Apostille Guide for China – Swift Notary

From 7 November 2023, China officially recognises the Apostille under the Hague Apostille Convention. This means that Australian documents no longer need to go through the Chinese Consulate for legalisation. Instead, an Apostille from DFAT (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) is sufficient for documents to be valid in China.

At Swift Notary, we provide a complete service, including Notarisation of the documents by our Notary Public and Apostille of the documents by DFAT.

Benefits of the Swift Notary Apostille Service

• Fast turnaround – completed in 3 business days from receipt of documents
• Same-day lodgement of documents with DFAT when received before 2pm
• We can print digital documents for Notarisation and Apostille, no need to post the documents to us
• Free express postage of the original documents to Swift (if required) from anywhere in Australia
• Free express postage of the Apostilled documents anywhere in Australia or we offer fast and secure delivery of the Apostilled documents overseas by DHL Express
• In-house Notary Public can Notarise your documents for you, saving you time and hassle
• End-to-end service from review of the documents, Notarisation by the Notary Public and lodgement of the documents with DFAT for Apostille.

What is an Apostille?

An Apostille is an official certificate issued under the Hague Apostille Convention of 1961, which authenticates the origin of a public document. It allows documents from one member country to be recognised in another without further legalisation.

Since both Australia and China are members, Australian-issued documents stamped with an Apostille are now directly recognised in China.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), through the Australian Passport Office in each capital city in Australia, is the only body in Australia that can issue an Apostille. An Apostille is a specific type of certification issued by DFAT certifying that a document is either an original Australian government document or a document that has been notarised by a Notary Public. An Apostille confirms the authenticity of the document's signature, seal, or stamp and the authority of the person or organisation that issued it.

In Australia, DFAT is the issuing authority for the Apostille. DFAT can stamp an Apostille on:

• Original Australian government documents, or
• Documents that have been notarised by an Australian Notary Public

This ensures that documents meet international standards for legal recognition in China.

Common Australian Documents Used in China

Common examples include:

• Personal documents – Birth, Death, Marriage and Change of Name Certificates issued by State or Territory Registries, Police Certificates
• Educational documents – Degrees, Transcripts, Diplomas, Primary or Secondary School Documents
• Court Documents – Divorce Orders and Grants of Probate
• Business documents – ASIC Certificates of Registration (Incorporation), Company or Business Extracts, Company Constitutions and Certificates of Free Sale issued by the TGA

The Swift Notary Process
We manage the entire Apostille process for your documents to be used in China:

1. Document Preparation
   – We review your documents to confirm they meet the necessary requirements
   – Our Notary Public can notarise the documents for you where required
2. Lodgement with DFAT for Apostille
   – We offer same-day lodgement of documents with DFAT when the documents are received by 2pm AEST
   – DFAT issues the Apostille on your documents
3. Express Delivery of the Apostilled Documents
   – Free express postage within Australia or fast and secure delivery overseas by DHL Ecpres

This ensures your documents are fully compliant and legally recognised in China.

Why Choose Swift Notary?

• Fast turnaround – completed in 3 business days of receiving your original documents
• Same-day lodgement of documents with DFAT available
• Free express postage of your documents to Swift (if required) from anywhere in Australia
• Free express postage of the Apostilled documents anywhere in Australia or fat and secure overseas delivery by DHL Express
• Transparent pricing – all our prices are include GST and are displayed in the booking platform based on your selections
• Multi-document discounts – save when booking multiple documents at the same time
• End-to-end service – from Notarisation by the Notary Public, Apostille by DFAT to express postage anywhere in Australia
• Trusted expertise – extensive experience assisting clients with documents for China

FAQs – Apostille for China

How long does it take?

We complete the Apostille process within 3 business days from receiving your original documents.

How much does it cost?

Pricing is displayed on our booking platform, based on your selections.

Do you offer discounts?

Yes. Discounts apply when you book multiple documents at the same time.

Can I track the progress?

Yes. We’ll keep you updated throughout the process.

Ready to Get Started?

With Swift Notary, your documents will be notarised, stamped with an Apostille, and ready for use in China — quickly and correctly the first time.