Overview: The Five Document Categories

Foreign companies opening a corporate bank account in China typically need to prepare 10–15 individual documents spanning five distinct categories. According to the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) Administrative Measures for RMB Bank Settlement Accounts (2003, amended) and PBOC Document No. 1 [2020], the exact number depends on the bank type, account category (basic RMB, general RMB, or foreign currency), and whether the parent company is registered overseas. Industry data from 2025 shows that first-time applicants take an average of 23 business days to compile and submit all required 开户文件 (kāihù wénjiàn), with 34% of applications being returned at least once due to incomplete documentation. This guide breaks down every document requirement, explains when notarisation and apostille are mandatory, and provides bank-specific checklists to help you get it right the first time.

Overview: The Five Document Categories

China’s corporate account opening process is governed primarily by the PBOC Administrative Measures for RMB Bank Settlement Accounts (2003, amended 2020), the PRC Anti-Money Laundering Law, and the Company Law (2024 amendment) on ultimate beneficial owner (UBO) registration. The required 开户文件 are grouped into five categories:

1. Corporate Registration Documents — proves the legal existence of the company in China
2. Identity Documents — verifies the legal representative, authorised signatories, and financial controller
3. Corporate Governance Documents — demonstrates internal authorisation and ownership structure
4. Physical Seals / Chops — mandatory for RMB-denominated accounts under Chinese commercial banking practice
5. Business Support Materials — substantiates the operational reality of the business

Each category is examined in detail below, followed by a comprehensive document table and bank-type-specific guidance.

Category 1: Corporate Registration Documents (公司注册文件, gōngsī zhùcè wénjiàn)

These are the foundational documents that prove your Chinese entity is legally registered and in good standing. Almost all banks require original copies for physical inspection during the in-person visit, plus one or two photocopies.

Since the 2015 commercial registration reform, the tax registration certificate and organisation code certificate have been merged into the unified Business License with the 18-digit Unified Social Credit Code. If your WFOE was established after October 2016 (when the “Foreign Investment Law” pilot began), you will not need a separate Approval Certificate for most non-restricted sectors. However, companies in banking, insurance, education, or media may still require sector-specific approvals.

Category 2: Identity Documents (实名认证文件, shímíng rènzhèng wénjiàn)

Chinese banks apply strict 实名认证 (shímíng rènzhèng — real-name authentication) procedures. Every individual who will have signing authority on the account must appear in person at the bank branch at least once, with original identification documents.

• Legal Representative’s Passport or Chinese ID — For foreign legal representatives, the passport must have a valid visa or residence permit showing China entry. Some banks also require a Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card if applicable. Chinese legal representatives need a 2nd-generation Resident Identity Card (身份证).
• Authorised Signatory’s Passport / ID — If different from the legal representative. Each signatory must provide a passport-style photo and a signature specimen on bank-provided cards.
• Power of Attorney / Authorisation Letter (授权书, shòuquán shū) — Must clearly state the scope of signing authority (single-signature threshold, dual-signature threshold, daily operational limit vs. high-value limit). Some banks require this to be notarised at a Chinese notary public. For foreign signatories who cannot come to China immediately, some banks accept a notarised and apostilled POA executed at the nearest Chinese consulate.
• Financial Controller / CFO Identification — Increasingly required under anti-money laundering (AML) “know your customer” (KYC) rules. The financial controller’s ID, resume, and proof of appointment (board resolution) must be submitted.
• 2–3 Authorised Signatory Specimens — Signature cards that remain on file with the bank. Each signatory must sign in the presence of a bank officer. Specimens are matched against every cheque, wire instruction, and L/C application.

Under the PRC Anti-Money Laundering Law (latest 2024 amendments), banks are required to conduct ongoing due diligence on all authorised signatories. Any change in signatories must be reported to the bank within 15 business days, supported by a new board resolution and updated POA.

Category 3: Corporate Governance Documents

These documents prove that the company’s internal decision-making process properly authorised the account opening and that the bank can identify the real parties controlling the entity.

The 2024 amendment to the PRC Company Law made UBO registration mandatory for all Chinese companies, with penalties of up to RMB 50,000 for non-compliance. Banks now routinely reject account applications where the UBO information is incomplete or inconsistent with the share register.

