notarial service fees (Official text: https://www.sz.gov.cn/szzt2010/wgkzl/jcgk/jchgk/content/post_9513981.html))

Are unlisted matters free?

No. Unlisted work is market-regulated. (Sources: Shenzhen DRC and Justice Bureau notice implementing Yue Fa Gai Jia Ge Han [2021] No. 2508 for notarial service fees (Official text: https://www.sz.gov.cn/szzt2010/wgkzl/jcgk/jchgk/content/post_9513981.html))

Is lawyer witnessing notarisation?

No. Their actors, functions and uses differ. (Sources: PRC Lawyers Law, Articles 2, 25, 28 and 38 (Official text: https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=2c909fdd678bf17901678bf867e80a55); PRC Notary Law, Articles 11, 25, 27, 28, 30 and 32 (Official text: https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=2c909fdd678bf17901678bf8688a0a5f))

Can a notarial instrument replace judgment?

No. It proves a proposition and does not adjudicate a dispute. (Sources: PRC Notary Law, Articles 11, 25, 27, 28, 30 and 32 (Official text: https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=2c909fdd678bf17901678bf8688a0a5f))

Does notarisation complete court service?

No. Service follows separate current procedure. (Sources: Hong Kong Department of Justice status page for Mainland arrangements (the 2026 new service arrangement is not yet in force) (Official text: https://www.doj.gov.hk/sc/mainland_and_macao/arrangements_with_the_mainland.html))

Is the 2026 new service arrangement effective?

Not as of this verification; the DOJ page marks it not in force. (Sources: Hong Kong Department of Justice status page for Mainland arrangements (the 2026 new service arrangement is not yet in force) (Official text: https://www.doj.gov.hk/sc/mainland_and_macao/arrangements_with_the_mainland.html))

Which quote items should be separated?

Professional, drafting, searches, translation, copies, transmission, courier and urgency.