PRC Seal Carving PSB Regulations and Registration Verification
PRC corporate seals bind entities based on Public Security Bureau registration, physical impression accuracy, and apparent agency rules.
Seal Carving
Meaning
The physical manufacture and official registration of corporate chops must comply with the strict administrative regulations and security standards established by the Public Security Bureau. This process, known as seal carving, is not a decorative craft but a highly regulated administrative procedure that must be executed by certified carvers using specialized machinery. Under the civil and administrative laws of China, a corporate seal holds the power to legally bind an enterprise to contracts, financial transactions, and official filings.
The carving process applies to all official company seals, financial chops, contract chops, and legal representative’s personal chops used in daily business operations. The boundary of this procedure is defined by the strict requirement for administrative pre-approval, meaning no certified carver is permitted to produce a seal without a valid permit issued by the local public security department.
Administrative Pre-Approval
The execution of this process begins with the company securing a formal approval permit from the Public Security Bureau following its registration with the market regulator. The company’s legal representative or a designated agent must submit the newly issued business license, identity documents, and the formal application form to the local public security office. This office reviews the documents and issues a specific seal carving permit, which contains the approved name of the company, the type of seals to be produced, and the unique security codes to be engraved.
This permit must be presented to a licensed seal carving business, which is connected to the public security department’s electronic registration network. This strict pre-approval process is designed to prevent the unauthorized production of corporate seals, which is a major source of commercial fraud and identity theft.
Manufacturing Standards
The physical production of the seals must adhere to precise national standards governing dimensions, materials, and security features to ensure uniformity and prevent forgery. The certified carving business must use high-quality, durable materials, such as brass, copper, or specialized hard plastics, that can withstand thousands of impressions without losing clarity. The carving machinery, which is typically laser-guided and computerized, must engrave the company’s simplified Chinese characters, the central star, and the unique, randomized security code along the border.
This code is linked to the company’s registration record in the national database, allowing any bank, court, or government agency to verify the seal’s authenticity. Once the carving is complete, the carver submits physical specimens of the stamps to the Public Security Bureau database for digital storage, activating the seals for legal use.
Registry Deactivation
The administrative rules also govern the procedure for canceling, replacing, or deactivating a company’s registered seals if they are lost, stolen, or damaged. If a seal is lost or stolen, the company must immediately report the incident to the Public Security Bureau and publish a formal cancellation notice in an approved municipal newspaper. This public notice legally terminates the old seal’s validity, protecting the company from liability if the lost chop is subsequently used by unauthorized parties.
The company can then apply for a new carving permit to produce a replacement seal, which will feature a different security code to distinguish it from the canceled stamp. This complete registry deactivation and replacement process provides a vital defense against contract fraud and corporate takeover attempts by rogue executives.