On March 8, 2023, China acceded to the Hague Convention of October 5, 1961, Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents ("Hague Convention"). The legal effects of the Hague Convention will enter into force on November 7, 2023 in Chinese mainland.

在2023年3月8日，中国加入了《取消外国公文书认证要求的公约》（“海牙公约”），公约的法律效力将于2023年11月7日在中国内地生效。

 

After accession to the Convention, the use of documents between China and other signatories to the Hague Convention does not need authentication and/or legalization by embassies or consulates. Any public document of any signatory state affixed with the apostille is taken as legally effective in China and vice versa. The procedure will be significantly simplified. Currently, more than 120 countries and regions have acceded to the Convention.

加入公约后，中国与其他公约缔约国之间的文件使用将无需经过使领馆认证和/或公证。任何签署国的公文经加注后，在中国具有法律效力，反之亦然。这一程序将大大简化。目前，已有 120 多个国家和地区加入该公约。

 

When applying for a foreigner's work permit and residence permit in China, the following documents in the past have required consular certification of the documents submitted:

· Criminal record certificate;

· Education certificate;

· Relationship certificate (birth certificate, marriage certificate);

办理外国人来华就业许可和居留许可时，以下文件过去都是要求领事认证文件提交的。

·无犯罪记录；

·学历证明；

·关系证明（出生证，结婚证）；

From November 7th, can Hague Apostille be used directly instead of consular certification for these materials?

 从11月7日起也同样可以直接采用海牙认证的材料替代了嘛？

Reindeer consultant representatives participated in the training activity of "I Love Ningbo - One-stop Service for Foreign Talents" organized by the Ningbo Foreign Experts Bureau on Thursday this week. They have confirmed the above issue. Currently, the expert bureau and immigration bureau are still waiting for further notice of implementation. Therefore, applicants who have urgent application times still need to continue to follow the requirements of consular certification.

本周四，灵达的顾问代表参加了宁波市外国专家局组织的关于“我爱宁波-外籍人才一站式的服务”培训活动。就上面提到的问题特别进行了确认。目前专家局和出入境还在进一步等通知实施。所以目前申请时间较紧的申请，还需继续沿用领事认证的要求。

 

After the Convention comes into force, it will indeed bring great convenience to the process and costs.

《公约》生效实施后，确实会给流程和费用带来极大的便利。

Before

After

photos resources from : expat focus

图片来源：expat focus

Note 1: On January 11, 2024, the Convention will enter into force for Canada, and the application of the Convention between China and Canada will commence on that date; on June 5, 2024, the Convention will enter into force for Rwanda, and the application of the Convention between China and Rwanda will commence on that date.

Note 2: The Convention shall not apply between China and those members of the Convention which it does not recognize as having the status of sovereign states.

Note 3: The Convention is not applicable between China and India.

The list of States Parties to the Convention on the Elimination of the Requirement of Legalization of Foreign Public Documents as of 23 October 2023 has reached 125 States Parties. To query specific countries, please click on the following link .

注1：2024年1月11日，《公约》将对加拿大生效，中加之间将于当日开始适用《公约》。2024年6月5日，《公约》将对卢旺达生效，中卢之间将于当日开始适用《公约》。

注2：中国与其不承认具有主权国家地位的《公约》成员间不适用《公约》。

注3：中国与印度之间不适用《公约》。

截至2023年10月23日《取消外国公文书认证要求的公约》缔约国名单已达到125个。希望查询具体国家，请点击一下 链接 查询。