No more Legalization for documents using in China from 7th November

23rd Oct 2023 - News from Ministry of Foreign Affairs of PRC:
 
On 8th March 2023, China acceded to the "Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents" (hereinafter referred to as the Convention). This Convention will enter into force in China on 7th November 2023.
 
It means from 7th November onwards, the use of public documents between China and other signatories to the Convention Do Not need to apply for consular legalization anymore. Any public document of any signatory state affixed with the Apostille is taken as legally effective in China and vice versa. Procedures will be simplified, following is Before/After:

 

Foreign documents use in China (F.E. Marriage certificate, Birth certificate etc.):
 
Before: Notarization (by local Notaries Public/Solicitors) --> Legalization (by Ministry of Foreign affairs) --> Chinese Consulate legalization
 
After (save 5+ working days): Notarization (by local Notaries Public/Solicitors) --> Apostille (by Ministry of Foreign affairs)
 

 

Model of an Apostille as annexed to the Hague Convention


 
China documents use in foreign countries:
 
Before: Notarization (by local Notary public office) --> Legalization (by Foreign affairs office) --> Consulate legalization (other country Consulate in China)
 
After (save 10+ working days): Notarization (by local Notary public office) --> Apostille (by Foreign affairs office)
 
Until now, 120+ countries/regions have acceded to this Convention, Signatories list below:
 
Asia (22):
China, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Brunei, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Tajikistan, Turkey, Uzbekistan
 
Africa (16):
Botswana, Burundi, Cape Verde, Eswatini, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritius, Morocco, Namibia, Rwanda, SAO Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, South Africa, Tunisia
 
Europe (44):
Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Moldova, Romania, Russia, SAN Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom
 
North America (21):
Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Costa Rica, Dominica, Dominica, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, United States
 
South America (12):
Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, Venezuela
 
Oceania (10):
Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Marshall Islands, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu
 
Note-1: The Convention will be applied between China and Canada on 11th January 2024.
The Convention will be applied between China and Rwanda on 5th June 2024.
Note-2: If any signatory state is not recognized by China, then China will not execute the Convention with this signatory state.
Note-3: The Convention does not apply between China and India.
Created on:2023-10-24 09:35