Why Chinese Documents Cannot Be Apostilled for India
India objected to China's accession to the Apostille Convention under Article 12 in September 2023. As a result, Apostilles do not apply between China and India. Chinese documents for India still require consular legalization: authentication by a Foreign Affairs Office plus legalization by the Indian embassy or consulate.
Key Points
- India is a Contracting Party in its own right
- The objection was made under Article 12
- Apostilles do not apply between China and India
- Consular legalization is still required
- This is a state-to-state arrangement, not a document problem
Legal Basis
Hague Apostille Convention Article 12; India objection of September 2023.