3 November 2023

Apostilles accepted in China as of 7 November 2023

Apostilles have now been introduced in the People’s Republic of China. If you plan on using your official document in China, you will need to know what these changes mean for you.

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

Earlier in the year China announced that they would become a signatory of the Apostille Convention, which is also known as the Hague Convention. This is because they want to simplify the use of public documents abroad, and expedite international trade.

As of November 2023, the UK’s Chinese embassy no longer offers embassy legalisation.

What does the introduction of apostilles change?

The Apostille Convention was held in The Hague on 5 October 1961, and introduced apostilles as a faster way to legalise documents for use in each member nation.

With apostilles being introduced in China, processing times and costs are now significantly reduced. This is because there is no need for further verification by Chinese authorities, which allows people to get their documents legalised for China in a more timely manner.

Furthermore, Chinese nationals now benefit from a simpler immigration process, as they no longer have to go through the lengthier embassy legalisation process. They have more straightforward access to all 125 other signatory nations of the Apostille Convention.

How do I get an apostille?

Anyone who wants to use their documents in China for work, to carry out business, to move, or other reasons, will now need to apply for an apostille from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

While the process for getting an apostille does not take as long as embassy legalisation, it can still be stressful. As a Notary Public, we can help you with the process.

Our services

At Woodcock Notary Public, we can assist you with getting an apostille. For premium or same-day apostille services, get in touch with our partner company, Fast Legalisation.

We can help get an apostille for your important documents, so that they can be used in China. We manage the whole application process for you by working closely with the FCDO, so you do not have to worry.