Schmidt & Schmidt obtains company registration reports and helps arrange corporate documents from mainland China. We identify the correct legal entity, obtain available public information and coordinate translation or document certification where required.
A Chinese company report helps you check whether a business is registered, review its registration status, identify its legal representative and compare its official details with a contract or invoice.
For a standard public-information request, the result is an electronic company report in Chinese. Translation, access to registration file documents and preparation of an authenticated package, including apostille in China, are separate services. The exact deliverables are confirmed before the order begins.
This page covers mainland China. Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan have separate company registration systems. Please see the relevant pages for company extracts from these jurisdictions.
On this page
What is a commercial register extract from China?
Public information about Chinese companies is available through the National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System — 国家企业信用信息公示系统 (Guójiā qǐyè xìnyòng xìnxī gōngshì xìtǒng).
The system brings together registration details, annual report information and certain government records, including administrative licences, penalties and entries on designated lists. [1]
A report from this system is called 企业信用信息公示报告 (qǐyè xìnyòng xìnxī gōngshì bàogào): an enterprise credit information disclosure report. It presents registration and publicly disclosed company information.
International clients often refer to this as a “Chinese commercial register extract”. However, the expression is a practical description, not a guarantee that the document has the same form or evidential status as an extract issued by a European register.
The word “credit” in the Chinese title does not turn the report into a bank credit history, credit rating or solvency assessment. Those are different products.
Sample Chinese company report
The sample illustrates a report generated from the government disclosure system. The cover identifies the company and the time of generation, followed by registration and other disclosed records.
This is a historical sample dated 3 November 2017. It is provided to show the structure, not as a current check of that company. A newly obtained report may have a different layout and selection of sections.
Depending on the company and the records available, a report may contain:
- Chinese company name.
- Unified Social Credit Code or registration number.
- Date of establishment.
- Company type.
- Registration status.
- Registered address.
- Legal representative.
- Registered capital.
- Registered business scope.
- Registration authority.
- Available shareholder information.
- Management information.
- Disclosed registration changes.
- Annual report information and other available records.
What should you expect from the document?
The standard result is an electronic Chinese-language report. It should not be assumed to include a wet-ink registry seal, notarisation, translation or apostille. Any required certification must be agreed separately.
The sample itself states that its contents are for reference and that the information displayed in the government system prevails. This is another reason to distinguish a public-information report from a separately certified document.
Not every report contains every item listed above. If you need a particular record, ownership detail or historical date, specify it before ordering.
Reports, business licences and registration files: what is the difference?
These documents serve different purposes. Choosing the right one is especially important when a bank, court or notary has requested a particular form of evidence.
| Document | What it provides | Important distinction |
|---|---|---|
| Public-information report | Registration details and other company records available in the government system. | Useful for a company check. It is not automatically a notarised or apostilled document. |
| Business licence — 营业执照 (yíngyè zhízhào) | The company's registration document, showing its basic particulars. | We cannot obtain the company's business licence. Request a copy directly from the company. |
| Registration file documents | Particular documents filed during registration or subsequent changes. | Access is subject to eligibility and document-specific restrictions. Availability requires a separate check. |
| Analytical report | Research addressing agreed questions, potentially using several sources. | The investigation scope and any conclusions must be agreed separately. |
Who can access a company's registration file?
Public company checks generally do not require company consent. Access to registration file documents follows separate rules.
The rules provide access routes for, among others, authorised company representatives and lawyers acting on a client's instructions. The applicant's status, purpose and the requested documents affect the scope of access. [2]
If you need articles of association, a particular resolution or an archived filing, specify the document and purpose. We will check whether the request can be handled before confirming the order.
How to identify the correct Chinese company
The most useful identifiers are the official Chinese company name and the Unified Social Credit Code — 统一社会信用代码 (tǒngyī shèhuì xìnyòng dàimǎ).
In business correspondence, the code may also be described as a registration or tax identification number. Send it exactly as shown in the source document. The government system uses it as an enterprise identifier. [1]
If you only have an English name
Send it with any supporting materials. An English name may be a trading name, brand or translation used by the sales department. It may not identify the legal entity on its own.
Useful supporting materials include:
- A copy of the business licence.
- A contract showing company details and its seal.
- An invoice or payment instructions.
- The Chinese name appearing on a company seal.
- A website, address and contact details.
Establish which entity is involved in the transaction. The manufacturer, seller, Hong Kong trading company and payment recipient may be different legal entities. Each relevant entity may need its own check.
