China has successfully joined The Hague Convention and become a member state. The purpose of The Hague Certification (Apostille) is to “abolish the requirement for diplomatic or consular authentication of foreign public documents.”
Apostille Certification, streamlines the international recognition of legal documents. The apostille certifies the origin, signature, seal, and stamp of the document, and makes it valid for use in another country that is also a party to the Apostille Convention.
Different countries issue The Hague Certification through distinct departments, typically overseen by the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Supreme Court, or state government. If both the country of document issuance and the country of document use are members of The Hague Convention, applicants only need The Hague Certification for the document.
The Apostille process in China, first requires the documents to be notarized by a Chinese notary public, and then submits the notarized documents to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China for Apostille. Check “How to notarize documents in China” for notary details.
The Apostille Certificate can be used in all member countries of The Hague, while consular authentication is valid only in the destination country.
What are the benefits of the Apostille Convention?
China officially acceded to the Apostille Convention on 8 March 2023, and the convention took effect in China on 7 November 2023. This means that China has joined the 119 other countries that have already ratified or acceded to the Apostille Convention, including the US, the UK, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, and South Korea.
The Apostille Convention simplifies the process of legalizing foreign public documents, as it replaces the traditional requirement of multiple authentications by different authorities.
China’s accession to the Apostille Convention will benefit many individuals and businesses who need to use foreign public documents in China or Chinese public documents abroad. For example:
- Foreign nationals who want to apply for a visa, work permit, residence permit, marriage registration, or other matters in China can use their public documents with an Apostille without going through the cumbersome legalization process. This will make their application faster, easier, and cheaper.
- Businesses engaging in international trade and transactions often require the authentication of various documents, such as contracts, invoices, and legal agreements. The apostille service expedites the acceptance of these documents in other member countries, promoting smoother international business dealings.
- Chinese companies who want to establish, operate, or invest in another contracting state of the Convention can use their corporate documents with an Apostille without going through the cumbersome legalization process. This will make their business activities more competitive, more secure, and more profitable.
How to obtain an apostille?
Before initiating the apostille request, it’s vital to identify which documents are eligible for this international authentication. Commonly apostilled documents include
- Birth, marriage, and death certificates
- Educational diplomas and transcripts
- Articles of incorporation and certificates of good standing
- Court judgments and notarial acts
- Powers of attorney and affidavits
The majority of apostille requests begin with notarization. Engage the services of a local notary public to validate the authenticity of your document. The notarization process involves verifying signatures, confirming the capacity of the signer, and ensuring the accuracy of the document’s content. Secure the notarized document as a prerequisite for the apostille process.
Following successful notarization, the next step is to visit the local foreign affairs office. This office will further authenticate your document, endorsing the notary’s signature and validating the document for international use. The list of Authorized Office is available here.
Check China Apostille for details.
Hong Kong Apostille
The Apostille process in Hong Kong, first requires the documents to be notarized by a Hong Kong notary public, and then submits the notarized documents to the High Court of Hong Kong for Apostille.
Check Hong Kong Apostille for details.
Macao Apostille
The Apostille process in Macao, first requires the documents to be notarized by a Macao notary public, and then submits the notarized documents to the Legal Affairs Bureau of Macao for Apostille.
Check China Apostille for details.
The Apostille Convention is a significant step for China to integrate into the global legal system and to promote international cooperation and exchange. It is also a great opportunity for individuals and businesses to expand their horizons and explore new possibilities. If you need to use a public document from another country in China, or vice versa, you should check if the country is a contracting state of the Convention, and if so, you should apply for an apostille to simplify your document verification process.
CONTACT
While navigating the apostille process independently is feasible, some individuals and businesses opt for professional assistance.
With over 6 years of experience on global apostille, Aofan Consulting will save you a lot of time for document preparation and make it easy to complete your application. We are here to help you to complete the Apostille application and guide you all the way to the finish line. Please do not hesitate to contact us at info@intrz.com.
FAQ on China Apostille
Yes, China is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention 1. From November 7, 2023, Mainland China officially joins the “Apostille Convention” or the “Hague Convention”.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the Competent Authority to issue apostilles to documents originating within mainland China.
Yes, Mainland China officially joins the “Hague Convention”. Chinese documents can be apostilled by Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
To certify documents in China, you can submit required documents to Public Notary Office (Gong Zheng Chu “公证处”) . Public Notary Office checks the documents and confirms if the application is accepted. If the application is accepted, Public Notary Office issues notarial certificate.
Public documents issued in China need to be notarized by Notary Public and then apostilled by Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs for use in any country that is a party to the Apostille Convention.
The common documents can be apostilled in China including:
- Administrative documents issued by government authorities or agencies, such as business licenses, tax certificates, or certificates of origin.
- Judicial documents issued by courts or prosecutors, such as judgments, orders, or writs.
- Notarial documents issued by notaries public, such as powers of attorney, contracts, affidavits, or declarations.
- Public documents issued in China need to be notarized by Notary Public and apostilled by Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs for obtaining an apostille, without the need for further legalization by the embassy or consulate.
To attest your degree issued in foreign countries, you can attest your degree in following ways,
1. Get your degree apostilled by Ministry of Foreign Affairs from the place where it is issued if the issuing country is a part of “Hague Convention” countries.
2. Get it authenticated by Chinese Embassy/Consulates after certification after authentication of Secretary of State, State Department or Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
3. Have the overseas degree accredited by Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange (CSCSE) of the Ministry of Education (MOE).