China officially joined the Hague Apostille Convention on March 8, 2023, and the Convention will become effective in China on November 7, 2023. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of China is designated as the Competent Authority responsible for issuing Apostille within Chinese mainland.
An apostille is a certificate issued by an authorized body to verify the authenticity and validity of a document for use in countries that are members of Hague Apostille Convention. It confirms the document’s origin, the authority of the signer, and the authenticity of any seals or stamps affixed to it. Instead of the traditional legalization/authentication methods, the Apostille certification provides a standardized and widely accepted validation process.
It’s important to note that the Hague Apostille Convention has its limitations. Only countries that are party to the Convention can issue and recognize Apostille. For countries not participating in the Convention, the traditional legalization procedures involving embassies and consulates are still required.
Due to the high demand for Apostille services from our clients, True Words has established partnerships with institutions in various countries to handle Apostille requests for Hong Kong, the United States, and Europe.
