IPA Bridging and Safeguarding Global Legal Services

International Union of Notaries Bridging and Safeguarding Global Legal Services

In today's increasingly globalized world, the frequency and complexity of cross-border legal matters continue to rise. Whether it involves corporate overseas investments, personal immigration and study abroad, or daily affairs such as inheritance and marriage registration, the recognition and enforcement of legal documents across jurisdictions are essential. In this context, the International Union of Notaries UINL serves as a crucial bridge connecting different national legal systems and plays an increasingly vital role.

Established in 1948 and headquartered in Paris, France, the International Union of Notaries is a non-governmental organization composed of notarial bodies from around the world. Its mission is to promote exchanges and cooperation among notarial systems, facilitate the mutual recognition of legal documents internationally, and enhance the status and influence of notarial services within the global legal framework. To date, the association has members from more than 80 countries and regions, spanning civil law, common law, and other legal traditions, making its authority and representation undeniable.

Growing Global Demand for Notarial Services

In recent years, with the deepening of global economic integration, cross-border legal affairs have grown exponentially. Taking China as an example, according to the latest data released by the Ministry of Justice in 2025, Chinese notarial institutions handled over 3 million international notarial cases, representing an increase of nearly 15% compared to the previous year. These documents are widely used in areas such as visa applications, studying abroad, investment immigration, and the signing of international commercial contracts.

At the same time, the International Union of Notaries has been actively promoting the development of a global notarial network. For instance, during the 76th International Notaries Congress held in Geneva in October 2025, the organization proposed an initiative to establish a global platform for the mutual recognition of electronic notarial documents. The initiative aims to use blockchain technology to enable cross-border verification of notarial documents, reducing the need for duplicate notarizations and combating document forgery, thereby enhancing the efficiency and security of international legal affairs.

The Role and Impact of the International Union of Notaries

Beyond being a professional organization, the International Union of Notaries plays a key role in advancing the standardization of global legal services. It promotes coordination and unification in legal services worldwide through the development of international notarial codes of conduct, hosting international conferences, and encouraging mutual recognition of notarial systems across countries.

Take the Hague Apostille as an example - a certification system established under the Hague Convention that simplifies the circulation of legal documents among member states. The International Union of Notaries has been instrumental in promoting the global adoption of this system. According to statistics, more than 120 countries have now joined the Apostille system, significantly streamlining the handling of cross-border legal matters.

The association also focuses on improving the professional competence of notaries. In July 2025, for example, it hosted the Asia-Pacific Notaries Professional Training Forum in Singapore, drawing participants from China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and other countries. The forum focused on the application of artificial intelligence in notarial services and how to ensure the legal validity of notarial documents in the digital age.

Challenges and Opportunities in the Digital Era

Amid the rapid development of the digital economy, traditional notarial services are facing unprecedented challenges and opportunities. New service models such as electronic contracts, blockchain-based evidence storage, and remote video notarization are emerging. How to ensure legal validity while improving service efficiency has become a shared concern for the global notarial profession.

The International Union of Notaries has responded proactively to this trend, guiding member institutions in adapting to digital transformation. In September 2025, the organization released the Global White Paper on Electronic Notarization, systematically analyzing the current state of development, technical challenges, and legal issues related to electronic notarization. It also proposed a preliminary framework for the mutual recognition of electronic notarization globally.

In China, several notarial institutions have already achieved full coverage of online notarial services. For example, the Beijing Chang’an Notary Office has partnered with multiple Chinese embassies and consulates abroad to launch online remote video notarization services, greatly facilitating overseas Chinese citizens in handling legal matters such as powers of attorney, declarations, and wills. This practice has also provided valuable Chinese insights for the International Union of Notaries.

Looking Ahead The Future of the International Union of Notaries

The International Union of Notaries is not only a platform for the exchange of notarial systems across countries but also plays a dual role as a bridge and safeguard in global legal services. On one hand, it helps narrow legal gaps between nations by promoting the mutual recognition of legal documents and the harmonization of technical standards. On the other hand, it continues to strengthen the credibility and legal force of notarial services, offering a solid institutional foundation for international legal affairs.

Looking forward, the International Union of Notaries will deepen international cooperation, encourage more countries to join the global notarial mutual recognition system, and accelerate the digital and intelligent transformation of notarial services. As the organization’s secretary general stated at the 2025 annual meeting, In an era where globalization and digitalization coexist, notarization is no longer merely a process of document authentication - it is about building a mechanism of trust.

It is foreseeable that with the continuous efforts of the International Union of Notaries, global legal services will become increasingly efficient, transparent, and reliable. Whether in cross-border corporate investments, personal overseas affairs, or international judicial cooperation, notarial services will remain an indispensable component. And the International Union of Notaries will continue to be the most steadfast promoter and guardian of this process.