A small step to us, a great step to People’s Republic of China!

A small step to us, a great step to People’s Republic of China!

关于取消外国公文认证要求的公约

The Convention of October 5^th ,1961 abolishing the requirement of legalisation for foreign public documents (in short HCCH 1961 Apostille Convention) facilitates the use of public documents abroad. The purpose of the Convention is to eliminate the traditional requirement of legalisation [a stamp from the Ministry of Foreign Affair on the foreign public document and a subsequent stamp from the Portuguese Consular Representation or Embassy], replacing the often long and costly legalisation process with the issuance of a single Apostille certificate by a competent authority in the place where the document originates.

From November 7^th 2023, People’s Republic of China officially applies HCCH 1961 Apostille Convention. Authorized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Foreign Affairs Offices of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government can issue the certificates to public documents emanated within the respective administrative areas.

This is a big step for the uniformity of People’s Republic of China, considering the policy of one Country two Systems, where Macao has adhered in 1969 and Hong Kong in 1965, there was a huge disparity between legalisation procedures.

Mainland China’s relationship with the rest of the world has now become increasingly easier, particularly from a legal perspective. Since SBB Lawyers is a firm practicing, not only but also, immigration law, the entry into force of HCCH 1961 Apostille Convention is expected to facilitate the usage of public documents within its validity period in Portugal, to diminish the timings and delays in providing such documents to Portuguese authorities and also congregate a better effort to develop commercial and economical activities between our two Countries.

We say 再见 (good bye) to 2023 on a positive note, expecting the best for the next.