On March 8, 2023, China acceded to the 1961 Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents (hereinafter referred to as the Convention). On November 7, 2023, the Convention will enter into force between China and any other member country. The Convention will continue to apply to the Hong Kong SAR of China and the Macao SAR of China.
2023年3月8日，中国加入《取消外国公文书认证要求的公约》（以下简称《公约》）。2023年11月7日,《公约》将在中国与公约成员国间生效实施。《公约》将继续适用于中国香港特别行政区和澳门特别行政区。
Starting from November 7, public documents within the scope of the Convention issued by the member countries only need to apply for an apostille before they can be sent to Chinese mainland for use. There is no need to apply for consular authentication by the member countries and the Chinese Embassy and Consulates-General in the member countries.
11月7日起，成员国签发的《公约》范围内的公文书只需办理附加证明书（Apostille）即可送往中国内地使用，无需办理成员国和中国驻成员国使领馆的领事认证。
Public documents within the scope of the Convention sent from China to the member countries for use will no longer require consular authentication by China and the member countries' Embassy and Consulates-General in China, but will instead require apostilles. For specific procedures and requirements for applying for apostilles, please log on to the Chinese Consular Service website (http://cs.mfa.gov.cn/) or the websites of relevant local Foreign Affairs Offices.
中国送往成员国使用的《公约》范围内的公文书将不再办理中方和成员国驻华使领馆的领事认证，改为办理附加证明书。办理附加证明书的具体程序和要求请登录中国领事服务网（网址: http://cs.mfa.gov.cn/） 或各地方外办相关网站查询。
Starting from November 7, the Chinese Embassy and Consulates-General in the member countries will cease consular authentication services. For documents issued by the member countries intended to be sent to Chinese mainland, please apply for apostilles from the member countries' competent authorities (For contact information, please log on to https://www.hcch.net/en/states/hcch-members).
自11月7日起，中国驻成员国使领馆将停办领事认证业务。对于成员国出具的拟送往中国内地使用的文书，请向成员国相关部门咨询附加证明书办理事宜（联系方式列表请查询https://www.hcch.net/en/states/hcch-members）。
According to the provisions of the Convention, an apostille issued by a country is used to prove the authenticity of the signature on the public document, the identity of the signatory of the document at the time of signing, and to confirm the authenticity of the seal on the document when necessary. The completion of the apostille does not guarantee the acceptance of the public document by the relevant user in China. It is recommended to check in advance with the relevant party in China about specific requirements for format, content, time limit, translation, etc. before going through the relevant procedures.
根据《公约》规定，一国出具的附加证明书用以证明公文书上签名的真实性、文书签署人签署时的身份，以及在需要时确认文书上的印鉴属实。办妥附加证明书不代表该公文书必然被中国用文单位接受。建议您事先向中国用文单位了解其对外国公文书的格式、内容、时限、翻译等具体要求后再办理有关手续。
From: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, China
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