Apostille

Apostille is a simplified certification procedure established under the 1961 Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents. It is used to verify the authenticity of the signature on a public document, the identity of the signatory, and the authenticity of the seal on the document. In foreign trade, it is commonly used for the cross-border use of commercial documents such as business licenses, invoices, packing lists, certificates of origin, and powers of attorney. Use cases include: exporters submitting apostilled documents to the customs or customers of the importing country to prove their legality; submitting evidence in cross-border litigation or arbitration. Notes: Apostille applies only between member countries of the Hague Convention; non-member countries require consular legalization. The certification is handled by the designated authority of the country where the document is issued (such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs), not by the country of use. The apostille does not prove the authenticity of the document's content; it only verifies the signature and seal. Difference from consular legalization: Apostille simplifies the process and does not require going through the embassy or consulate of the country of use in China, whereas consular legalization requires double certification. Foreign trade practitioners should confirm whether the importing country is a member of the Convention and handle it in advance to avoid delays.