China’s Accession to the Hague Convention of 1961 Simplifies International Document Authentication

On March 8, 2023, Chinese Ambassador to the Netherlands, Tan Jian, officially deposited China’s instrument of accession with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, signifying China’s participation in the Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents, commonly known as the “1961 Apostille Convention.”

The Convention aims to streamline procedures for the use of public documents abroad, promoting international trade and people-to-people exchanges. It is set to enter into force in China in early November.

So, what exactly is an Apostille? An Apostille is a certification that verifies the authenticity of a public document, signature, or stamp. It is issued to documents for use in countries that are participants of the Hague Convention of 1961. The apostille ensures that public documents issued in one member country will be recognized as valid in another member country. The introduction of the apostille as a form of notarial certification has made the international transfer of documents significantly easier and faster, eliminating the need for further diplomatic or consular legalization.

China’s accession to the Convention is a significant step towards greater institutional openness in the use of public documents abroad. According to Mao, it will bring two major benefits.

Firstly, it will greatly reduce the time and cost required for Chinese citizens to complete relevant procedures for using documents such as health certificates, driver’s license certificates, household registry certificates, and academic degree certificates abroad.

Previously, it took around 20 days to prepare a document for international use, but with the apostille, it will only take a few days. Additionally, the cost associated with completing procedures between China and other member countries will be reduced by approximately 90 percent on average.

Secondly, China’s accession will improve the business environment. Foreign companies investing in or exporting to China will no longer need to seek consular legalization for commercial documents. Similarly, over 70 percent of China’s export-related commercial documents will enjoy similar benefits.

The participation of China in the Hague Convention of 1961 signifies a significant development in simplifying the authentication of international documents. It streamlines processes, saves time and costs, and improves the business environment for both Chinese citizens and foreign entities engaging in trade and exchanges with China.