Category 4: Physical Seals / Chops (公章管理, gōngzhāng guǎnlǐ)

Physical seals remain mandatory for RMB-denominated corporate accounts in China. Unlike in most Western jurisdictions where electronic signatures suffice, Chinese banks still rely on impression-based seal matching for cheques, payment instructions, and account opening forms. Understanding the chop regime is essential for any foreign finance team.

Three seals are typically required:

• Company Seal (公章, gōngzhāng) — The round official seal of the company, registered with the Public Security Bureau (PSB). Used on all bank account opening applications, contracts, and official correspondence.
• Finance Seal (财务专用章, cáiwù zhuānyòng zhāng) — A dedicated seal for financial instruments: cheques, promissory notes, wire transfer instructions, and bank drafts. This seal is kept in a locked safe, separate from the company seal.
• Legal Representative Seal (法定代表人章, fǎdìng dàibiǎo rén zhāng) — A personal name seal (or “chop”) of the legal representative. Often a small square or oval seal. Used together with the finance seal on cheques and payment orders.

Key procedure for foreign companies: Seals must be registered with the local Public Security Bureau before a bank account can be opened. The registration process requires the Business License, legal representative ID, and a chop registration application form. Foreign companies that have not yet established a physical office in China sometimes struggle with this step because the PSB requires a registered address and on-site inspection. Some banks now accept a provisional seal arrangement, but this is the exception, not the rule.

The chop registration certificate (刻章登记证, kèzhāng dēngjì zhèng) is increasingly requested by state-owned banks as a standard document, not an optional one. Without it, you may not be able to open a basic RMB settlement account.

Category 5: Business Support Materials

These documents prove the company has genuine business operations and is not a shell entity. Chinese banks, especially post-2020 with PBOC Document No. 1 [2020] (which simplified the basic account opening process but enhanced post-opening supervision), require substantive proof of business activity.

Key: ✅ = Mandatory; 🔶 = May be required (varies by bank).

Under PBOC Document No. 1 [2020], opening a basic RMB deposit account (基本存款账户, jīběn cúnkuǎn zhànghù) was simplified so that companies no longer need prior PBOC approval — account opening is done directly at the bank, which then files with the PBOC within 5 business days. However, the bank retains the right to request any business support material it deems necessary under its internal risk-assessment framework. In practice, foreign-invested enterprises (FIEs) face a higher documentation burden than domestic companies. If your registered address is a virtual office or co-working space, prepare for additional scrutiny: some banks require a site visit before account activation.

Comprehensive Document Table by Account Type

The table below consolidates all documents across the five categories and indicates which type of account each document applies to. Use this as your master checklist when preparing your application with any Chinese bank.

Note: Physical seals are generally not used for foreign currency accounts in the same way — most foreign currency transactions are processed digitally. However, some Chinese banks still require seal impressions on the account opening forms for foreign currency accounts as a matter of internal policy. Always confirm with your relationship manager.

Special Document Requirements by Bank Type

Different categories of Chinese banks apply the PBOC regulations with varying degrees of strictness. Your document preparation strategy should account for the bank you choose.

State-owned Banks (四大行 — ICBC, Bank of China, CCB, ABC)

• Strictest seal requirements: All three seals must be PSB-registered with the chop registration certificate presented at account opening. The bank conducts a physical seal impression verification against the registered file on the PBOC’s national seal database.
• Physical inspection: Almost always require a site visit to the registered office address before account activation. The bank officer will verify the company nameplate, the physical location, and the presence of employees.
• Original documents: Insist on seeing original Business License, Articles of Association, and board resolution. Photocopies are not accepted for the initial application, though they may be kept on file after verification.
• Timelines: 10–15 business days for a basic account from document submission to activation.

