Chinese Qualification Verification (CQV): Top Tips to Prevent Delays in Your Application

The Most Commonly Missed Documents for CQV

Avoid delays by ensuring your application includes these key items:

1. Clear, High-Quality Colour Scans of Original Documents

• Ensure documents are scanned in high resolution so all details are clearly legible. 
• Do not crop or cut off any edges—full pages must be visible.
• All documents must be in colour. If submitting a Notarial Certificate, you must also provide a colour scan of the original document.
• Documents containing stamps from third parties (e.g. Talent Center, CSSD watermarks) are not eligible.

2. CSSD Degree Verification e-reports in Chinese

• For Chinese qualifications awarded in September 2008 and prior, apply for the Verification Report of China Higher Education Degree Certificate (中国高等教育学位认证报告) here.
• For Chinese qualifications awarded after September 2008, apply for the Online Verification Report of Higher Education Degree Certificate (中国高等教育学位在线验证报告) here, and add the report validation to 180 days/6 months on your CSSD portal.
• If your degree certificate was awarded after September 2008 and you are an overseas applicant who does not have a Chinese Identification Card and Chinese phone number, please register for a CSSD account here. When registering your CSSD account, your name must be consistent with your name on the degree certificate (e.g., name order, capital letters), and the ID number must be consistent with your university's record (e.g., the passport number you provided to your university for enrolment, even it has already expired).

3. Lost Original Documents – Reissued Certificates Required

If your original degree or graduation certificates are lost, you must apply to your university for officially reissued documents.

Accepted reissued documents include:

• Reissued Degree Certificate (学位证明书)
• Reissued Graduation Certificate (毕业证明书)

These documents must:

• Follow a layout similar to the original certificate
• Include additional details such as: 

- Reason for reissue
- New certificate number (if applicable)

The university must report the reissued certificate to CSSD (China Higher Education Student Information and Career Center).

*Important: a general letter or statement clarifying your study history is not accepted for verification purposes.

4. Academic Transcript in Editable PDF Forms – Mandatory to Complete

As part of the CQV process, you must complete and submit editable PDF forms provided by VETASSESS.

These forms are separate from your original academic transcript and English translations.

The editable PDFs:

• Can be filled in by either you as the applicant or your nominated agent

• Do not require a university stamp
  
  When completing the form:

   

• Follow the example provided on the VETASSESS website
• Leave any columns blank if the information does not appear on the original transcript.
   

Essential Tips to Get Your CQV Right

• Only Pay for What You Can Verify

Before submitting your CQV application, carefully review which documents you currently hold. You should only select and pay for verification items that you can provide. If you do not have a specific document—such as a degree certificate for an undergraduate qualification—please untick the corresponding verification item (e.g. "Degree Certificate Verification") to avoid delays, refunds, and administrative charges.

Instead, pay only for the documents you can supply, such as the graduation certificate and academic transcript, and upload a cover letter explaining the missing item. This helps prevent unnecessary processing and ensures your application is handled efficiently.

• Special Qualification Submission Requirements

If you intend to include a minor or double Bachelor’s degree as part of your skills assessment application, you must also submit the primary (major) Bachelor’s degree qualification for the CQV process. This ensures that the full academic pathway is properly verified and assessed. 
For Professional Master and Professional Doctoral degree requirements, please refer to the Important Note on the website.

• Applicant Declaration Form

Be sure to sign and date your form. Signatures on the form must match those on the personal identification documents provided.

• Allow sufficient time

Verification from Chinese authorities can take time. Apply early and ensure all required documents are uploaded at the point of application.

• Double check everything

Incomplete or incorrectly named files, blurred scans, or expired verification reports are common causes of delay. Take the time to check all documents are clear, complete, and current.

• Avoid Delays and Get Help

Still unsure what’s required? VETASSESS offers a Skills Assessment Support - Document Checking Service.

The service focuses on the type and number of mandatory documents required to support the Chinese qualification verification and a future skills assessment application.