How to read the company report
Start by comparing the report with the documents supplied by the counterparty. Pay attention to the date and source of each record, not just the value shown.
| Field | What to check |
|---|---|
| Company name and code | Do they match the contract, business licence and other supplied documents? |
| Establishment date | Does the entity's age match the claimed history? A brand may be older than the company using it. |
| Registration status | What status is recorded on the date of the check? Read it separately from penalties and adverse entries. |
| Legal representative | Who is registered in this role? This person is not necessarily the owner or ultimate beneficial owner. The authority of another signatory may need separate evidence. |
| Registered address | Where is the company registered? This does not establish the location of its factory, warehouse or sales office. |
| Registered capital | Check the amount, currency and unit. Registered capital is not the same as cash, assets or paid-in capital. |
| Business scope | Is it consistent with the claimed activities? Regulated activities may require a separate licence check. |
| Shareholders and management | Which persons are disclosed, and for which period? These records do not necessarily reveal the full ownership chain. |
| Registration changes | Have the name, address, representative or other details changed? Documents supplied by the company may contain older particulars. |
| Adverse records | Review the grounds, date and current status of each entry. A heading alone does not explain its significance. |
Registration status is not a clean-record certificate
A company may remain registered while having administrative penalties or other adverse records. Registration status, the abnormal operations list and other designated records are separate categories in the government disclosure system. [1]
Likewise, an older adverse entry needs context: check its grounds and any subsequent updates before drawing a conclusion.
Check the date behind the information
A newly generated report can contain information relating to an earlier reporting period. Its generation date does not mean that every figure or statement describes the company's position on that same day.
Practical example: comparing a report with a contract
Suppose a supplier sends you an English-language contract and asks for an advance payment. The contract uses a trading name, while the seal contains a Chinese name. The invoice names a separate payment recipient.
This does not automatically prove fraud, but the parties need to be identified before the documents can be assessed.
- Identify the contracting company. Obtain its Chinese name and Unified Social Credit Code. Compare them with the report.
- Compare the names across the documents. Check the contract, invoice, supplied licence and seal. A name match does not by itself authenticate a seal or document.
- Review registration status and changes. Establish whether the supplied particulars match the records obtained.
- Check the signatory's authority separately. If the signer is not the registered legal representative, request appropriate evidence of authority.
- Clarify the payment recipient. If it is another entity, request an explanation and supporting documents. The company report does not establish ownership of the bank account.
This example illustrates how registration information supports a transaction check. It does not replace document authentication, bank account verification or legal advice on the contract.
When is a Chinese company extract useful?
Supplier and partner checks
Before signing a contract or making an advance payment, the report helps identify the legal entity and compare its registered particulars with the information supplied.
It is a first step. Factory ownership, production capacity and product quality require other evidence.
Banking and compliance
A report can support a counterparty information file. If a bank requests the document, obtain its requirements for the source, age, translation and certification.
Full KYC, sanctions screening and beneficial ownership analysis are not automatically included. Those checks require a separately agreed scope.
Litigation, arbitration and debt recovery
Registration information helps identify the correct party and its particulars. For evidence submitted in proceedings, confirm the required document and authentication with your lawyer or the receiving authority.
Corporate and investment transactions
A report can provide a starting point for reviewing registered changes, management and disclosed shareholders. Acquisitions and investments usually require a broader review of corporate and financial documents.
What does the report not prove?
A registration report does not guarantee that a counterparty is reliable. On its own, it does not establish:
- The existence of an operating factory.
- Production capacity or product quality.
- Successful fulfilment of previous orders.
- Bank balances or ownership of a bank account.
- Solvency or financial stability.
- The complete ultimate beneficial ownership structure.
- The absence of all litigation and debts.
- The authority of every employee handling correspondence.
If one of these questions matters to your decision, tell us at the start. We can clarify whether an additional check is available and what it would cover. The absence of a record in one source does not establish the absence of risk.
Translation, apostille and use abroad
An electronic report may be enough for an internal company check. A court, bank, notary or public authority may require a separately certified document package. Confirm the format before ordering.
We can obtain public information without the company's involvement. We can arrange an apostilled package through our service only with the Chinese company's cooperation.
The document must first be prepared and certified in a suitable form. The process is not simply attaching an apostille to a downloaded report or screenshot. The exact route depends on the document and its intended use.
What must the Chinese company provide?
The company must supply its details, supporting documents and a power of attorney for the necessary procedures. The materials include:
- A copy of its business licence, provided by the company itself.
- A company power of attorney, signed and sealed as required.
- Identification details and documents of the relevant company representative.
- Additional corporate documents or confirmations requested by the notary or certification body.
We confirm the exact checklist after reviewing the requested document and the recipient's requirements.
Translation
The standard public-information report is in Chinese. Translation into another language is agreed separately. If certification is needed, the translation must be coordinated with the selected procedure.
A translation alone does not make the report a notarial certificate. The overseas recipient may also require a local sworn or otherwise approved translator.
Further information: apostille and consular legalization in China .
Common difficulties when checking a Chinese company
Finding a company online is only part of the task. You also need to identify the correct legal entity, interpret its records and obtain a document that suits your purpose. The following practical difficulties can affect the process.
-
1
Website access and verification problems
Government websites and public information systems may load slowly or intermittently from overseas networks. Verification challenges or download functions may also fail. An inaccessible page or unsuccessful search does not establish that a company is unregistered.
What helps: check the Chinese name and registration code, distinguish a technical error from an actual search result and repeat the search where necessary.
