| Information on Authentication |
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| Information on Authentication (July 2006) Questions and Answers: 4. What are the consular districts for the Chinese diplomatic missions in South Africa? 6. Does the Embassy bear responsibility for the contents of the documents authenticated? 9. Does a Single Status Certificate expire? 10. Can application for authentication of documents be mailed to Chinese Embassy in South Africa? 11. What is the fee for consular authentication? What are the methods of payment? Contents 1. What are the steps for authentication of documents executed in South Africa to be used in the People's Republic of China? The document concerned shall first be notarized by a South African Notary Public, then authenticated by the Department of Foreign Affairs( 1234 Grand Floor,Einkendal Building,Duncan -Church Street,Tulbagh Park,Pretoria,Tel:012-3511231 ), and finally be authenticated by Chinese Embassy or Consulates in South Africa. i.e., consular authentication is the end of the authentication chain for the document intended to be used in China. If the document concerned was issued by an office of South African government or a public institution, it can be directly sent to DFA for authentication before it undergoes consular authentication. 2. Is China a party to the 1969 Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents? The answer is no. At present time, China is not a party to the above-mentioned Convention, but the Convention is applicable in Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR. 3. Do the documents executed in South Africa for use in Hong Kong SAR or Macao SAR need to be authenticated by the Chinese Embassy or consulates? The answer is no. The 1969 Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Document entered into force for Australia in 1995, and the Convention is currently applicable in Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR, therefore documents executed in South Africa for use in Hong Kong and Macao do not need consular authentication by Chinese Embassy or Consulates. The bearer of any official Government document with an original signature and stamp/seal on it shall obtain an Apostille from a Department of Foreign Affairs in Australia before it is used in Hong Kong or Macao. If the document is not an official Government document, the document (or a duplicate of it)must be notarized by a Notary Public before it is sent to a DFA. 4. What are the consular districts for the Chinese diplomatic missions in South Africa? The consular districts of Chinese Embassy in South Africa include Greater Pretoria, Northern West Province, Limpopo Province, Mpumalanga Province. The consular districts of Chinese Consulate-General in Johannesburg include Hauteng Province and Free State Province. The consular district of Chinese Consulate-General in Cape Town is Eastern Cape Province, Northern Cape Province and Western Cape Province. The consular district of Chinese Consulate in Durban is Kwazulu- Natal Province 5. What are the specific requirements regarding consular authentication by Chinese Embassy in South Africa? 1) One properly filled-in and duly signed application form for authentication. 2) The original document authenticated by the Department of Foreign Affairs and its complete duplicate. 3) Proof of identity with photo (such as valid passport) and its duplicate if the applicant appears at the Embassy in person. If a designated representative lodges the application, he shall hold a Power of Attorney signed by the applicant and the proof of identity with photo of the representative as well; if the application is for an institution, the designated representative shall hold a letter of accreditation from the institution and the proof of identity with photo of the representative. Please note that this Embassy will, under no circumstances, be responsible for the delay of the application processing due to insufficient supporting documents. 6. Does the Embassy bear responsibility for the contents of the documents authenticated? The answer is no. Consular authentication by Chinese Embassy is merely the attestation to the veracity of the signature of an official and seal or stamp of DFA that the document bears. Neither the consul nor the Embassy verifies as to the accuracy, truth, legality or otherwise the contents of the document. Nevertheless, an authentication application would be declined by Chinese Embassy if the contents of the document concerned contravene laws or regulations of the People's Republic of China. 7. How can a South African citizen who has never been married apply for authentication of documents in order to get married in China? The applicant is required to prepare the following documents before lodging the application with Chinese Embassy: 1) One properly filled-in and duly signed application form for authentication. 2) A Single Status Certificate obtained from SA Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages and authenticated by the Department of Foreign Affairs and its duplicate. 3) Proof of identity with photo (such as valid passport) and its duplicate. 8. How can a South African citizen divorced in South Africa apply for authentication of documents in order to get married in China? The applicant is required to prepare the following documents before lodging the application with Chinese Embassy: 1) One properly filled-in and duly signed application form for authentication. 2) A Single Status Certificate obtained from SA Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages and authenticated by the Department of Foreign Affairs and its duplicate. 3) The Decree Nisi issued by the Family Court of South Africa and authenticated by DFA . Those divorced in South Africa whose former spouse is a Chinese citizen shall apply to a competent court in China to have the Decree Nisi recognized after the authentication by the Embassy. Therefore, the applicant divorced with a non-Chinese citizen shall provide a certificate in relation to the nationality of his/her former spouse and the duplicate copy. Or the Death Certificate authenticated by DFA in relation to his/her deceased spouse and the duplicate copy alternatively. 4) Proof of identity with photo (such as valid passport) and its duplicate. 9. Does a Single Status Certificate expire? The answer is yes. A Single Status Certificate does expire. The applicant must have the authentication done by the DFA and Chinese Embassy in South Africa within 3 months after the issuance of the Single Status Certificate. The Single Status Certificate will have a validity of 6 months after being authenticated by Chinese Embassy. 10. Can application for authentication of documents be mailed to Chinese Embassy in South Africa? The answer is no. Chinese Embassy in South Africa does not accept application for consular authentication by mail. Therefore, the applicant or his designated representative must appear at the Embassy in person. 11. What is the fee for consular authentication? What are the methods of payment? There is a fee of R 150 payable per document of non-commercial purposes such as certificate of birth, death or marital status, proof of identity, civil action, etc. There is a fee of R 300 payable per document of commercial purposes including registration of company, credit rating, inheritance, real estate cases etc. For payment, only cash is accepted and the payee should only be Chinese Embassy or Consulates in South Africa. We are sorry that we do not accept credit card or personal check. 12. How long does it take to process the authentication by Chinese Embassy in South Africa? Is there any possibility of express processing? And how much fee involved? The normal period for authentication processing by Chinese Embassy in South Africa is 4 working days, and we usually do not provide express service. Under special conditions, additional R170 per document will be charged for collection on the 3RD working day, and additional R250 per document will be charged for collection on the 2ND working day. |