Schmidt & Schmidt provides company information, commercial register extracts and corporate verification services for companies registered in mainland China. We help clients identify Chinese companies, check available registration data and obtain suitable company documents for business, legal and compliance purposes, including certified translation and apostille in China where required.
In mainland China, company information is not issued in the same way as a traditional European commercial register extract. Basic data may be available through public company information systems, while more detailed registration materials may depend on the local market supervision authority and the applicant’s right to access the file.
In this guide
What is a commercial register extract in China?
A commercial register extract from China is a company profile based on official and publicly available registration information about a company registered in mainland China. It is used to confirm that a Chinese company exists, check its current legal status and review key registration details before entering into business, legal or compliance-related transactions. In practice, such a company profile may be prepared as a company credit report, commonly referred to in Chinese as 信用报告.
The main public source for such information is the National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System (国家企业信用信息公示系统). A Chinese company extract may include the company name, unified social credit code, registration status, registered address, legal representative, registered capital, business scope, registration authority and other available public records.
Although the term “commercial register extract” is commonly used for international clients, China does not issue this document in exactly the same way as many European commercial registers. In practice, the extract is prepared on the basis of available Chinese registration data and may be supplemented, where necessary, by business licence information, archive materials or other corporate records.
Commercial register extract from China
A commercial register extract from China is prepared as a company profile based on available registration and public information about a mainland Chinese company. In practice, this type of document may also be referred to as a company credit report, or 信用报告 in Chinese.
A Chinese company extract may contain the following information where available:
- Company name
- Unified social credit code
- Date of registration
- Company type
- Current registration status
- Registered address
- Legal representative
- Registered capital
- Business scope
- Registration authority
- Shareholders or sponsors
- Management information
- Annual report information
- Public risk indicators
When may a Chinese company extract be required?
A commercial register extract from China may be required whenever a foreign party needs to confirm the legal existence, current status or registration details of a mainland Chinese company.
Supplier and partner verification
Before signing a contract, making an advance payment, appointing a supplier, entering a distribution agreement or starting cooperation with a Chinese business partner, an extract helps confirm that the company exists and that its basic registration details match the information provided by the counterparty.
Due diligence and compliance
A Chinese company extract may be used for KYC checks, internal compliance files, anti-fraud screening, sanctions screening, supplier onboarding or corporate risk assessment before starting or continuing cooperation with a mainland Chinese company.
Legal proceedings and claims
For court proceedings, arbitration, debt recovery, enforcement actions or pre-litigation checks, a company extract helps identify the correct legal entity, verify its registration status and confirm key details before filing a claim.
Banking and financial procedures
Banks and financial institutions may request proof of company registration when opening accounts, verifying counterparties, checking payment details, preparing investment files or carrying out internal compliance procedures.
Cross-border transactions
In international trade, procurement procedures, corporate transactions or foreign investment checks, a commercial register extract from China may help verify that the Chinese company is properly registered and active.
Submission to foreign institutions
Foreign notaries, banks, public authorities, tax authorities, procurement offices, business partners or other institutions may request proof that a Chinese company is duly registered and that its corporate information can be verified.
How to read a Chinese company extract
A company extract from China should not be read only as a list of registration fields. Several items are especially important when verifying a Chinese company, because they help identify the correct legal entity and assess whether the information provided by the counterparty matches the official record.
| Field in the extract | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Company name | The official Chinese company name is the main reference point. English names are often informal and may not be registered. |
| Unified social credit code | This is the most reliable identifier for a mainland Chinese company and helps avoid confusion between companies with similar names. |
| Registration status | This shows whether the company is active, cancelled, revoked, listed as abnormal or otherwise marked in the public record. |
| Legal representative | This is the person officially registered as representing the company. This person is not necessarily the owner or ultimate beneficial owner. |
| Registered address | The registered address helps confirm the jurisdiction and identify the competent local registration authority. |
| Registered capital | Registered capital is useful background information, but it should not be treated by itself as proof of financial strength. |
| Business scope | The business scope shows the company’s registered activities and should be checked carefully, especially for regulated industries. |
| Public risk records | Administrative penalties, abnormal operation records, pledges or other public indicators may be relevant for due diligence. |
How to order a Chinese company extract
To prepare a commercial register extract from China, we need to identify the company in the Chinese registration system. In most cases, the minimum information required is the Chinese company name and the unified social credit code, which is often used in practice as the company’s tax or registration identification number.
Our procedure
- We search for the company in the Chinese registration system.
- We identify the correct legal entity and check the available registration data.
- We obtain the company extract or company credit report.
- If required, we arrange translation of the document.
- If requested and possible, we arrange apostille or legalization for use abroad.
- We provide the document electronically or arrange delivery of the hard copy where required.
Information required
- Chinese company name;
- unified social credit code / tax identification number.
If available, you may also provide the company’s registered address, business licence, invoice, contract, seal impression, website or the purpose of the request.
Use abroad and apostille of Chinese company extracts
A Chinese company extract or company credit report can be used for preliminary verification, due diligence and internal compliance checks. However, if the document has to be submitted to a foreign court, bank, notary, public authority or business partner, a simple online printout is usually not enough.
Mainland China has joined the Hague Apostille Convention, and certain Chinese public documents can be prepared with an apostille for use in other member countries. However, a commercial register extract from China is a special category in practice. An apostille is not usually placed on a random screenshot, online search result or informal company profile.
