1. On 8 March 2023, China officially acceded to the 1961 Hague Convention of Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents (hereinafter referred to as the Convention). The Convention will enter into force between China and Albania on 7 November 2023. The Convention will continue to apply to the Hong Kong Special Administration Region and the Macao Special Administration Region of China.

2. From 7 November 2023 onwards, public documents produced in Albania after obtaining an apostille issued by the competent authorities of Albania, can be used in the Chinese mainland directly without the need to apply for consular legalization.

The public documents produced in China need to be issued an apostille before being used in Albania, without the need for consular legalization any more. As the designated authority, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China will issue apostilles onto the public documents produced in China. Certain foreign affairs offices entrusted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China can also issue apostilles onto the public documents produced within their own administrative jurisdictions (List of foreign affairs offices that can issue apostilles is enclosed).

Apostilles can be verified online at https://consular.mfa.gov.cn/VERIFY/. 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 onwards, consular legalization at the Chinese Embassy in Albania will no longer be provided. For public documents produced in Albania to be used in the Chinese mainland, please apply for apostilles from the competent authorities in Albania. For detailed procedures, please visit https://punetejashtme.gov.al/en/legalizimi-dhe-apostilimi-i-dokumenteve/ .

4. According to the Convention, apostilles issued by the country of origin is to certify the authenticity of the signature, the capacity in which the person signing the document acts and, where appropriate, the identity of the seal or stamp which it bears. The public documents with an apostille onto them may not necessarily be accepted by relevant Chinese authorities requiring the documents. It is suggested that applicants fully understand the format, content, time limit, translation and other specific requirements regarding foreign public documents from the Chinese authorities where the documents are to be used before applying for an apostille. 

List of Foreign Affairs Offices That Can Issue Apostilles.doc

                            Chinese Embassy in Albania

                           7 November, 2023