China

[b]Important Update Regarding China-USA Apostille Process (Effective November 7, 2023)[/b]

1. On March 8, 2023, China officially acceded to the [i]Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents[/i] (also known as the Apostille Convention). This Convention will take effect between [b]China and United States on November 7, 2023[/b]. It will also continue to apply to the Hong Kong SAR and the Macao SAR.

2. [b]As of November 7, 2023[/b], documents issued in United States for use in mainland China will [b]only require an Apostille from United States[/b], rather than legalization by the Chinese Embassy or Consulates General in United States.

3. The Chinese Embassy and Consulates General in U.S.A. will [b]cease all legalization services[/b] starting November 7, 2023. United States public documents intended for use in China must now obtain an [b]Apostille from the United States government[/b] (see Appendix 1 for issuing authorities).

4. Under the Apostille Convention, an Apostille [i]certifies the authenticity of the signature, the capacity of the signer, and the seal or stamp on the document[/i]. However, it does not guarantee automatic acceptance in China. We strongly advise applicants to [b]check with the specific Chinese authority or institution[/b] to confirm format, content, time limits, translation, and other document-specific requirements before proceeding.

5. Likewise, beginning November 7, 2023, public documents issued in the [b]Chinese mainland for use in United States[/b] will no longer require consular legalization. Only an [b]Apostille issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China[/b] or authorized Foreign Affairs Offices will be needed (see Appendix 2 for a list of competent authorities).

To verify an Apostille or get guidance on application steps, visit [b]A Washington Travel & Passport Visa Services[/b] at [url=https://www.visadc.com]www.visadc.com[/url].

For more details, refer to the [url=https://cs.mfa.gov.cn]China Consular Service website[/url] or the respective local Foreign Affairs Office.

[b]Effective 2023 – Apostille Now Accepted by China[/b]

As of 2023, China has officially acceded to the [i]Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents[/i]. This major change simplifies the process for authenticating U.S. documents for use in China.

[b]What does this mean for you?[/b]
U.S. public documents—such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, FBI background checks, and corporate records—no longer need consular authentication from the Chinese Embassy or Consulates-General in the United States.

Instead, these documents now require a [b]U.S. Apostille[/b] issued by the competent U.S. authority (such as the Secretary of State or the U.S. Department of State, depending on the type of document).

This new process streamlines international document acceptance between the U.S. and China.

For professional assistance with U.S. apostilles for China, contact:

[b]A Washington Travel & Passport Visa Services Inc.[/b]
 Virginia, OR Washington, DC
 Toll-Free: 1-877-721-7678
 [www.visadc.com](https://www.visadc.com)