Starting from 7 November 2023, the Convention that suppresses the legalization of foreign public documents (so-called “Apostille Convention”, signed in The Hague on 5 October 1961) also entered into force in the People’s Republic of China.
Accession to the Convention determines the replacement of the double legalization procedure of documents with that of affixing apostilles.
The competent authority for issuing apostille certificates in the People’s Republic of China is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and – on behalf of the latter – the Foreign Affairs Offices (FAO) of the Provinces, Autonomous Regions and some Municipalities. Thus perfected, the Chinese document is directly recognized in Italy.
The procedure comes into force in reciprocity, therefore starting from 7 November 2023:
- all documents produced by the Chinese Public Administration and valid in Italy must be translated (through the local Notary Office) and apostilled at the competent Foreign Affairs Office;
- all documents produced by the Italian Public Administration and valid in China must be translated (through an official translator) and apostilled at the competent Prefecture.
At the same time, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has indicated that the documents already legalized by the Foreign Affairs Offices until November 7, 2023 will still be subjected to the double legalization procedure.
In underlining that the Consulate General does not issue translations and/or apostilles, all compatriots are invited to carefully read this notice, which is particularly relevant also on the occasion of the renewal of residence permits in China, for which procedure the legalization (now apostille) of certificates produced by the Public Administration in Italy (criminal certificates, civil status certificates, marriage certificates, degree certificates, etc.).
Chinese driving license translation compliance.
The interested party or his delegate must present the following documentation:
- original Chinese driving license and photocopy of the license itself;
- Italian translation of the driving license on a single page. The translation can be carried out by any translation agency or by private individuals;
- original passport and photocopy of the passport page with personal data;
- for Chinese citizens: valid category C Schengen visa and copy of the visa.
Contacts
To provide a useful service to users, the addresses of the relevant Chinese public offices are reported below. In any case, we advise you to kindly check with these offices for any changes in address and/or opening hours to the public, in particular during Chinese holidays (Chinese New Year, 1st May, 1st October).
Shanghai
Shanghai Notary Public Office
No. 660 Fengyang Rd.
Tel: （021）62154848-8006204848
Fax: （021）62150336
Shanghai Notary Public Office Pudong Branch
No. 12, Nong 1097 Pudong Av.
PC: 200135
Tel:（021）58216668
Opening hours: 8:30-18:00 from Monday to Friday; 9:00-16:00 on Saturday.
Shanghai Foreign Affairs Service Center
Rm. 338, 3F, Jiu An Plaza, No, 258 Tongren Rd.
Tel:（021）62470833
Opening hours: 1:30pm.-5:00pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday
Zhejiang Province
Foreign Affairs Office of Zhejiang Province
No. 1 Shihan Rd, Hangzhou
PC: 310007
Tel:（0571）87054924
Opening hours: 8:30- 11:30，14:00-16:00 from Monday to Friday (15:00-18:00 for the period of Official Summer Time）
Ningbo Notary Public Office
No. 3 Qingshi Alley, West Zhongshan Rd, Ningbo
PC: 315010
Tel:（0574）87315324
Opening hours: 8:30- 11:15，13:30-17:15 from Monday to Friday
Ningbo Foreign Affairs Office
No. 91 North Jiefang Rd, Haishu District, Ningbo
PC: 315010
Tel:（0574）87367580
Opening hours: 对外接待时间： 8:30- 11:30，14:00-18:00, from Monday to Friday
Jiangsu Province
Foreign Affairs Office of Jiangsu Province
No. 313 North Zhongshan Rd, Nanjing
PC: 210003
Tel:（025）83347543，83347546
Opening hours: 9:00- 16:00 from Monday to Friday
Anhui Province
Foreign Affairs Office of Anhui Province
No. 8 Meishan Rd, Hefei
PC; 230022
Tel;（0551）2822870
Opening hours: 8:00- 12:00, 14:30-17:30 from Monday to Friday