China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs will begin issuing electronic Apostilles (e-Apostilles) on a pilot basis from June 18, 2025, as part of efforts to modernize the circulation of official documents and improve the efficiency of cross-border legal processes.
The move aligns with the growing trend toward digital document management and supports the government's push to simplify administrative procedures under the "one-stop, zero-visit" model.
Under the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents, the Ministry serves as China's designated authority for issuing Apostilles. During the pilot phase, e-Apostilles will be issued specifically for certificates of origin produced by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT).
Applicants obtaining certificates of origin through CCPIT will be able to apply for e-Apostilles at the same time, without the need to visit government offices in person. The electronic Apostilles will hold the same legal validity as traditional paper-based ones.
Verification of e-Apostilles will be available through the Ministry's online Consular Authentication/Apostille Verification System at https://consular.mfa.gov.cn/VERIFY.
According to the Ministry, the pilot marks the beginning of a phased expansion of e-Apostille services to cover a broader range of documents and issuing bodies. The goal is to provide more efficient and accessible services for the international use of Chinese public documents.
A sample of the electronic Apostille is available at the Ministry's official website:
https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/wjdt_674879/sjxw_674887/202506/t20250617_11651350.shtml
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