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2
Account and identity requirements
Some services or document retrieval functions require an account, telephone verification, identity checks or evidence of authority. Requirements vary by platform and procedure. A Chinese identity card is not a universal requirement for every public company search.
What helps: establish whether you need public information or access to registration file documents. These follow different procedures.
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3
Misinterpreting Chinese records
Automated translation may blur the distinction between registered and paid-in capital, registration status and adverse records, or shareholders and the legal representative. Correct source information can still lead to an incorrect conclusion.
What helps: retain the original Chinese terms alongside their translation and check the date and context of the relevant entry.
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4
Checking the wrong entity
A brand, manufacturer, seller and payment recipient may be separate legal entities. A report about one company does not establish the position of another company in the transaction.
What helps: match the Chinese name and Unified Social Credit Code against the contract and supporting documents. Identify any separate payment recipient.
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5
Ordering the wrong document format
An electronic report may be sufficient for an internal check, while a bank, court or notary may require a particular document and form of certification. Discovering this after delivery can mean additional work and delay.
What helps: obtain the recipient's requirements before ordering. For an apostilled package arranged through us, confirm that the Chinese company will provide its documents and power of attorney.
How to order a Chinese company extract
Start by sending the company details and explaining what you need to establish. You do not need to select a document type on your own: we will clarify the available options for your request.
- Send the company details. Provide its Chinese name, Unified Social Credit Code or documents showing its particulars. If you only have an English name, include a website, contract, invoice or other supporting material.
- Explain the purpose. State which information you need and whether the result is for an internal check or submission to an institution. Attach the recipient's requirements and mention any deadline.
- Confirm the scope and quote. We agree the document type, requested information, language, certification, delivery format, price and estimated timeframe.
- We carry out the agreed work. We identify the company and obtain the available information or coordinate the selected document procedure.
- Receive the result. The standard report is delivered electronically. Translation, certified documents and courier delivery are provided where included in the agreed order.
Prices and timeframes
The price and estimated timeframe depend on the requested document, source availability, company identification work and any translation or certification. A public-information report and the retrieval of registration file documents involve different procedures.
If you need shareholders on a particular date, a specific historical filing or documents for court proceedings, mention this before ordering. Availability is checked for the requested information.
For an apostilled package, the estimate also depends on the Chinese company providing the required documents and power of attorney. We cannot complete that service without its cooperation.
Our office in China
Schmidt & Schmidt has its own company in Shanghai — 上海史密德商务咨询有限公司 (Shànghǎi Shǐmìdé Shāngwù Zīxún Yǒuxiàn Gōngsī).
We work with Chinese-language names and registration records, help identify the correct entity and coordinate document requests. This is particularly useful when a client only has an English trading name, contract or invoice.
Where required, we also arrange translation, document certification and international courier delivery. Each service is included according to the agreed scope.
Frequently asked questions
For a standard public-information request, you receive an electronic Chinese-language company report. The document type and scope are confirmed before ordering. Translation, notarisation, apostille and paper delivery are separate services.
Sometimes, but supporting details may be needed. Send the website, address, contract, invoice or business licence. An English name may identify a brand rather than the legal entity.
Generally not for public information. Registration file access follows separate eligibility rules. For an apostilled package arranged through us, the company's cooperation, supporting documents and power of attorney are required.
No. Request a copy directly from the Chinese company. We can obtain available registration information, but that report does not replace the licence where it is required.
Not necessarily. Availability depends on the company type, source and reporting period. Public shareholder information does not always reveal every current shareholder or the ultimate beneficial owners. Specify any ownership question before ordering.
No. A registration report is not a credit rating or financial stability assessment. Registered capital alone does not establish solvency. Financial analysis requires additional information and a separate scope of work.
No. For the apostille service we arrange, the Chinese company must cooperate and provide its documents and power of attorney. Without that cooperation, we cannot prepare the apostilled package.
Public information can be searched in the government system. Practical difficulties may include website access, user verification and the Chinese language. Access to registration file documents follows separate rules.
Follow the recipient's requirements. There is no single freshness rule for every purpose. Company records can change, so an older report may no longer be suitable. For a planned submission, confirm the permitted document age before ordering.
No. Hong Kong has a separate register and different company documents. Specify the jurisdiction when contacting us. A Chinese name, mainland factory address or business with China does not by itself establish the place of incorporation.
See our page on commercial register extracts from Hong Kong .
Official sources
- State Administration for Market Regulation. Notice on further improving the National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System. Official publication in Chinese . Accessed 19 October 2026.
- State Administration for Market Regulation and National Archives Administration. Measures for the Administration of Business Entity Registration Archives. Order No. 96 of 10 February 2025, effective from 20 March 2025. Official text in Chinese . Accessed 19 October 2026.
- National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System — 国家企业信用信息公示系统 (Guójiā qǐyè xìnyòng xìnxī gōngshì xìtǒng).
Information availability and document formats depend on the company, source and grounds for access. The description of deliverables and company cooperation requirements explains our service arrangements. The historical sample illustrates structure and is not a current check of the company shown.