Foreign Banks (HSBC, Standard Chartered, Citi, DBS)

• Enhanced UBO/KYC: Expect significantly deeper due diligence. Foreign banks typically ask for a full group structure chart going back to ultimate individual shareholders, source of wealth documentation for the UBO, and in some cases a personal background check on the legal representative.
• English-friendly: Most foreign banks accept bilingual documents (Chinese + English) and have English-speaking relationship managers. Some documents, such as the Articles of Association, may be accepted in English if accompanied by a Chinese translation certified by the legal representative.
• Digital-first: Many foreign banks accept scanned copies for the initial review and only require originals at the physical signing meeting. Some offer entirely digital account opening for basic RMB accounts under the PBOC’s simplified procedure.
• Timelines: 7–14 business days, but KYC/AML checks on the parent company can add 2–4 weeks for complex structures.

Joint-stock Commercial Banks (招商银行, 浦发银行, 中信银行, 民生银行)

• Flexible initial review: Most joint-stock banks accept digital copies (PDF/JPEG) for the preliminary document review, requiring originals only at the final signing. This can save 3–5 days compared to state-owned banks.
• Less rigid on seals: Some joint-stock banks allow a provisional seal arrangement for foreign companies that have not yet completed PSB seal registration, provided a registered address is in place.
• Competitive incentives: May offer faster onboarding for companies with higher initial deposit commitments (typically RMB 500,000+).
• Timelines: 5–10 business days; some high-volume branches can open a basic account in 3 days for priority clients.

City Commercial Banks (城商行, chéng shāng háng)

• Local documentation preferences: May require additional documents specific to the city or district, such as a local tax registration certificate, district-level business association registration, or local social insurance registration.
• Relationship-dependent: Documentation requirements can vary significantly between branches of the same bank. A referral from a local partner or law firm can reduce the document list by 2–3 items.
• Lower minimum deposits: Some city commercial banks have no minimum deposit requirement for basic RMB accounts, making them attractive for early-stage WFOEs.
• Timelines: 5–12 business days, highly variable depending on the branch’s familiarity with foreign-invested enterprises.

Notarisation, Apostille, and Translation Requirements

Documents issued outside mainland China (parent company incorporation certificates, board resolutions signed overseas, foreign passports for non-resident signatories) must go through one of two authentication processes:

• Hague Apostille Convention: Since China joined the Hague Apostille Convention on 7 November 2023, documents from other convention countries (e.g., UK, USA, Germany, Australia, Japan, South Korea) need only an apostille from the competent authority in the country of issuance. No further Chinese embassy legalisation is required. This has reduced the document preparation timeline by roughly 3–4 weeks for foreign parent companies.
• Consular Legalisation: Documents from non-Hague countries must still be legalised by the Chinese embassy or consulate in the country of issuance. This is a multi-step process that can take 4–8 weeks.
• Chinese Translation: All non-Chinese documents must be accompanied by a certified Chinese translation. Some banks accept a translation certified by the legal representative; others require it from a licensed translation company or notary public. Budget RMB 200–500 per document for professional translation.

Under the 2023 Hague Convention implementation regulations, apostilled documents are valid for six months from the date of issue for bank account opening purposes, unless the issuing authority specifies a shorter validity period.

Regulatory References

The following regulations form the legal backbone of China’s corporate account opening documentation requirements:

• PBOC Administrative Measures for RMB Bank Settlement Accounts (人民币银行结算账户管理办法), issued 2003, amended 2020 — the primary regulation governing basic and general RMB settlement accounts, specifying the minimum document set for each account type.
• PBOC Document No. 1 [2020] (中国人民银行 [2020] 第1号) — simplified the basic account opening process by eliminating the need for pre-approval from the PBOC; banks now directly open accounts and file post-event reports within 5 business days.
• PRC Anti-Money Laundering Law (中华人民共和国反洗钱法), latest 2024 amendment — imposes ongoing KYC/AML obligations on banks, including enhanced due diligence for foreign-invested enterprises and politically exposed persons (PEPs).
• PRC Company Law (2024 Amendment) (中华人民共和国公司法 2024年修订) — introduced mandatory UBO registration and enhanced disclosure requirements for corporate structure documentation.
• Foreign Investment Law (外商投资法, effective 2020) — replaced the previous approval-based system with a registration-based system, reducing the documentation burden for most FIEs.

Where to Go From Here

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What documents are required for Bank Account registration in China? — first published on China Gateway 360. Last updated: July 2026.