Convention on the Elimination of Requirements for the Authentication of Foreign Public Documents will take effect

On March 8, 2023, China acceded to the Convention on the Elimination of Requirements for the Authentication of Foreign Public Documents (hereinafter referred to as the Convention). On November 7, 2023, the Convention will enter into force in China.

Starting from November 7, official documents sent by China to other contracting states for use can be sent to other contracting states for use by applying for an additional certificate (Apostille) as stipulated in the Convention without the need to apply for consular authentication by the embassies and consulates of China and the contracting states in China. For official documents of other States Parties to be sent to Mainland China for use, only the additional certificate of that State is required, and there is no need to apply for consular authentication by that State and the Chinese Embassy or Consulate in the local area.