Depending on the case and the requirements of the notary, local authority or receiving institution abroad, the following supporting documents may be required:
- copy of the Chinese company’s business licence;
- documents signed and stamped by the Chinese company;
- identification documents of the shareholder, founder, legal representative or other authorized person;
- power of attorney issued on behalf of the Chinese company;
- additional corporate documents requested by the notary, local authority or competent office.
For this reason, it is necessary to confirm in advance what exactly the receiving authority requires: a simple company verification, a company extract, a business licence copy, a formal notarial certificate, an apostilled document package or another form of evidence.
For general information about the procedure, please see our page on apostille in China.
Translation of Chinese company documents
Chinese company documents are normally issued in Chinese. If a document is required in another language, Schmidt & Schmidt can arrange translation into English, German, French, Spanish, Russian or another language.
A proper translation should include not only the main text, but also stamps, seals, signatures, headings, registration numbers, official notes and technical legal terminology.
More information is available on our page about certified translations.
What may go wrong when checking a Chinese company on your own?
Chinese company information may look easy to check online, but in practice foreign users often face access, language, technical and interpretation problems. The main risk is not only whether the company can be found, but whether the correct legal entity has been identified and whether the available data can be used for the intended purpose.
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1
The official website may not open abroad
Chinese government websites and public information systems may be slow, unstable or unavailable from outside mainland China. In some cases, the page may not load properly, verification codes may fail, or access may depend on a mainland Chinese network environment. -
2
No Chinese ID or local access
Some Chinese platforms, online services or verification steps may require local access, Chinese-language registration, a Chinese phone number, real-name verification or a Chinese ID. This can make it difficult for foreign users to obtain or download information directly. -
3
Chinese language and terminology
Company records are usually in Chinese. Important fields such as business scope, registration status, legal representative, shareholders or abnormal operation records may be misunderstood if translated automatically or read without knowledge of Chinese corporate terminology. -
4
Wrong company identified
Many Chinese companies use unofficial English names in contracts, invoices, export documents or websites. Searching only by an English name may lead to the wrong legal entity, especially where several companies have similar names. -
5
Online result treated as a formal document
A screenshot or simple online search result may be useful for preliminary verification, but it is not always accepted by foreign authorities, banks, notaries or business partners. For official use abroad, a properly prepared document package may be required.
How Schmidt & Schmidt Can Assist
If you are located outside China or need to verify a mainland Chinese company for business, legal, banking or compliance purposes, Schmidt & Schmidt can assist with obtaining a commercial register extract, company profile or company credit report from China.
Schmidt & Schmidt has its own office in mainland China — 上海史密德商务咨询有限公司, located in Shanghai. This allows us to coordinate company searches directly in China, work with Chinese-language registration data, identify the correct legal entity and arrange the preparation of Chinese company documents for international use.
We can assist with:
- identification of a mainland Chinese company by Chinese company name and unified social credit code;
- search of available company information in Chinese registration and public information systems;
- obtaining a commercial register extract, company profile or company credit report;
- checking registration status, legal representative, registered address, registered capital and business scope;
- review of available public risk indicators, where applicable;
- translation of Chinese company documents;
- preparation of company documents for use abroad;
- apostille certification in China, where possible and required;
- consular legalization where apostille certification is not applicable;
- international courier delivery of completed documents;
- consultation on the correct document format for a specific receiving authority.
With our own Shanghai office and international network, we help reduce the risk of identifying the wrong company, relying on unofficial English names, misinterpreting Chinese registration data, using an online search result where a formal document is required, or submitting a document in a format that is not accepted abroad.
FAQ: Chinese commercial register extracts
A commercial register extract from China is a company profile based on official and publicly available registration information about a company registered in mainland China. In practice, such a document may also be referred to as a company credit report, or 信用报告 in Chinese.
In most cases, the minimum information required is the Chinese company name and the unified social credit code, which is often used in practice as the company’s tax or registration identification number. Additional details such as a business licence copy, invoice, contract, seal impression, website or registered address may help identify the company more accurately.
Sometimes, but an English name alone is usually not enough to identify a mainland Chinese company with certainty. Many Chinese companies use unofficial English names for export, marketing, contracts or correspondence. The Chinese company name and unified social credit code are much more reliable identifiers.
A Chinese company extract may include the company name, unified social credit code, registration status, registered address, legal representative, registered capital, business scope, registration authority, shareholders or sponsors, management information, annual report information and available public risk indicators.
No. A business licence is a key registration document of a Chinese company. A commercial register extract or company credit report is a broader company profile based on available registration and public information. Depending on the purpose, one or both documents may be required.
Basic company verification and a public company extract can often be prepared without the Chinese company’s direct participation, provided that the company can be correctly identified. However, a formal document package for submission abroad may require cooperation of the company and supporting documents.
It depends on the document and the purpose of use. An apostille is not usually issued for a simple online printout or screenshot. A formal apostilled company document package may require a notarial certificate, the company’s business licence, stamped authorization, identification documents of authorized persons, power of attorney or other supporting documents.
Chinese company information is normally issued or prepared in Chinese. If the document is required for use abroad, a translation can be arranged separately.
No. Registered capital is an important registration item, but it should not be treated by itself as proof of solvency or financial strength. For due diligence, it should be reviewed together with the company’s status, public records, risk indicators and other available information.
No. This page concerns company extracts from mainland China only. Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan have separate company registration systems and different procedures for obtaining corporate documents.
