REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE AUTHENTICATION OF DOCUMENTS BY THE OVERSEAS CONSULAR OFFICIALS Article 7
This English translation was last updated on 2001-04-23, but the Chinese text was amended on 2002-12-25. Later amendments may not be reflected in the translation — please refer to the Chinese text.
Consular Officials should refuse requests for authentication in the following circumstances (although if corroboration of documents is required from applicants, Consular Officials may allow a given period of time within which documents may be corroborated):(1). Authentication is not requested within the Place of posting;(2). The document to be authenticated is not for use within the ROC;(3). There is no original signature or seal on the document, it is not accompanied by an original copy or manuscript, and supporting evidence submitted together with the document is not original;(4). The contents of the document contravene the laws of the ROC or are not legally valid;(5). The document contravenes treaties, established international practice, or the laws of the Place of posting;(6). The purpose of the request, or the contents of document, are clearly illegal, inappropriate, or contradict the national interests of the ROC;(7). In the case of the authentication of wills, the testator has failed to express his/her intentions clearly on account of illness, senility or other reasons, or the testator requires prompts from a third party in order to express his/her intentions, or the testator’s intentions cannot be expressed through sign language, nodding of shaking of the head, bodily gestures, and so on;(8). The document is submitted for authentication within the ROC, and has not been authenticated by MOFA through the appropriate process;(9). Applicants or their agents fail to provide appropriate identification papers;(10). The application for authentication was not submitted in accordance with the regulations. Consular Officials shall accept applications for authentication in cases of Item 8 above on the conditions that Consular Officials have no difficulty in verifying the documents and the applicant agrees to pay a verification fee. Consular Officials may refuse requests for authentication by verbal or written notice. Consular Officials shall provide applicants with a written statement if requested by the applicant. Applicants may request the delivery of a document to a relevant Overseas Office when circumstances in the previous subparagraph occur. Consular Officials shall decide, after deliberations, whether or not the document shall be delivered. Expenses accrued in the delivery of the document shall be borne by the applicant.
中文原文 駐外領務人員辦理公證事務辦法第7條
請求辦理之公證事務有下列情形之一者，領務人員應拒絕之。
但其情形得補正者，應先定期命請求人補正：
一、非屬駐在地之公證事務。
二、作成之公證文書係持往中華民國境外使用。
三、提出之文書或相關證明文件上之簽字及鈐印係屬複製且未附原本或正本。
四、請求之內容違反中華民國法令或為無效之法律行為。
五、違反條約、國際慣例或駐在地法令。
六、請求目的或文書內容顯然不法、不當或不符中華民國利益。
七、公證遺囑事件，遺囑人因病、老或其他原因不能清楚表達意見，僅憑他人提示答以是或否，或用點頭搖頭、手勢等肢體語言表示，致難確定其真意。
八、提出之文書係在中華民國境內作成，且未經外交部依一定程序證明。
九、請求人或代理人未提出身分證明文件。
十、依法律規定或事件性質，不得由代理人為之。
前項第八款情形，領務人員查證無困難，且請求人願自行負擔有關查證費用時，仍得受理之。
領務人員拒絕請求時，得以言詞或書面為之。
但請求人要求說明其理由者，應付與理由書。
第一項第一款之事務，請求人如因急難事故，得以書面要求協助轉送該管駐外館處辦理，領務人員得審酌文件性質決定是否轉送；轉送所需費用，由請求人負擔。
但其情形得補正者，應先定期命請求人補正：
一、非屬駐在地之公證事務。
二、作成之公證文書係持往中華民國境外使用。
三、提出之文書或相關證明文件上之簽字及鈐印係屬複製且未附原本或正本。
四、請求之內容違反中華民國法令或為無效之法律行為。
五、違反條約、國際慣例或駐在地法令。
六、請求目的或文書內容顯然不法、不當或不符中華民國利益。
七、公證遺囑事件，遺囑人因病、老或其他原因不能清楚表達意見，僅憑他人提示答以是或否，或用點頭搖頭、手勢等肢體語言表示，致難確定其真意。
八、提出之文書係在中華民國境內作成，且未經外交部依一定程序證明。
九、請求人或代理人未提出身分證明文件。
十、依法律規定或事件性質，不得由代理人為之。
前項第八款情形，領務人員查證無困難，且請求人願自行負擔有關查證費用時，仍得受理之。
領務人員拒絕請求時，得以言詞或書面為之。
但請求人要求說明其理由者，應付與理由書。
第一項第一款之事務，請求人如因急難事故，得以書面要求協助轉送該管駐外館處辦理，領務人員得審酌文件性質決定是否轉送；轉送所需費用，由請求人負擔。