On November 7, 2023, China will join the Hague Apostille Convention. Documents originating from the United States or notarized within the United States will only require the apostille issued by the Secretary of State’s office.
For example, if your birth certificate originates from California, On November 7, 2023 an apostille from the California Secretary of State is sufficient for this country. Embassy or Consulate legalization will no longer be required.
What is an Apostille?
An Apostille (pronounced “ah-po-steel”) is a French word meaning certification.
An Apostille is simply the name for a specialized certificate, issued by the Secretary of State. The Apostille is attached to your original document to verify it is legitimate and authentic so it will be accepted in one of the countries who are members of the Hague Apostille Convention.
In the United States, all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the Federal Government (US Department of State – Office of Authentication) can issue an Apostille. In total, the United States can issue 52 different apostilles.
In 1961, many countries joined together to create a simplified method of “legalizing” documents for universal recognition. Members of the conference, referred to as the Hague Convention, adopted a document referred to as an Apostille that would be recognized by all member countries.
Since October 15, 1981, the United States has been part of the 1961 Hague Convention abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents.
What is the Apostille Convention?
The Apostille Convention, or the Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents, is an international treaty that simplifies the process of authenticating public documents for use in foreign countries.
Currently, in order to use foreign documents in China for administrative purposes ranging from applying for a visa to establishing a business, a document needs to legalized through the State, US Department of State, and China Embassy (Legalization Process). More information can be found by clicking the following link: China Embassy and Consulate Legalization
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Email: China@apostilleservices.com
Obtaining an apostille can be complicated. Don’t leave this process to untrained employees or non-professionals who do not fully understand the apostille process and the unique requirements of certain countries. Your paperwork could be rejected costing you time and money. Don’t let this happen to you!
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