Updated Procedure: China’s Adoption of the 1961 Hague Convention Affects Consular Authentication Services

We would like to inform you about significant changes to consular authentication services provided by the Chinese Embassy and Consulates-General in the U.S., effective November 7, 2023, following China’s accession to the 1961 Hague Convention.

• On March 8, 2023, China officially joined the 1961 Hague Convention, eliminating the requirement for legalization of foreign public documents. Subsequently, commencing November 7, 2023, the Convention will be in force between China and the United States, extending its application to the Hong Kong SAR and the Macao SAR of China.
• From November 7 onward, public documents falling under the Convention issued by the U.S. will only necessitate a U.S. apostille before their use in the Chinese mainland. Consequently, there will no longer be a need for consular authentication by the U.S. or the Chinese Embassy and Consulates-General in the U.S.
• Effective November 7, the Chinese Embassy and Consulates-General in the U.S. will discontinue their consular authentication services. Consequently, for documents issued by the U.S. intended for usage in the Chinese mainland, applicants must obtain apostilles from the U.S. competent authorities. Moreover, for relevant contact information, please refer to https://www.hcch.net/en/states/authorities/details3/?aid=353.

As outlined in the Convention, an apostille issued by a country serves to verify the signature’s authenticity on the public document, the signatory’s identity at the time of signing, and the seal’s authenticity if necessary. Additionally, it’s essential to note that obtaining a U.S. apostille does not automatically ensure the acceptance of the public document by relevant entities in China. Therefore, we strongly advise verifying specific requirements for format, content, timelines, translations, etc., with the appropriate parties in China before initiating the relevant procedures.

For further details or inquiries, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.