Authentication means the authentication of the last signature or seal / stamp of the relevant authority affixed on a document. An authentication in no way attests to the authenticity of the contents of a document.

Steps for authentication

To have a document which was executed in the State of Eritrea be accepted in the People's Republic of China, The document shall first be notarized by a Eritrean Notary Public, then authenticated by the Legal Affairs Unit in Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and finally be authenticated by the Chinese Embassy. If the document is issued by an office of Eritrean government or a public institution, it can be directly sent to MFAIC for authentication before it undergoes authentication by the Chinese Embassy.

Requirements for authentication

1.Before submit your documents, please complete an authentication application form. It is available upon request at consular section in Chinese embassy.

2.Providing the original document authenticated by the Legal Affairs Unit in Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and its complete duplicate (including MFAIC authenticated page).

3.Document which contains more than two pages should be tightly banded with ribbons and notary public seal should be produced to avoid any forgery behavior.

4.Documents for private affairs, the passport and valid visa of the applicant together with the photocopies of the above are required.

5.All applications can be submitted in person or through a courier, but a power of attorney of the applicant is required. Application by post is not accepted.

Notes:

1.Please be advised that the authentication only confirms that the signature of an official and the seal of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation on the page attached to your document are genuine. It does not mean that the contents of the document are correct or the Embassy approves of the contents.

2.According to the Sino-British Agreement, Hague Convention is still effective in Hong Kong after July 1, 1997. If the document has already been authenticated by the country that is signatory to the Hague Convention , it can be used in HK without authentication of the Chinese Embassy.

3.On the receipt of the application, the Embassy will only issue the applicant with a pickup form, rather than signing any document.