1.On 8 March 2023, China acceded to the Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents (hereinafter referred to as the Convention). On November 07, 2023, the Convention shall enter into force between China and South Africa. The Convention shall continue to apply to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China and the Macao Special Administrative Region of China.

2. From 7 November 2023, An Apostille shall be issued onto the public documents as referred to in the Convention (hereinafter referred to as the public documents) that are issued in the South Africa and are to be used in China, instead of legalisation by Chinese Consulate-General in Johannesburg.

An Apostille shall be issued onto the public documents that are issued in China and are to be used in the South Africa, instead of legalisation by the Chinese side and South African Embassy and Consulates in China. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China is the designated authority to issue an Apostille onto the public documents issued in China. Besides, Foreign Affairs Offices of certain provinces (31 in total, listed in the attachment) entrusted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China can also issue an Apostille onto the public documents issued within their own administrative jurisdiction. The website https://consular.mfa.gov.cn/VERIFY/ enables online verification of the Apostilles issued in China. For the procedures and requirements for applying for an Apostille in China, please visit http://cs.mfa.gov.cn/ or the official websites of relevant Foreign Affairs Offices.

3. From 7 November 2023, Chinese Consulate-General in Johannesburg will cease to provide legalization service. For the public documents that are issued in the South Africa and have to be used in China, please apply for an Apostille from the Department of International Relations & Cooperation of South Africa. For further information, please refer to the website of Department of International Relations & Cooperation: https://www.dirco.gov.za/consular-notarial-services/.

4. According to the Convention, the Apostille issued by a state is to certify the authenticity of the signature, the capacity in which the person signing the document has acted and, where appropriate, the identity of the seal or stamp which it bears. However, there is possibility that the public documents with an Apostille be rejected in China. Therefore, applicants are recommended to check the format, content, time limit, translation and other specific requirements of foreign public documents with relevant Chinese authorities in advance.

              Chinese Consulate-General in Johannesburg

            October 24th, 2023