Attesting Hong Kong Documents (FAQs)

Yes - Hong Kong is a member of the Apostille Convention.

Hong Kong documents can be legalized for use abroad with an Apostille Stamp when destined for other signatory countries without additional certification by the destination country.

When Hong Kong documents are required for non-apostille countries, such as United Arab Emirates - Taiwan - Malaysia - Thailand - Qatar they need additional authentication by the embassy of the destination country.

For further information about Apostille certification in Hong Kong, see:
Hong Kong Apostille Services

Apostilles from the Hong Kong high court can be applied to the original copies of public documents signed by an official party such as a Hong Kong SAR Government recognized officer, including:

• Birth, death and marriage certificates
• Certificates of no Criminal Conviction issued by the Hong Kong Police#
• Certificate of Absence of Marriage Record
• Hong Kong incorporation documents (Business Registration Certificates and Certificates of Incorporation)

Other documents can be apostilled when certified by a notary public, including marriage certificates signed by civil celebrants or issued by the church/temple, powers of attorney, certified translations and certified true copies.

To confirm whether your document is eligible for apostille authentication in Hong Kong, please Contact us and we’ll check your document free of charge. For further information about our Hong Kong apostille services and for assistance obtaining official copies of Hong Kong documents, see:
Hong Kong Apostille Services

Hong Kong documents such as police checks and birth certificates can be notarized and certified with an apostille from the High Court in 2 - 4 business days

For further information about authenticating documents issued in Hong Kong, please see:
Hong Kong Apostille Services

Document legalization (or attestation) is a procedure which authenticates a public Hong Kong document so that it can be submitted in another country for official or legal purposes - for example, if you need to submit a Hong Kong birth certificate to the authority or embassy of another country, it will often need to be legalized.

Legalizing a document in Hong Kong certifies the authenticity of the signature appearing on the document as that of an authorized public official in Hong Kong and confirms the capacity of that official.

• Because Hong Kong is a member of the Apostille Convention, Hong Kong documents can be legalized by means of an Apostille Stamp when being submitted to countries that are also members of the Hague Apostille Convention
• If a Hong Kong document is required for a country that is not a member of the Apostille Convention, it will need to be legalized both by Hong Kong authorities and by the embassy of the recipient country (embassy in Hong Kong or non-resident embassy accredited to Hong Kong).
  See: Document legalization - Wikipedia

Isarey Certification Services provides a range of services in Hong Kong including Apostille and legalization services, notarization services, certified translation services and document retrieval services.

You can see reviews from past clients who have used our attestation and apostille services:

• ISAREY reviews on Trustpilot
• ISAREY reviews on Google

Hong Kong Apostilles follow the standard format laid down in the Apostille Convention. Some examples of Hong Kong documents certified with Apostille stamps:

• Hong Kong Business Registration Certificate with Apostille Stamp (PDF)
• Hong Kong Birth Certificate with Apostille (PDF)
• Hong Kong CNCC with Apostille (PDF)
• Hong Kong Single Status Certificate with Apostille (PDF)
• Hong Kong Certificate of Incorporation with Apostille (PDF)
• Hong Kong Marriage Certificate with Apostille (PDF)

See What does an Apostille look like?

Hong Kong birth, death and marriage certificates can be ordered online from the Immigration Department. Applications for marriage certificates made by persons other than the bride or groom, and applications for birth certificates made by persons other than the registered person (or parent where the registered person is under 18) must be submitted by post.

• Apply Online for Hong Kong Birth, Death or Marriage Records
• Online Application for Birth Certificates
• Online Application for Death Certificates
• Online Application for Marriage Certificates
• FAQs - Applications for Hong Kong Births/Deaths/Marriage Records

Once the application is submitted, Isarey can collect the issued certificate from the Immigration Department for authentication by the High Court. For further information about obtaining Hong Kong death, marriage and birth certificates and obtaining apostilles in Hong Kong, please see:
Birth, death and marriage certificates

To obtain apostilles on Hong Kong birth, death and marriage certificates, the original certificate is required or a true copy certified by a Hong Kong notary public.

Hong Kong Certificates of No Criminal Conviction do not have an expiry date. But if your certificate is more than 3 months old, you should check with the authority that has requested the certificate that they do not require a new issue.

To get your fingerprints taken in Hong Kong to apply for a Certificate of No Criminal Conviction, see:
Fingerprints - Hong Kong

To have your fingerprints taken outside Hong Kong, contact the local police force. For more information on having your fingerprints taken in different countries, see:
Getting your fingerprints taken

A Hong Kong divorce certificate can be authenticated with an Apostille from the High Court. You can get an official copy of the decree absolute from the Family Court Registry. It must be stamped by the District Court.

Hong Kong degree certificates required for submission to the authorities of Qatar or for Qatari visa applications can be attested at the consulate of Qatar in Hong Kong. In addition to the Graduation Certificate (original or certified copy), an original copy of the transcripts must also be submitted. Both documents must be notarized and authenticated by the High Court. The Consulate of Qatar will not legalize degrees conducted online.

Hong Kong degrees and university transcripts can be attested at the UAE consulate. Before submission to the consulate, certificates and diplomas must be certified by a notary and authenticated by the High Court. The original diploma must be sent to Hong Kong for certification by our notary - a true copy can then be made and attested at the consulate.

for further information about attesting academic certificates in Hong Kong, please see:
Apostille Hong Kong university degrees

Hong Kong university degree certificates and transcripts can be authenticated for submission to Saudi authorities with an Apostille stamp issued by the High Court. Original certificates must be sent to Hong Kong for certification by a notary. Since Saudi Arabia joined the Apostille Convention, attestation by the Saudi Consulate in Hong Kong is no longer necessary.

A power of attorney or affidavit witnessed and certified by a Hong Kong notary can be authenticated with an Apostille stamp from the High Court and attested at foreign consulates.

A notarized true copy can be made of ID documents such as Hong Kong passports, which can then be authenticated by the High Court with an Apostille Stamp.

For further information about our Hong Kong notary and apostille services, please see:
Hong Kong Attestation Services