Authentication, also called consular authentication, refers to a consular practice ensuring authenticity of the very last signature or the seal affixed to a document related to the application from a natural person, legal person or other organization. In accordance with international practice and the consular practice established in China, the purpose of consular authentication is to ensure that notarial deeds issued in one country have due legal effect and can be acknowledged by the relevant authorities in another country with no question as to their authenticity.

Chinese Embassies and Consulate-Generals are responsible for legalizing notarized deeds to be used in China and other documents that have been duly authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country or the related authorities where the consular authentication application is to be accepted.
On March 8, 2023, China submitted an instrument of accession to the Hague Convention on the Abolition of Certification of Public Documents, and it will be officially put into effect in early November 2023. For the transfer of documents between China and Kazakhstan, which is also a member of the Hague Convention, there is no need to apply for consular authentication at the Chinese Embassy or Consulate in Kazakhstan, it is enough to apply to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan or the representative office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in your region (referred to as "Foreign Representation") to apply for certification of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan (referred to as The Hague Certification).