Shanxi introduces new cross-border document certification system

The Foreign Affairs Office of Shanxi Provincial Government issued the province's first apostille – a form of legal authentication for public documents – to a local resident in Jinzhong city on Nov 7. 

On the same day, the Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents, which is the most extensive and widely ratified international treaty within the framework of the Hague Conference on Private International Law, officially took effect in China. 

Early on March 8, China formally joined the convention, which aims to simplify the procedures for international document circulation, replacing the traditional consular-stamped form of legalization with a more efficient certification method to facilitate international trade, economic activities, and personnel exchanges. 

As of Oct 31, 125 countries have become members of the convention, accounting for about 60 percent of all countries and regions worldwide. 

The Foreign Affairs Office of Shanxi Provincial Government obtained the authority to issue apostilles for documents originating from Shanxi, following an application made to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in July. 

Under the convention, documents issued by Shanxi no longer require consular legalization from the embassies or consulates of member countries. Instead, they only need to be accompanied by the apostilles issued by the Foreign Affairs Office in Shanxi. 

This signifies the advent of a more streamlined certification process for cross-border document circulation between the citizens and businesses in the province, and other member countries of the convention. 

It will greatly reduce the time and economic costs associated with document certification for both Chinese and international citizens and businesses. This will make it more convenient for exchanges and cooperation among businesses and individuals seeking international engagements. 

Traditional consular legalization procedures will be maintained for countries and regions that are not signatories to the convention.